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Our Lady’s Assumption into heaven was more of a continuation than an end. Yes, it signaled the conclusion of her earthly life. But the Assumption was for Mary the logical next step. Her fidelity to Christ in this life translated into everlasting glory with him in the next. Our Blessed Mother is now in paradise where she prays for us to her Divine Son and awaits our victorious entry into the kingdom of God — the “New Jerusalem.” The Lord God raised up this obedient woman and granted her a fitting place next to Christ. As Our Lady unceasingly cooperated with Jesus on earth, she would now be close to him in heaven. As the Messiah was victorious over Satan, so was Mary. It is not a mere calendar coincidence that the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Aug. 15, and the memor...

We are not going to make you wait for the answer. Mary, the Mother of God, is not buried anywhere.

BALTIMORE — “Becoming an Army chaplain was my first thought when I first considered being a priest,” says Father Peter Pomposello. “I had been in the Army through the Reserve Officer Training Corps; and when I first started thinking about being a priest, I said to myself, ‘Well, they need priests in the Army so I should be a priest for the Army!’”  However, it was not as simple as that, as he explains: “I needed the permission of my bishop; and, after lots of twists and turns, seven years of study, 10 years in parish work, and by the grace of God and the generosity of my archbishop, I now serve as an active-duty military chaplain.”  Today, he is a Catholic priest with the Archdiocese for the Military Services. In addition, he serves in the U.S. Army as a priest recruiter. His mis...

Like so many other widows, I’ve learned over the years that our suffering can become a balm for others who are facing that same reality. You can spot us in a fancy restaurant. We’re at a table for two from which the waiter has discreetly removed a place setting. We put on a good face as we sip our glass of wine and sample our salad. You might think we are people that simply love experiencing life alone. You might imagine us touring Europe all by ourselves and enjoying every moment. Another widow, however, knows the courage it takes to dine alone in public. She knows the little stab of sorrow that troubles the heart when there’s an empty chair at the table. She has experienced that panicky feeling when couples at Mass are hugging each other during the Sign of Peace, and she turns to her sid...

The final Mass of World Youth Day Lisbon coincided with the 30th anniversary of Veritatis Splendor, one of the most important encyclicals of the entire post-conciliar period. Pope St. John Paul II formally signed it on the Transfiguration, Aug. 6, 1993, though, as is customary for Vatican documents, it was not released until later (Oct. 5).The anniversaries of Veritatis Splendor have been well marked, both on the 25th and now the 30th, in light of the encyclical’s landmark importance for moral theology. But the document was also infused with a spirituality of youth, the fruit of John Paul’s long pastoral experience with university students. The link between Veritatis Splendor and John Paul’s pastoral approach to youth is deep and profound. This past week illustrated that Pope Francis takes...