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Jesus Christ is our true King and Priest…
“Christ as our Redeemer purchased the Church at the price of his own blood; as priest he offered himself, and continues to offer himself as a victim for our sins. Is it not evident, then, that his kingly dignity partakes in a manner of both these offices?” —Pope Pius XI We who live in a democracy and are shaped by its values face significant obstacles in embracing the Catholic worldview. We strongly believe in the equality of all persons — a view that has its legitimacy, of course, but which also hinders us from appreciating the fundamental hierarchical nature of the universe, a structure better represented by monarchy than by democracy. To our mind, kings are a folly of the past, a time when people did not recognize the right of people to be self-ruled. We seem to be aware primarily...
Cleveland’s Sts. Anne and Joachim Workshop teaches grandparents and the elderly how to sanctify their families…
More than 400 people took advantage of the SS. Anne and Joachim Workshop offered by the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. Grandparents were invited to attend one of the first four sessions presented by staff members of the Parish Life and Special Ministries Office. (See photo gallery above.) Sessions took place March 28 at Queen of Heaven Parish in Green; March 30 at St. John Vianney Parish in Mentor; April 4 at St. Albert the Great Parish in North Royalton; and April 6 at St. Clarence Parish in North Olmsted. The workshops, named after St. Anne and St. Joachim, the parents of the Blessed Mother and Jesus’ earthly grandparents, attracted the attention of EWTN and the Catholic Grandparents Association, an international group based in Ireland. Marilyn Henry, the organization’s representative in...
Palm Sunday 2022: Pope Francis Calls for an ‘Easter Truce’ in Ukraine, Says ‘Nothing Is Impossible for God’…
“In a moment, we will turn to the Blessed Mother with the Angelus Prayer. It was the Angel of the Lord himself who said to Mary in the Annunciation: ‘Nothing is impossible for God,’” the pope said. Pope Francis reminded pilgrims that Easter is coming soon. “We are preparing to celebrate the victory of the Lord Jesus Christ over sin and death — over sin and death — not over someone and against someone else.” “Let the weapons be put down,” he urged. “Let the Easter truce begin.” “But not to provide more weapons and pick up the combat again — no — a truce that will lead to peace, through real negotiation that is even disposed to some sacrifice for the good of the people. In fact, what victory is there in planting a flag on a pile of rubble?” he said. “But today, there is a war. Why does one w...
The problem of the Real Presence demands a decision. There’s no middle ground…..
The problem of the Real Presence demands a decision. There’s no middle ground. The first and most important of the Ten Commandments found in the Book of Exodus is: “I am the Lord your God; you shall have no other gods before me.” The commandments are arranged in order of importance. Therefore, this is the most important commandment. Violating it is as bad as it gets. Now, think about this: We Catholics make an astonishing claim. We claim the Eucharist is really, truly God himself. Not an image. Not a symbol. God. If we’re right about that, then there are eternal consequences. You can consume perfect love, and in turn, be consumed by love. But if we’re wrong, well, there are eternal consequences. We’re violating the First Commandment and we must run, flee, proclaim to the world the abominat...
The manliness behind the martial…
“Yi was a skillful archer, and Ao was a powerful naval commander, and yet neither of them met a natural death. Yu and Hou Ji, on other hand, did nothing but personally tend to the land, and yet they both ended up with possession of the world.”Confucius, Analects As the world becomes more dangerous—both the world far away and the world down the street—we naturally wonder what such evils demand of us. Especially men; especially fathers. Many are investigating reasonable ways of training in martial competence and arming themselves. This can make sense—as long as we steadfastly put first things first. I am struck by an anecdote about Confucius. The words quoted above are reported as spoken to Confucius by a visitor. The sage remained silent; but after the visitor left Confucius says, “What a g...
What Pope Francis might accomplish if he visits war-torn Ukraine…
VATICAN CITY — A papal visit to war-torn Ukraine would be fraught with complex challenges, but it would likely show solidarity with Ukrainian victims, possibly slow Russian aggression, and help improve Catholic relations with Ukrainian Orthodox and Jewish communities, analysts have told the Register. Pope Francis first revealed the possibility of a visit en route to Malta on April 2, saying the trip was “on the table.” He later expanded on the possibility the following day. “The idea is there, among the proposals I have received,” he told reporters on the return flight from Malta, “but I don’t know if it can be done, if it is fitting, and whether it would be for the best or if it is fitting to undertake it, whether I should go. … All this is up in the air.” Vatica...
The triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary: A plan of action following the consecration…
“In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph.” Our Lady of Fatima offered hope in the Second Secret she revealed in 1917 that despite the horrific onslaught hitting the world, including “war, famine, and persecutions of the Church and of the Holy Father,” her heart would still conquer all. While Russia would spread her errors throughout the world, she called on Catholics to counter its socialist ideology with intensified prayer and sacrifice. Now firmly in the 21st century, we unfortunately cannot affirm that humanity is in any better place, as we face ever increasing attacks on human life and the continued influence of godless ideologies, including a stubborn Marxist socialism, which has not disappeared following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Fatima message retains its relevance ...
Salem and the smoke of Satan…
On May 13, 1982, Pope John Paul II flew to Portugal on a pilgrimage of thanksgiving for his life having been spared the year before. At the airport welcoming ceremony, the Pope, reflecting that he’d been shot on the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, mused that, “In the designs of Providence, there are no mere coincidences.” What we think of as coincidental is rather a facet of the divine plan for our lives that we’ve not fit into the proper frame. So I’ll take it as providential that I was reading Msgr. Stephen Rossetti’s book, Diary of an American Exorcist, when I recently visited Salem, Massachusetts, to speak at the Saint John Paul II Shrine of Divine Mercy. The Shrine is well-located, for Salem is badly in need of divine protection. The town is, of course, notorious for the 1692 witchcraft ...
Burmese Archbishop Marco Win Tin Remains Under House Arrest in Mandalay…
Asked for his assessment of the situation, he said, “They will lose. They will give up claims over the government and be content only with being a gray eminence. They must. This can’t continue. As it is, they’ve threatened to forcibly conscript young, able-bodied men into troops. But these are the ones who easily slip into the jungle at every turn. It’s all going to come crashing in on them.” Many businesses are shuttered, as typically happens during tense military actions, to which the locals have grown accustomed. Only smaller family shops remain open to serve the community’s needs. Street vendors and hawkers have either volunteered to leave the vicinity or have been forced out of the area by the military. The Catholics among them glance furtively at the high walls surrounding the Cathed...
A drink from this Benedictine brewery will have you thanking God for beer…
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Learning to serve with Nick…
“Missionary altar servers:this is how Jesus wants you to be!”~ Pope Francis “What do you think about serving Mass with your old dad?” I asked Nick one day. “Sure,” he replied with enthusiasm. Nick’s an experienced altar server, having trained some six years ago and continuing in his regular service on weekdays and Sundays ever since. My other two sons and one of my daughters served at altar through high school, and now Nicky is the last to carry on that family tradition. As an adult convert to Catholicism, I didn’t have the privilege of being trained as an altar server in my youth, and I’ve long envied my kids’ regular proximity to the Mass when they served – their direct engagement with what’s happening there at the altar, the immediacy of the liturgical threshol...
‘An Open Wound on the Body of Ukraine’ — Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk Prays at Mass Grave in Bucha…
By CNA Staff Kyiv, Ukraine, Apr 8, 2022 / 08:05 am The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church prayed on Thursday at the site of a mass grave in the recently liberated city of Bucha. Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk described his visit to the site around 15 miles northwest of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv in his daily video message on April 8. “In order to see, yesterday I personally had the opportunity to go to the tragically infamous town of Bucha, which is an open wound on the body of Ukraine,” he said. “And there, above the open mass grave, seeing the mutilated, breathless bodies, we prayed for their eternal rest. And in that prayer I asked myself, I asked God, ‘God, what does it mean to love You and love one’s neighbor?’” Join Our Telegram Group : Salvation & Prosperity ...
