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Taking a Leap of Faith
Father Michael Ackerman Comments Off on Taking a Leap of Faith
About a decade ago, a priest friend and I took a trip to Italy to visit several holy sites and shrines. However, since our ancestors came from the same town in Sicily, we decided to make a stop there as well. We flew to Palermo and had little trouble renting a car, but were totally Read More
An Overdue Award for St. Irenaeus
D.D. Emmons Comments Off on An Overdue Award for St. Irenaeus
When Pope Francis decreed on Jan. 21 St. Irenaeus (c. A.D. 130-202) a Doctor of the Church, many Catholics were surprised, as many thought that Irenaeus was already so honored. But when we take the time to look at that list of Doctors, 36 holy men and women, we discover that he is not. He Read More
Preaching Your Resurrection
Father Scott Kopp Comments Off on Preaching Your Resurrection
In his book “Living Buddha, Living Christ” (Riverhead, $22), Thich Nhat Hanh remarks to a visiting Christian: “You say you are people of the Resurrection. Show me your resurrection.” My first reaction upon reading this was that this is not a one-and-only event in my life. He would have to follow me and see all Read More
Holy Week in Jerusalem
Father Greg Friedman Comments Off on Holy Week in Jerusalem
During Holy Week, Christians the world over turn their gaze to Jerusalem. For two millennia pilgrims have come to walk the Way of the Cross, touch the rock of Calvary and venerate Christ’s empty tomb. In 2014 I was fortunate to spend Holy Week there on sabbatical. As a Franciscan, I was an “insider” at Read More
Learning from the Liturgy
Msgr. Michael Heintz Comments Off on Learning from the Liturgy
Pope Pius XI (r. 1922-39) is quoted as having said that the primary instrument of the ordinary magisterium is the sacred liturgy. He was quite correct. What he did not mean is that we need to make our liturgical celebrations “catechetical” or “didactic” (heaven save us from that — it was tried and failed quite Read More
How to be Easter Priests
Father Ronald D. Witherup Comments Off on How to be Easter Priests
A seminary faculty colleague of mine had the reputation for being a very fine homilist. He had a knack for exposing the readings of the day in a way that also connected them to daily life. One of his homilies sticks in my mind and always returns to me during the Easter season. He bemoaned Read More
‘This Is the Night’
Father Paul Turner Comments Off on ‘This Is the Night’
Christianity stares at death and sees life. The Easter Vigil brings worshipers into the heart of this paradox. When tears should signal an impulsive reaction to death, a lone singer stands athwart the community with a counterintuitive message shortly after it observed the crucifixion of Jesus: “Rejoice!” The Easter Proclamation summons angel hosts, the earth Read More
Mercy’s Many Meanings
Father Harry Hagan Comments Off on Mercy’s Many Meanings
Mercy flows like a great river out of the Old Testament into the New, where it overflows its banks. The word “mercy” appears in the New American Bible Revised Edition (2010) 296 times in the Old Testament and another 43 times in the New Testament. Like the Mississippi, which gathers its water from various tributaries, Read More