St. Augustine

Jesus' peace is real and not the world’s anesthetized peace

True peace is not man-made but a gift of the Holy Spirit.  "A peace without a cross is not the peace of Jesus" for it is only the Lord who can give us peace amidst tribulations. This was the central message of the homily of Pope Francis at Mass, Tuesday morning, in the chapel of the [...]

The Ineffable Majesty of Holy Communion

"Crucifixion," Opera di Lorenzo Monaco, Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence A reflection on the Eucharist, and on the solemnity of our devotion when receiving Holy Communion, by a Bishop from Kazakhstan Bishop Athanasius Schneider of Astana, Kazakhstan, has for some years been making a name for himself as one of the staunchest defenders in the [...]

8. Leah Libresco

Leah Libresco - A brilliant Yale University atheist-turned-Catholic blogger is becoming a powerful witness to the faith in America today A quote from Tom Stoppard’s play Arcadia — “It’s the best possible time to be alive, when almost everything you thought you knew is wrong” — ended the post in which atheist-turned-Catholic blogger and [...]

How the cross became a symbol of grace, not disgrace

a collage by our graphic designer, Giuseppe Sabatelli, centering on the cross, to signify that this symbol of death, ugliness and disgrace became a symbol of grace, beauty and new life. Many who have visited the second extraordinary Vatican exhibition of ancient biblical manuscripts entitled Verbum Domini (“The Word of the Lord”) at the [...]

Vatican Watch – November 2013

Thursday 5 A LETTER TO PUTIN Pope Francis wrote to Vladimir Putin, Russian president, host of the G-20 summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, September 5-6. The pontiff asked leaders of the world’s 20 largest economies to “lay aside the futile pursuit of a military solution” to the Syrian civil war and promote instead a “peaceful solution through [...]

Our Lady, Mother of Divine Grace (July 23)

This feast is particular to the Carmelite Order and is the octave of the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. We honor Mary as Mother of Divine Grace since she is the Mother of the Son of God, the Author of Grace. Tradition ascribes to Mary the titles Mother of Divine Grace, Mother Most Amiable, [...]

Title