Reflections on modern events, as well as theological topics
How is the Church, as St. Paul says in Ephesians, the fullness of Christ? A thoughtful reflection on the deeper meaning of the events we are now celebrating “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth… And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” (John 1:14, 16) [...]
"Adoration of the Magi" and "Christ on the Cross," by Benedetto Bonfili. British National Gallery, London A thought meditation on the meaning of the events we celebrate at Christmas, events which respond to the deepest desire of all men and women Once upon a time there lived this very tall Texan who travelled to [...]
Meister Bertram von Minden (1345-1415), "The Creation of Adam and Eve," panel from Grabow Altarpiece, now in the Kunsthalle in Hamburg, Germany Love, marriage, sacrifice, procreation: a reflection on the deep meaning of human love and marriage Many schools and universities pride themselves to have finally acknowledged that the difference between man and animals [...]
On October 19, the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the UN gave an intervention before the Fourth Committee of the 70th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations on Agenda Item 53, concerning "Cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space." Holy See on the UN’s “Code of [...]
The following are excerpts from the above-titled article by Bishop Schneider. The article first appeared on the website Rorate Caeli The XIV General Assembly of the Synod of the Bishops (October 4 – 25, 2015), which was dedicated to the theme of “The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and Contemporary World,” issued [...]
While the traditional family is beset by storms, civil society is encouraging and celebrating new forms of unionsThe bishops call the crisis of the family a “challenge” — but it’s a life-or-death emergency I’ve read, in the original, the final relatio of the synod of bishops, on the Church’s mission to the family. Let me say [...]
God presents Eve to Adam. Mosaic in the Cathedral of Monreale, Italy (near Palermo). “The universal fact about marriage is not that all human persons are called to it — but rather that all human persons are called to come forth from it” By Mary Ellen Stanford At a press briefing during the Synod, [...]
Demonstrators protesting a same-sex marriage bill outside the parliament building in London on June 3, 2013. The House of Lords was debating a bill to allow two people of the same gender to marry in England and Wales. The House of Commons approved the bill in May 2013 (CNS photo/Toby Melville, Reuters) The anthropology [...]
Francis leaving the Synod Hall on its final working day, October 24. Thoughtful remarks and reflections expressed by four participants and one astute observer, in various contexts during the October 4-25 Synod on the Family “The most merciful thing is to tell the truth in love…” Excerpts from the Introductory Talk Given by [...]
Reflections on the Synod After the conclusion of the October Bishops’ Synod on the Family (October 4-25), reactions to the events and controversies associated with it and its final, 94-paragraph document, the relatio, largely fell, not unpredictably, along “conservative” and “progressive” lines. But in both camps there was considerable uncertainty. Many “progressives” seemed to feel they [...]
