New Advent

Christ leads 22,000 youth through streets of Kansas City in massive Eucharistic procession

2009-11-21T05:49:41Z

DiNardo gave the keynote at today's session of the National Catholic Youth Conference in Kansas City, while Kansas City, Kansas Archbishop Joseph Naumann led Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction at Sprint Center. Kansas City - St. Joseph Bishop Robert W. Finn then led 22,000 High School students through his See City fro.

Dr Rowan Williams gets 20 minutes with the Pope. They both know it's all over

2009-11-21T14:22:20Z

The leader of a billion Roman Catholics meets the leader of 80 million Anglicans at a moment of historic crisis between the two Communions and they send all of TWENTY MINUTES together. Here is the official communiqué from the Vatican: This morning His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI received in private audience His Grace Rowan Williams, Archbishop...

For Antigonish, "Dunn Deal"

2009-11-21T17:02:08Z

In big, much-anticipated news from the North, this morning Pope Benedict sent Auxiliary Bishop Brian Dunn of Sault Ste. Marie back to his native Maritimes to head Nova Scotia's scandal-rocked diocese of Antigonish. As foreseen over recent weeks, the Holy See fast-tracked an appointment to the 130...

Pope and Anglican Primate meet for 20 minutes, say dialogue will continue

2009-11-21T17:36:00Z

Pope Benedict XVI and the Anglican Primate Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, have agreed to maintain momentum in the ecumenical dialogue between the two churches despite the fact that the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus will imply the reception of some half a million Anglicans into the Catholic Church.

Rowan Returns

2009-11-21T14:19:30Z

A month after the Holy See announced its historic initiative to accommodate groups of Anglicans seeking inclusion into the Roman fold, and a fortnight since the Apostolic Constitution paving the way to "personal ordinariates" was released, this morning the Pope received the archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, for the duo's third private meeting.

The Gift of Knowledge: Confirmation, Continued

2009-11-20T18:51:08Z

By Mark Shea | God did the Jews a huge favor early on in their history: He made them losers. Losers in the sense that, when it came to coming out on top in the whole "top dog in the geopolitical department" thing, Israel was never particularly notable. The nation had a brief Golden Age under David and Solomon...

Cloture Vote Expected Saturday on Senate Health Bill USCCB Calls "Worst So Far"

2009-11-21T14:14:10Z

A key procedural vote is expected to take place Saturday evening on the Senate version of President Obama's health care overhaul - called by one official with the US Catholic Bishops the "worst bill we've seen...

How Should Catholics Market Catholicism?

2009-11-20T23:12:00Z

Some thirty years ago, evangelical Christianity threw itself heavily into the business of marketing itself with a series of hip slogans such as "I Found It" (a stranger is supposed to ask what this means, thereby opening an opportunity to share the Gospel). Along the same lines, there was the Good News Bible with a newspaper-theme cover.

Enthronement in the Home

2009-11-21T10:00:06Z

(In this weekly column, Tom and April Hoopes share family-friendly ways of observing the liturgical year and celebrating the Sunday readings.) Sunday, Nov. 22, is the Solemnity of Christ the King (Year B, Cycle I). Family This Solemnity of Christ the King will have a special meaning for our family.

"Dear Artists, You Are the Custodians of Beauty"

2009-11-21T10:00:00Z

The complete text of the pope's speech given on November 21, 2009, in the Sistine Chapel, to representatives of all the arts: painters, sculptors, architects, novelists, poets, musicians, singers, men of the cinema, theater, dance...

It Just Doesn't Get More Repulsive Than This

2009-11-21T13:16:35Z

When I was in 6th grade I got in trouble for cussing. In an effort to clean up my language, I asked my teacher what the worst thing was you could call someone. "Repulsive," he replied. I have always remembered that word, but have used it sparingly. What I am about to report is, indeed, repulsive. Bill Donohue...

Anglicans and Catholics: What is Catholic Ecclesiology?

2009-11-21T14:56:31Z

Hat tip to Ruth Gledhill for the portion here of Rowan Williams' speech on the Apostolic Constitution in Rome. What stands out to me as most frustrating is that this speech seems to want to dismiss with the wave of the hand something that Rowan and Anglican ecclesiology (if there is such a definable thing!) often forgets...

Even Demons Believe and Tremble - A Eucharistic Story

2009-11-21T18:35:32Z

It was almost 15 years ago. I was At Old St. Mary's here in D.C. celebrating Mass in the Latin (Extraordinary Form). It was a solemn high Mass. I don't suppose I thought it any different than most Sunday's but something quite amazing was about to happen. As you may know the ancient Latin Mass is...

Unprecedented coalition of religious leaders call Americans to stand for sanctity of life, marriage, and religious freedom

2009-11-20T11:21:00Z

An unprecedented coalition of prominent Christian clergy, ministry leaders, and scholars has crafted a 4,700-word declaration addressing the sanctity of life, traditional marriage, and religious liberty. The declaration issues "a clarion call" to Christians to adhere to their convictions and informs civil authorities that the signers will not "under any circums.

The Catholic Church will never ordain women

2009-11-20T18:58:44Z

Thanks to technical problems, I wasn't able to comment on Rowan Williams ("Archbishop of Canterbury" in the Henrician usurpation tradition, as Gerald Warner calls him) lecturing the Vatican on the virtues of women priests. I'm glad he did, because it is high time that the Church of England stopped apologising for this innovation. Anglicans have...

Cop vs Kitty

2009-11-20T10:31:02Z

This is adorable, particularly around the 1:20 mark. Cute cat; patient cop. No sound.

Italy collector finds Galileo's lost tooth, fingers

2009-11-20T17:17:43Z

An art collector has found a tooth, thumb and finger of the renowned Italian scientist Galileo Galilei who died in the 17th century, Florence's History of Science museum announced on Friday.

Mattie Stepanek, a Messenger of God

2009-11-20T18:45:23Z

This book taught me to look at people differently. Even at Mass, when I sometimes get distracted by crying children and find it annoying, after reading this book, I found myself not worrying about that. Peace does not begin in another state or another country. It's not something we read about in the news. Peace needs to begin with us, with me.

Catholic convert and cancer patient writes Little Guide for the Dying

2009-11-20T18:40:10Z

My friend Jeffry Hendrix, who was a Methodist pastor before being received into the Church in 2001, was reluctant to think about the "last things" - until the day he learned he had bladder cancer. The shock of the news caused the 55-year-old husband and father to explore the meaning of Catholic teachings on suffering and death. Now, a year and a half later...

Love and War

2009-11-20T17:44:50Z

How can men imitate Mary's receptivity to God while retaining their masculinity? These Franciscan friars have an answer: Marian chivalry.

Bosnian Cardinal denies claims of Vatican commission for Medjugorje

2009-11-20T16:45:00Z

Cardinal Vinko Puljic, Archbishop of Sarajevo and President of the Bishops' Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina denied press reports yesterday which claim that the Vatican is creating a commission to investigate the alleged apparitions of Medjugorje.

Friar Pluck: An Interview with Fr. Benedict Groeschel

2009-11-20T17:18:30Z

Recently celebrating 50 years as apriest, the Franciscan Friar of the Renewal shows little sign of slowing down,in spite of a serious car accident several years ago and a minor stroke earlierthis year. He still appears live on EWTN each Sunday evening and is gettingready to release yet another book.

Rethinking the Catholic 'box score'

2009-11-20T16:52:59Z

Arguably the most influential sports book of the decade, and almost certainly the most controversial, was 2003's Moneyball by Michael Lewis. It exposed a dirty little secret that baseball's best minds already understood: the categories that shape judgments about the game are often badly flawed.

The black nobility still serves St. Peter

2009-11-20T17:12:00Z

Italy may be a republic, but it's still a young republic, and the royalty and aristocracy of its past continue to run through its veins. One of the happy consequences of this is that princes and princesses still live in Rome and, if you live here long enough, you'll probably run into a few of them.

Our Lord used technology to address a wider audience

2009-11-20T17:09:25Z

Leading blogger Fr John Zuhlsdorf says every diocese should have a vicar of online ministry.

Our Lord used technology to address a wider audience

2009-11-20T17:09:11Z

Leading blogger Fr John Zuhlsdorf says every diocese should have a vicar of online ministry.

Archbishop Chaput Offers His Advice on the CCHD Collection

2009-11-19T17:24:21Z

Many CUF members have contacted our office asking for advice about this year's collection of the USCCB's Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD). The basic issue is that in the past the CCHD has funded organizations that are at odds with some of the Church's teachings on social justice, family, and life issues. At this year's annual...

Vatican's ‘most important' cross gets new look

2009-11-20T16:07:34Z

"It's the most important reliquary of the 'true cross' that we have," Guido told the AP. "It's particularly important because it's the only reliquary that came from an emperor, so there are various levels of religious and historic significance."

It's been a rough year, but we're still here

2009-11-20T15:57:39Z

Last Thanksgiving, it looked as if a hard year was coming, and it was and it did. The holiday was shadowed by a sense of economic foreboding—Wall Street failing, companies falling and layoffs coming. It isn't over—no one thinks it's over. But the mood of this Thanksgiving looks to be different.

Ahead of Meeting with Artists, Pope Benedict Acts as Docent

2009-11-20T06:00:00Z

He has dedicated a general audience to illustrating the Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals of the Middle Ages. In order to explain that "beauty is the most fascinating way to draw near to the mystery of God."

Good Morning Turn Up the Speakers

2009-11-20T10:34:30Z

I don't know what this organ piece is, but it's joyful, exuberant and energy-pumping. Rise and shine, and get jiggy with the habits in Rome!

Christopher West presents 'profoundly troubling' idea of Christian freedom, Catholic writer says

2009-11-20T12:12:00Z

Adding another voice to the discussion over Christopher West's presentation of the Theology of the Body, writer James Likoudis writes that West has ignored criticisms of his irreverent style and has advocated the "profoundly troubling" idea that Christian freedom rejects fears about the "dangers of sexuality."

Does the devout Catholic Van Rompuy want to preside over a Holy Roman Empire?

2009-11-20T12:57:29Z

The appointment of Herman Van Rompuy as "President of Europe" is a gift to conspiracy theorists who fear the re-emergence of a Europe dominated by Rome. The wellspring of the Belgian's Eurofederalism, like that of the EU's founders, is his Catholic faith. He makes monthly retreats to a Benedictine monastery; even his wife is overawed by...

The Screwtape Letters Come Alive

2009-11-20T15:44:19Z

One of the greatest works of CS Lewis is his book of fictional letters from one demon to another - The Screwtape Letters. It is now brought to life, and it sounds amazing. This is one will soon be in St. Mary's library. Check out the actor who played Gollum voicing the lead character. Tip O' the hat to CMR.