My readership and the traditionalists in my parish exploded at the recent Catholic Herald article, titled “The Catholic turn to socialism is something to celebrate.” I am surrounded by socialists at work and have a lot of time for those with their hearts in the right place, especially regarding social justice. That said, I thought I would give Jose Mena, the “young Catholic socialist” who is mainly known on Twitter, a fair hearing and a brotherly critique. My political views have been described as a sort of medieval libertarianism, so I was delighted when I could say that I was …
Author: Manuel Xavier
Finish the Transgender Argument
By Robert B. Greving Robert B. Greving teaches Latin and English grammar at The Heights School in Potomac, Maryland. Mr. Greving served five years in the U.S. Army J.A.G. Corps following his graduation from Dickinson School of Law. After military service, he returned to Dickinson to study Latin and Greek. Originally from North Dakota, Mr. Greving earned a B.A. in history at Louisiana State University. Yogi Berra said, “It ain’t over till it’s over.” It’s a logic that would be refreshing these days. Here’s a variation that may help with some current controversies: If you want to end an argument, …
Bishop Paprocki Calls on Catholic Politicians to Take Sides
By John M. Grondelski John M. Grondelski (Ph.D., Fordham) is former associate dean of the School of Theology, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ. All views expressed herein are exclusively his own. Thomas Paprocki, the bishop of Springfield (the state capital of Illinois), has issued a decree barring the Illinois State Senate President and House Speaker—both ostensibly Catholics—from receiving Communion in the diocese. The June 2 decision took place in response to enactment of abortion legislation codifying in state law an unlimited abortion liberty through birth, in the event that Roe et al. v. Wade was judicially modified. Paprocki’s decree …
Twelve Things to Know about the Blessed Trinity
Francesco Cairo (1607-1665), “The Holy Trinity” 1. Where does the word “Trinity” come from? It comes from the Latin word trinitas, which means “three” or “triad.” The Greek equivalent is triados. 2. When was it first used? The first surviving use of the term (there may have been earlier uses that are now lost) was around A.D. 170 by Theophilus of Antioch, who wrote: In like manner also the three days which were before the luminaries, are types of the Trinity [Τριάδος], of God, and His Word, and His wisdom. And the fourth is the type of man, who needs light, that so there may be God, the …
The Dads of Saints: Two Fathers Who Raised Holy Men
Meet the devoted dads of Sts. John Paul II and Pio. The elder Karol Wojtyla, above right, showed his son an example of faithful devotion, as did Orazio Forgione (upper left), father of Padre Pio. (Public domain; Mr. Elia Stelluto (Padre Pio’s personal photographer) via Saint Pio Foundation) In an age where fatherhood is undervalued and deeply misunderstood, we may do well to remember and thank God for the lives of men whose earthly fatherhood paved the way for two of the greatest spiritual fathers of modern times. Both Pope St. John Paul II and St. Pio of Pietrelcina owed …
Spiritual Reading
From the book: Dubay, Thomas. Fire Within: St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, and the Gospel—On Prayer. (1) Read the Saints Saints are the best exegetes we have of Scripture. Because men and women of heroic virtue are fully responsive to the Holy Spirit, they are the best exegetes of the divine word inspired by the same Spirit. While some saints write books of theology, all saints are books of theology: the living word enfleshed. Saints Teresa and John are Doctors of the Church because they lived and sang of the deepest immersions of the human spirit in …
St. John Vianney Videos
The Legion of Mary Praesidia
Mary invites you to join her Legion! “I am all yours, my Queen, my Mother, and all that I have is yours.” The Legion of Mary is an Association of Catholics who, with the sanction of the Church and under the powerful leadership of Mary Immaculate, Mediatrix of all Graces, have formed themselves into a Legion for service in the warfare which is perpetually waged by the Church against the world and its evil powers. The unit of the Legion of Mary is called a praesidium, which holds a weekly meeting, where prayer is intermingled with reports and discussion. The …
The Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments of God “What good deed must I do, to have eternal life? – “If you would enter into life, keep the Commandments.” Christ – through the example of his own life and by his preaching – attested to the permanent validity of the Ten Commandments. The Decalogue contains a privileged expression of the natural law. It is made known to us by divine revelation and by human reason. I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange gods before me. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. Remember …
The Legion Prayers – The Tessera
The Prayers of the Legion of Mary – The Tessara Pamphlet Opening Prayers (Make the Sign of the Cross) In the name of the Father, etc. Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Your love. v. Send forth Your Spirit, O Lord, and they shall be created. R. And You shall renew the face of the earth. Let us pray. God our Father, pour out the gifts of Your Holy Spirit on the world. You sent the Spirit on Your Church to begin the teaching of the gospel: now let …