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Four Immediate Effects of the Passion Msgr. Charles Pope • April 12, 2017 • Let’s continue our consideration of the Passion with a text describing the aftermath of Jesus’ crucifixion. The Gospel of Matthew recounts four immediate results of Jesus’ death, and while they describe historical events, they also signal deeper spiritual truths.And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split, and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many...

April 13, 2017 Holy Thursday – Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper Reading 1 Ex 12:1-8, 11-14The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, "This month shall stand at the head of your calendar; you shall reckon it the first month of the year.Tell the whole community of Israel: On the tenth of this month every one of your familiesmust procure for itself a lamb, one apiece for each household.If a family is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join the nearest household in procuring one and shall share in the lamb in...

April 13, 2017 Holy Thursday - Chrism Mass Reading 1 Is 61:1-3a, 6a, 8b-9The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,because the LORD has anointed me;He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly,to heal the brokenhearted,To proclaim liberty to the captivesand release to the prisoners,To announce a year of favor from the LORDand a day of vindication by our God,to comfort all who mourn;To place on those who mourn in Ziona diadem instead of ashes,To give them oil of gladness in place of mourning,a glorious mantle instead of a listless spirit. You yourselves shall be...

Timothy D. Lusch is an attorney and writer. His work has appeared in Saint Austin Review, New English Review, and Chronicles, and at CatholicExchange.com and Crisis.com. He blogs at www.pityitspithy.com. Ed. Note: This is the first in a three-part series on the Catholic Church and Islam.

Five Lessons from the Passion of Christ Msgr. Charles Pope • April 11, 2017 • Continuing our Holy Week meditations, led by the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas, we reflect today on the suitability of the Passion. While the Passion was not strictly necessary (for God could have saved us in many ways), there are many things about it that make it fitting; in addition, it heals our misery.In his Summa Theologiae (Part III, Question 46, Article 3), St. Thomas lists five teachings that flow from the Passion of Christ. St. Thomas’ words are shown below in bold, black...

A high-ranking priest in New Hampshire has been stripped of his priestly faculties and imprisoned over an embezzlement scandal involving his gay lovers. The diocese of Manchester made the announcement Friday about Edward J. Arsenault III, whose faculties were removed by the Vatican on February 28. The former monsignor is under house arrest for a 2014 conviction for embezzling funds to support his homosexual partners.  Arsenault pled guilty to all charges, including writing checks to himself and his brother amounting to $23,000 from the estate of Msgr. John Molan. He also billed the diocese $184,000 for lavish meals, cell phones and computer equipment...

April 12, 2017 Wednesday of Holy Week Reading 1 Is 50:4-9aThe Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue,That I might know how to speak to the wearya word that will rouse them.Morning after morninghe opens my ear that I may hear;And I have not rebelled,have not turned back.I gave my back to those who beat me,my cheeks to those who plucked my beard;My face I did not shieldfrom buffets and spitting. The Lord GOD is my help,therefore I am not disgraced;I have set my face like flint,knowing that I shall not be put to shame.He is near who...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Gothic stained glass window from Dominican Monastery in Kraków | photo by Ludwig Schneider.Saint Stanislaus Saint of the Day for April 11 (July 26, 1030 – April 11, 1079)  Saint Stanislaus’ Story Anyone who reads the history of Eastern Europe cannot help but chance on the name of Stanislaus, the saintly but tragic bishop of Kraków, patron of Poland. He is remembered with Saints Thomas More and Thomas Becket for vigorous opposition to the evils of an unjust government.Born in Szczepanow near Kraków on July 26, 1030, he was ordained a priest after being...

Did Jesus Endure Every Suffering in His Passion? Msgr. Charles Pope • April 10, 2017 • Today we continue a Holy Week series that draws from St. Thomas Aquinas’ teachings on the Passion in his Summa Theologiae. Today we consider passages from the Summa Theologiae part III, question 46, article 5. This teaching focuses on the fullness of the sufferings that Jesus endured for us. He did not suffer merely this thing or that, but in a manner of speaking suffered all things. By this He sanctifies all our sufferings in a general yet comprehensive way.Let’s learn and pray...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Monument of Saint Magdalene of Canossa in Verona | photo by Chrumps Saint Magdalen of Canossa Saint of the Day for April 10 (March 1, 1774 – April 10, 1835)  Saint Magdalen of Canossa’s Story Wealth and privilege did nothing to prevent today’s saint from following her calling to serve Christ in the poor. Nor did the protests of her relatives, concerned that such work was beneath her.Born in northern Italy in 1774, Magdalen knew her mind—and spoke it. At age 15 she announced she wished to become a nun. After trying out her...

April 11, 2017 Tuesday of Holy Week Reading 1 Is 49:1-6Hear me, O islands,listen, O distant peoples.The LORD called me from birth,from my mother's womb he gave me my name.He made of me a sharp-edged swordand concealed me in the shadow of his arm.He made me a polished arrow,in his quiver he hid me.You are my servant, he said to me,Israel, through whom I show my glory. Though I thought I had toiled in vain,and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength,Yet my reward is with the LORD,my recompense is with my God.For now the LORD has spokenwho formed me...

Why is there confusion in the Catholic Church over Amoris Laetitia, and what consequences does it have for Church unity? I argue here that the confusion is ultimately over two de fide dogmas of Christian faith and that one consequence of the confusion is de facto schism within the Catholic Church. When de fide (“of the faith”) is used in Catholic theology to designate a doctrine, it signifies a truth that pertains to Divine Revelation. The term Divine Revelation refers to truths by which God chose to reveal himself and his will to humanity in order to reconcile the world...

Why Did Christ Die in Jerusalem? Msgr. Charles Pope • April 9, 2017 • We do well to ponder the whys and wherefores of the Passion of Our Lord. We engaged in a similar exercise in December relative to Christ’s birth. St. Thomas Aquinas presents the premise that God does nothing in an arbitrary way, but rather as Lord of History sets forth everything in fitting ways and at appropriate places and times. Every detail has something to teach us.Let’s consider why Christ suffered in Jerusalem (but outside its walls) in a place called “the skull.” St. Thomas covered...

April 10, 2017 Monday of Holy Week Reading 1 Is 42:1-7Here is my servant whom I uphold,my chosen one with whom I am pleased,Upon whom I have put my Spirit;he shall bring forth justice to the nations,Not crying out, not shouting,not making his voice heard in the street.A bruised reed he shall not break,and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,Until he establishes justice on the earth;the coastlands will wait for his teaching. Thus says God, the LORD,who created the heavens and stretched them out,who spreads out the earth with its crops,Who gives breath to its peopleand spirit to...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Portrait of Saint Casilda | Francisco de Zurbarán Saint Casilda Saint of the Day for April 9 (d. c. 1050)  Saint Casilda’s Story Some saints’ names are far more familiar to us than others, but even the lives of obscure holy persons teach us something.And so it is with Saint Casilda. Her father was a Muslim leader in Toledo, Spain, in the 10th century. Casilda was a devout Muslim but was kind to Christian prisoners. She became ill as a young woman but did not trust that any of the local Arab doctors could...

See What the End Shall Be – Palm Sunday See What the End Shall Be – Palm Sunday Msgr. Charles Pope • April 8, 2017 • The Passion, which we read in today’s liturgy, is too long to comment on in detail, so we will only examine a portion of it here.It may be of some value to examine the problems associated with the more moderate range of personalities involved. The usual villains (the Temple leaders, Judas, and the recruited crowd shouting, “Crucify him!”) are unambiguously wicked and display their sinfulness openly; but there are others involved whose struggles and...

April 9, 2017 Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion At the Procession with Palms — Gospel Mt 21:1-11When Jesus and the disciples drew near Jerusalemand came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tethered,and a colt with her.Untie them and bring them here to me.And if anyone should say anything to you, reply, 'The master has need of them.'Then he will send them at once."This happened so that what had been spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled:Say to daughter...

Absolute good Question: The Gospel records Jesus as saying the following: “If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him?” (Mt 7:11). It seems a bit harsh for Jesus to refer to mankind as “wicked.” Can you explain? — Gerry Reeding, via email Answer: The Greek text underlying the translation “wicked” is rather intensive and clear: poneroi hyparchontes. “Poneroi” means “bad, of a bad nature or condition.” “Hyparchontes” is translated as “from the very beginning” or “being inherently so.”Thus, the...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Statue of Saint Julie Billiart | Saint Julie Billiart Catholic Church, Hamilton, OH | photo by Nheyob Saint Julie Billiart Saint of the Day for April 8 (July 12, 1751 – April 8, 1816)  Saint Julie Billiart’s Story Born in Cuvilly, France, into a family of well-to-do farmers, young Marie Rose Julie Billiart showed an early interest in religion and in helping the sick and poor. Though the first years of her life were relatively peaceful and uncomplicated, Julie had to take up manual work as a young teen when her family lost its...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Statue of St. John Baptist de la Salle | Saint Peter Basilica, Rome | photo by JordiferrerSaint John Baptist de la Salle Saint of the Day for April 7 (April 30, 1651 – April 7, 1719)  Saint John Baptist de la Salle’s Story Complete dedication to what he saw as God’s will for him dominated the life of John Baptist de la Salle. In 1950, Pope Pius XII named him patron of schoolteachers for his efforts in upgrading school instruction. As a young 17th-century Frenchman, John had everything going for him: scholarly bent, good...