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Enigmatic Yet Enduring; A Homily for the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome Msgr. Charles Pope • November 8, 2016 • 0 Comments Today is the Feast of St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome. This, not St. Peter’s is the Pope’s true Cathedral. And thus in celebrating this Feast, we celebrate the unity of the Church. The Pope’s work is to unite and strengthen the members of the Church, whom the devil would like to sift (divide) like wheat (see Lk 22:31ff). On this feast, we do well to examine a few teachings about the...

NEW YORK, New York — Vice President-Elect Mike Pence is thanking God for making Tuesday night’s victory for him and Donald Trump a reality. “This is a historic night. This is a historic time,” Pence said from the Trump-Pence Victory Party at the Hilton Hotel in Manhattan. “The American people have spoken and the American people have elected their new champion,” he told the crowd at approximately 2:43 a.m. on Wednesday morning. The media had just called the election in Donald Trump’s favor, delivering Hillary Clinton a major defeat with trump winning at least 274 Electoral College votes.“America has elected...

Recent Vatican Guidelines on Cremation, Though Helpful, Require Follow-up Msgr. Charles Pope • November 7, 2016 • I was happy to hear that the Vatican recently reminded the world’s Catholics of some important matters concerning cremation. As cremation has become more common in recent decades, many significant problems have emerged. Cremated remains not being buried or placed in a mausoleum,Cremated remains being scattered,Cremated remains being divvied up among relatives,And strangest of all, cremated remains being fashioned into or incorporated within jewelry. Cremated remains should be treated with the same respect and reverence as bodily remains. For indeed cremated remains...

Upon my arrival in the United States the religious aspect of the country was the first thing that struck my attention; and the longer I stayed there, the more I perceived the great political consequences resulting from this new state of things. In France I had almost always seen the spirit of religion and the spirit of freedom marching in opposite directions. But in America I found they were intimately united and that they reigned in common over the same country. Religion in America...must be regarded as the foremost of the political institutions of that country; for if it does...

As a biblical fundamentalist ( a sinner saved by grace who believes in the realities and ETERNAL truths of the Holy Bible) I have a few things to say. The average American today - whether he be a Left wing reprobate, a relativistic Moderate or a unregenerate Conservative - REFUSES to see the world, the events at hand, this 2016 presidential election and the overall picture from Almighty God’s ETERNAL perspective (2 Cor. 4:3-4, Eph. 6:12, 1 John 2:16-17). These blinded individuals (Left, Moderate or Right), posses an unbelieving subjective world view, which blinds them to the TRUE REALITIES at...

Thousands gathered in prayer Saturday at a cathedral in Albania to celebrate the beatification of 38 Albanian Catholic martyrs executed or tortured to death during the former communist regime. In April, Pope Francis officially recognized as martyrs Archbishop Vincens Prenushi and 37 other priests who died in prison or were murdered from 1945 to 1974 by the late communist dictator Enver Hoxha's regime, which banned religion in 1967 and persecuted its believers. During Francis' visit in 2014, giant posters of the 38 clergy were placed along the Martyrs of the Nation Boulevard in Tirana, the capital. On Saturday, up to...

On the Paradoxical Beauty of Dying Msgr. Charles Pope • November 6, 2016 • As most of you know, the Washington, D.C. City Council recently took a step toward legalizing physician-assisted suicide for those with less than six months to live.Although I have written elsewhere about the dangerous implications of this legislation, in today’s post I want to stand up for the dying, at home and in nursing homes, the fully lucid and those with advanced Alzheimer’s, those who are moving toward death relatively painlessly and those who are suffering.As a priest, it has been my privilege to accompany...

A view from the Christian town of Alqosh in the Nineveh Plain.For more than two years it lasted, just minutes away from Islamic State-held territory. The Iraqi town of Alqosh (50km north of Mosul) is the only Christian stronghold in the country that survived IS. Looking for signs of hope for the future of Christianity in Iraq? This town, with its four churches, two monasteries and 500 Christian families, is where it can be found. For those who grew up reading the Bible, Alqosh might ring a distant bell. It was the town where Old Testament prophet Nahum, "the Elkoshite",...

I was in the Roman Forum the other day to see Santa Maria Antiqua… It is the oldest church in the Forum, connects to the Imperial Palace, was the one-time seat of the Bishop of Rome, and it has some killer frescoes. Due to ongoing renovations and excavations, it is rarely open – this year it allowed visitors in for a few months, and the last time it did so was 1980. Sadly, as of tomorrow (Sunday, 10/30/16) it will be closed for who knows how long (the figure I heard was 20 years). Since you missed your shot, let...

...We always want to be as strong as possible in facing any challenge; we prefer to have as many resources as possible at our disposal. We have no problem if the odds are on our side; in fact we prefer that to be the case. But God has a different perspective. Look at all of the furor stirred up over our country’s defense budget cuts – anything that would weaken our military advantage; we already have such a decisive advantage due to technology; but we hate to see our forces reduced or any steps taken that would put us at...

I’m Gonna Ride the Chariot in the Morning, Lord! A Homily Msgr. Charles Pope • November 5, 2016 • In the readings today the Church presents us with a strong reminder and teaching on the resurrection. Jesus Himself leads the charge against those who would deny the resurrection from the dead, and the seven brothers and their mother from the first reading bring up the rear. Let’s take a look at what we are taught. I. Ridicule of the Resurrection – The Gospel opens with the observation that Some Sadducees, who deny there is a resurrection, came forward and...

The Better Side of Pacifism, As Seen in a New Movie Msgr. Charles Pope • November 4, 2016 • Pacifism can be understood in various ways. In one way it is the refusal to engage in any violent or armed conflict. In this sense, it is a refusal to take part in a certain kind of battle. This sort of pacifism has little appeal and comes off as unrealistic at best and cowardly at worst.But there is another understanding of pacifism: actively resisting evil in a nonviolent way. With this sort of pacifism one does engage in the battle,...

An All Souls Day Traditional Latin Mass was celebrated Wednesday on the Fort Hood Military base. The Mass was offered on the hood of a military humvee, the traditional way Mass is offered during time of battle. With some 60 people in attendance, the Mass was especially offered up for the fallen 1st Cavalry Division soldiers who died in the Battle of Unsanin during the Korean War on November 2, 1950. The Mass was held on the grounds of the 1st Cavalry Division Museum and was also in honor of Fr. Emile Kapaun, 1st Cavalry Division chaplain and Medal of...

St. Charles Borromeo – A Model for All Clergy in Troubled Times Msgr. Charles Pope • November 3, 2016 • Today is the feast day of my patron saint, Charles Borromeo. The times in which he lived were not so different from the current ones and the leadership he exemplified is sorely needed today. And although I am not a bishop as he was, I am a pastor; I pray that in some small way I may be like him.St. Charles Borromeo was born in 1538, a time when the Church was in the midst of perhaps her greatest...

As we review several examples of God's delayed timing, the reason for it becomes abundantly clear. Remember Abraham and Isaac? God waited until Abraham's knife was raised and ready to plunge into Isaac before He stopped it. When Moses and the Hebrews left Egypt, God waited until Pharaoh and his army were right behind them to part the waters of the Red Sea. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were condemned to the furnace, God waited until they were cast in to deliver them from the flames. When Daniel was sentenced to the lion's den, God waited until he was in...

In the days leading up to the Revolutionary War, preachers often led the cry for liberty. And when the fighting broke out, many of them led their men into battle. As Christians fight for religious liberty, we once again need pastors to lead the charge. Hear amazing historical stories and one man’s commitment to create a modern day Black Robed Regiment -- right here on Family Talk with Dr. James Dobson.

Praying for the Living and the Dead – A Spiritual Work of Mercy Msgr. Charles Pope • November 2, 2016 • What is the value of one prayer? I suspect it is far greater than any of us imagine. Prayer changes things, sometimes in obvious ways, more often in subtle and even paradoxical ways. But prayer is surely important, even when we don’t experience its immediate effects. Perhaps this is why Jesus taught us to pray always and never to lose heart (cf Luke 18:1). St. Paul echoed this with the simple exhortation, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess 5:17)....

Shkodër, Albania, Nov 2, 2016 / 06:01 am (Aid to the Church in Need).- During 40 years of communist rule in Albania – which in 1967 declared itself the first completely atheist country in the world – praying, making the sign of the cross, wearing a crucifix around one’s neck, or any other evidence of being a believer in God were treated as crimes. Churches, mosques and other places of worship were used as shopping centers, sports halls, or theaters. That too was the fate of the cathedral of Shkodër, which was turned into a sports arena. But on Nov....

The Modern Tendency to Get Lost in Our Devices Msgr. Charles Pope • November 1, 2016 • Some years ago it was popular to say of television, “It’s not the medium, it’s the message.” This was in answer to critics who claimed that watching it “rotted the brain.” The retort was that there was nothing wrong with the medium (television) per se, but with the message (vapid sitcoms, etc.). Television could be used to great ends if the message was right.While television can be used to broadcast good material, there is significant evidence that watching it is in fact...

By the President of the United States of America. A Proclamation. Whereas, the Senate of the United States, devoutly recognizing the Supreme Authority and just Government of Almighty God, in all the affairs of men and of nations, has, by a resolution, requested the President to designate and set apart a day for National prayer and humiliation. And whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy...