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Daily Readings from the USCCBWhile they were all amazed at his every deed, Jesus said to his disciples, “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying. Luke 9:43b–45After Jesus revealed His coming Passion, Death, and Resurrection to the Twelve for the first time, eight days passed. Then He took Peter, James, and John up a high mountain, where He...

Daily Readings from the USCCBOnce when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.” Luke 9:18–20Today’s Gospel presents a decisive moment of revelation. As Jesus prays in solitude with the Twelve nearby, He asks, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” After hearing their responses, He...

[Catholic Caucus] The Supreme Destiny of ManThe Supreme Destiny of ManBy Roberto de MatteiCorrispondenza RomanaSeptember 23, 2026From October 7 to 14, 2026, the announced gathering will take place at the Vatican between Pope Leo XIV, the heads of the Eastern Catholic Churches sui iuris, and the presidents of the Bishops' Conferences. The event is conceived with the aim of "proceeding, in mutual listening, to a synodal discernment on the steps to be taken to proclaim the Gospel to families today, in the light of Amoris Laetitia and taking into account what is being realized in the local Churches."In preparation for...

Daily Readings from the USCCBHerod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, “John has been raised from the dead”; others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”; still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.” But Herod said, “John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see him. Luke 9:7–9Something peculiar happens when those who refuse to live according to God’s will witness His presence in the lives of others—they become unsettled, even confused. Herod was one of these souls. Though...

Observations on the Note “A Journey of Hope” by the Dicasteries for the Doctrine of the Faith, Christian Unity, and Interreligious DialogueForeword: An Accusing DateThe Note A Journey of Hope, drafted for the sixtieth anniversary of Nostra Ætate, bears the signatures of Cardinals Fernández, Koch, and Koovakad. Leo XIV approved it and ordered its publication. It is dated September 16, the memorial of Saints Cornelius and Cyprian.I do not know whether the authors noticed the irony: St. Cyprian is the Father who bequeathed to the Church the formula salus extra Ecclesiam non est. He taught that he who does not...

[Catholic Caucus] Cardinal Grech: Church is ‘synodal by nature’ but remains hierarchicalCardinal Mario Grech has said that while the Catholic Church is “synodal by nature” and there must be room for everyone, it remains “hierarchical by nature”, with bishops and the Pope retaining responsibility for decisions. “Our Church is synodal by nature. That means there’s room for everyone,” Cardinal Grech, Secretary General of the Synod of […]Cardinal Mario Grech has said that while the Catholic Church is “synodal by nature” and there must be room for everyone, it remains “hierarchical by nature”, with bishops and the Pope retaining responsibility for...

The Letter That Changed the Church: Cardinal Bea, John XXIII & the Vatican II RevolutionIn 1960 Cardinal Augustin Bea brought a letter before Pope John XXIII, who swiftly aprroved it. The letter placed Cardinal Bea at the head of a new Pontifical Commission, giving him a powerful platform for advancing ecumenism. The result was an ecumenical movement that would profoundly shape Vatican II and the Church that followed, and ultimately serve the Church’s enemies.“The Council is Cardinal Bea’s Council!” (Fr. Yves Congar, My Journal of the Council, November 22, 1962 entry)In his Augustin Bea: The Cardinal of Unity, Cardinal Bea’s...

[Catholic Caucus] Rupnik victims publish open letter to Pope Leo ahead of Lourdes visitFive women who have accused disgraced Fr. Marko Rupnik of sexual abuse condemned the Vatican’s ‘violence of silence and abandonment’ and called for transparency and a fair trial.Five alleged sex abuse victims of Father Marko Rupnik have published an open letter to Pope Leo XIV saying that the continued “deathly silence” from the Vatican surrounding Rupnik’s case adds to the violence against them. Timed to coincide with the pope’s upcoming trip to Lourdes, the signatories contrasted Monsignor Jean-Marc Micas, bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes’, move to permanently...

23 September 2026 Saint Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio), Priest on Wednesday of week 25 in Ordinary Time National Center for Padre Pio, Barto, PennsylvaniaReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: A(II).Readings for the feriaReadings for the memorialThese are the readings for the feriaFirst readingProverbs 30:5-9Give me neither riches nor poverty, only my shareEvery word of God is unalloyed, he is the shield of those who take refuge in him.To his words make no addition, lest he reprove you and know you for a fraud.Two things I beg of you, do not grudge me them before I die:keep falsehood and...

22 September 2026 Tuesday of week 25 in Ordinary Time St. Emmeram, RegensburgReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green. Year: A(II).First readingProverbs 21:1-6,10-13On wickedness and virtueLike flowing water is the heart of the king in the hand of the Lord, who turns it where he pleases.A man’s conduct may strike him as upright, the Lord, however, weighs the heart.To act virtuously and with justice is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifice.Haughty eye, proud heart, lamp of the wicked, nothing but sin.The hardworking man is thoughtful, and all is gain; too much haste, and all that comes of it is want.To make...

Daily Readings from the USCCBMemorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio), PriestJesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic.” Luke 9:1–3Imagine having the power to lay hands on the sick and heal them. Though it may seem like something from the world of fantasy or superheroes, it is, in...

[Catholic Caucus] Cardinals praise ‘irreversible’ synodality and ‘healing’ nature of Church declineDescribing Pope Francis’ synodality as “irreversible” and the decline in Church figures as “healing”, two prominent cardinals have weighed in on the future of the Church in Europe. Synodality is impossible to forestall, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich attested this past week. Luxembourg’s Cardinal Hollerich served as the relator general of the multi-year Synod on Synodality and thus – alongside Cardinal Mario Grech – has become one of the most vocal champions of Pope Francis’ synod and synodal style. Synodality, as begun by Pope Francis, is “irreversible” Hollerich claimed. Its goal...

[Catholic Caucus] Pope Leo’s new DC bishop gave money to radical pro-abortion DemocratBishop Robert Boxie, a new auxiliary bishop of Washington, DC, donated to a pro-LGBT candidate who vowed to codify Roe v. Wade and to ActBlue, a top fundraising platform for Democrats. Vatican Access with Robert Duncan opened both a 1:10 minute trailer and a full 50-minute interview with a clip of Bp. Robert Boxie claiming that “a couple months ago, I became the second African-American bishop in the entire United States.” The post on X for the interview on the Vatican Access account promoted the interview with the...

Catholic bishop backs new mosque in VenicePatriarch of Venice Francesco Moraglia said Muslims have a ‘right’ to a suitable place of worship and called for ‘continued dialogue’ to alleviate ‘tensions’ with Muslim migrants.The Catholic bishop of Venice, Italy, backed the construction of a mosque in the historic city.On September 14, Archbishop Francesco Moraglia, Patriarch of Venice, expressed support for the proposed construction of a mosque in Mestre, the mainland district of Venice, calling for a place where Muslims can worship – provided that the project respects “Italian law, the Constitution, and women’s rights.” Moraglia also called for dialogue between the...

Daily Readings from the USCCBThe mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” Luke 8:19–21In biblical Greek, the word translated as “brothers” can refer not only to biological siblings but also to close relatives, kinsmen, or even spiritual brethren, depending on the context. For example, the Greek translation of...

The Church in Crisis — and How We Must Not Save Her: Twelve Issues (Bishop Robert Mutsaerts) The Church in Crisis — and How We Must Not Save HerTwelve Issues, Uncomfortable Truths, and a Catholic Way ForwardBishop Rob MutsaertsAuxiliary of 's-Hertogenbosch, NetherlandsSeptember 16, 2026 I have good news and bad news for you. The bad news is that the Catholic Church is in crisis. The good news is that she has been here before. Indeed, anyone with even a passing familiarity with Church history sometimes gets the impression that crisis is one of the few genuinely enduring Catholic traditions. We...

Vatican Says “Dialogue.” Islam Says “Islam.” What Happened to Catholic Exclusivity?Sixty years after Nostra Aetate, the Vatican is celebrating a “journey of hope” built on interreligious dialogue, fraternity, and encounter. But alongside Islam’s enduring claim that Islam is the divinely approved religion, one can't help but wonder: What happened to the clarity of the Catholic Church's own exclusive claim to truth and salvation? On September 16, 2026, Pope Leo XIV put his signature on “A Journey of Hope”, a commemorative note signifying 60 years since the Second Vatican Council’s “Nostra Aetate”—the declaration that claimed that the Catholic Church was open...

[Catholic Caucus] No Response to Traditional Pilgrimage’s Papal Audience RequestPilgrims process towards St Peter’s Basilica during last year’s Ad Petri Sedem pilgrimage in Rome, Oct. 25, 2025 (Photo: Edward Pentin)Is Pope Leo XIV missing an opportunity to heal wounds felt by traditional Catholics by not meeting with a large representative group of them next month?The Holy Father has so far not responded to a request for a papal audience from the leaders of an annual traditional Catholic pilgrimage to Rome — despite the request having been made nine months ago and the Pope saying last year he would like to...

21 September 2026 Saint Matthew, Apostle, Evangelist Feast Cathedral of Matthew the Apostle, Washington, DCReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Red. Year: A(II).First readingEphesians 4:1-7,11-13We are all to come to unity, fully mature in the knowledge of the Son of GodI, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the...

Daily Readings from the USCCBFeast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelistAs Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.” Matthew 9:9Saint Matthew, whom we honor today, makes following Christ seem so simple. Jesus said, “Follow me,” and Matthew did so, leaving behind his former life and all the baggage he carried. Or did he? Though Matthew’s instant response is inspiring, we should not presume that everything became easy from that moment on. When we have deeply ingrained habits of sin, it...