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“My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend” (Proverbs 6:1-3 KJV).

Philippine capital ups alert level, expects uptick in infections resulting from festive season activitiesTwo Catholic churches in Manila have been forced to close after priests and staff there tested positive amid a renewed surge in Covid-19 infections that the government blamed on festive season activities. The National Shrine of Saint Jude Thaddeus and Saint Vincent de Ferrer parish in Manila announced they were suspending services, including Masses, from Jan. 1 to 14 because those infected were told to undergo quarantine. “A priest and three Church personnel tested positive,” said shrine rector Father Lino Nicasio. Catholics from around the country flocked...

“My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge. For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell” (Proverbs 5:1-5).

COMMENTARY: Forty years later, the papal correction Pope St. John Paul II directed at the Society of Jesus still hasn’t taken hold.Forty years ago on New Year’s Eve there was heightened anticipation in Rome, even tension, for the singing of the Te Deum — the Church’s traditional hymn of thanksgiving to God — at the conclusion of the civil year. What would St. John Paul II say at the end of 1981? Would he comment upon the assassination attempt in May, or the declaration of martial law in Poland in December? Those tragic topics were not the source of tension....

“Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding” (Proverbs 4:1 KJV).

There has been a “devastating” decline in religious practice among young people in Poland, says one of the country’s most senior church figures, Wojciech Polak, the archbishop of Gniezno and Primate of Poland. He admits that the Catholic hierarchy’s failure to deal with sex abuse by clergy has been a primary cause, and has called for the church to continue the process of “purifying” itself. However, Marek Jędraszewski, the archbishop of Kraków, has questioned his colleague’s interpretation, arguing that in fact the church has been a “victim” of the pandemic and young people’s growing use of technology. Polak pointed to...

There are so many wonderful details in the Epiphany story: the call of the Gentiles, their enthusiastic response, the significance of the star they seek, the gifts they bring, the dramatic interaction with Herod, and their ultimate rejection of Herod in favor of Christ.In this meditation, I would like to follow these Magi in their journey of faith to become “Wise Men.” As magi, they followed the faint stars, distant points of light; as wise men, they follow Jesus, who is the ever-glorious Light from Light, true God from true God.We can observe how they journey in stages from the...

“My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments” (Proverbs 3:1).

* Paul Williamson claims he was forced to retire because of beliefs about women * Rev Williamson interrupted 2015 consecration service shouting 'Not in the Bible' * The priest tried to claim age discrimination when he was forced to retire in 2019 * He lost latest legal challenge on grounds of religious discrimination as it was lateA Church of England priest who protested at the consecration of the first female bishop has lost a claim of religious discrimination at a tribunal after he claimed he was forced to retire because he believes women shouldn't be ordained. Reverend Paul Williamson, 72,...

In the ancient Church and up until rather recently, one genuflected at the two references to the Incarnation during the Mass: during the Creed and in the Last Gospel (John 1). Why was this done? It was explained to me that the mystery of the Incarnation is so deep, one can only fall in silent reverence.There are many paradoxes and seeming impossibilities in the Incarnation. They cannot be fully solved, so they claim our reverence. We genuflected in the past, and today we bow at the mention of the Incarnation in the Creed, for it is a deep mystery.As we...

“My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee . . . Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding” (Proverbs 2:1, 3).

It's been three years since the series "The Chosen" first premiered and it's been watched over 334 million times worldwide, including more recently in France, where it's now being shown on one of the country's top TV networks. Actor Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus in the series, told CBN News during an interview in Paris that “the experience of playing Him has made me want to be more like Him.” When asked by CBN if he ever pinches himself, realizing the magnitude of the role that he has played as Jesus and how well the show has done, Roumie responded...

“The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel” (Proverbs 1:1 KJV).

The Book of Proverbs has 31 chapters, 915 verses, 15,043 words, if you are interested in that information.

The coronavirus pandemic has suspended efforts to save the Chapel of the Snows at McMurdo Station, the hub of the U.S. Antarctic Program. But one Catholic who regularly serves at the station has said he hopes the chapel has a permanent future at the station. “We had probably the only place in the world where you would go to Midnight Mass (for Christmas) and have to wear sunglasses inside the church, because the sun was so bright,” said Robert Mullenax, a Catholic meteorologist who works for a NASA contractor. “The Chapel of the Snows faces south and at midnight, with...

“Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates” (Proverbs 31:28-31).

“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar” (Proverbs 30:5-6).

A new opportunity for Gulf Catholics to celebrate after the cathedral in Bahrain. The parish of St. John the Baptist in Ruwais has a capacity for 800 and upstairs a multipurpose center with a capacity for one thousand. Mass will be celebrated every night of the week, three on Fridays. A point of reference for the region's 2,500 faithful, most of whom are migrants. Abu Dhabi (AsiaNews) - Having recently archived the celebrations for the inauguration - in the presence of the Prefect of Propaganda Fide Card. Luis Antonio Tagle - of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia in...

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“He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy” (Proverbs 29:1).