With the papal conclave on the horizon, the issues of synodality and hierarchy have once again come to the fore, with many questioning the value and relevance of a hierarchical church. The place of synodality in the Church is an open question, but one thing is certain: we need to embrace hierarchy. In fact, doing [...]
Why does the family that prays together, stay together? This weekend, thousands of pilgrims will make their way to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. Whether by plane, train, bus, car, or even on foot, they’ll gather in DC on September 28th for the second annual Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage. Preparations [...]
Most Catholics seem to intuitively grasp that adoration of the cross is not idolatry. But that didn’t stop a smart-aleck high school senior like myself from pressing the point. “We do what!?” I thought. “Isn’t this idolatry!” But there it was “All, after genuflecting to the Cross, depart in silence.” It was the morning of [...]
Marriage entails a total gift of oneself to another. This gift then forms the basis for what is truly the greatest human friendship possible, and, in turn, even comes to signify in a mysterious way that highest of all loves, the divine love shared between Christ and his Church. “Love desires immortality… mortal nature seeks [...]