SPIRITED THINKING SINCE 1888
December 05, 2019
Petition urges Pope not to meet Malta’s embattled prime minister
December 05, 2019
Critics of Malta’s embattled prime minister Joseph Muscat are urging Pope Francis not to receive him in an audience reportedly scheduled for this weekend. Last Sunday Muscat announced that he would step down in January, after a new leader is chosen for his Labour Party, amid calls for his immediate resignation. Muscat has faced increasingly intense
New Buffalo apostolic administrator pledges ‘openness’ with victims
December 05, 2019
Bishop Edward Scharfenberger of Albany spoke to the press on Wednesday following his appointment as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Buffalo, and emphasized that although he is not yet sure how exactly he will divide his time between the two dioceses he is now tasked with shepherding, he trusts Pope Francis’ decision to appoint
Cardinal Zen: ‘Parolin is manipulating the Holy Father’ on China deal
December 05, 2019
Cardinal Joseph Zen, former bishop of Hong Kong, has renewed his criticism of the Vatican-China deal, warning that he thinks Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin is exercising undue influence in advising Pope Francis. “I have a clear impression that Parolin is manipulating the Holy Father,” Zen told New Bloom Magazine in a recent
Rochester bishop requested Fulton Sheen beatification delay
December 05, 2019
The beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen was delayed at the request of Bishop Salvatore Matano of Rochester, an official in the Peoria diocese and other Church officials have confirmed. “They did not agree with the fact the beatification date was set and announced and asked the further consideration be done,” Msgr. James Kruse, Director of
Morning Catholic must-reads: 05/12/19
December 05, 2019
The new Vatican constitution has been delayed once again. Sri Lankan Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has said that he hopes and prays that “that Palestine will be liberated”. Malta’s embattled Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is due to meet Pope Francis on Saturday. Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama has formally succeeded Cardinal John Onaiyekan as Archbishop of Abuja. George
Being anchored in God’s goodness
December 05, 2019
What would Jesus do? For some Christians, that’s the easy response to every question. In every situation all we need to ask is: “What would Jesus do?” At a deep level, that’s actually true. Jesus is the ultimate criterion. He is the way, the truth and the life, and anything that contradicts him is not
Angels on the road to Beirut
December 05, 2019
On my last morning in Damascus, I was preparing to be driven back to Beirut – a three-hour journey, according to my driver Ahmad. The staff at the charming hotel in the Christian quarter of the Old City, close to Straight Street, where Ananias baptised St Paul, were nervous. Had I heard, they asked, about
Heretic of the week: William Booth
December 05, 2019
As Christmas approaches, cities throughout Britain and Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States will increasingly see members of the Salvation Army in their distinctive blue uniforms – whether as massed bands in concert halls, or as individuals or couples raising alms through ringing bells. But the Salvation Army is not
Prize crossword 0622
December 05, 2019
­­­­­­­ Cryptic across 1 Somehow sat out Advent for the Maundy Mass (6) 4 God, sort of, is king of Ammon (6) 9 Pure tee-off: poetry, she said (7) 10 Heading off to ramble like one in a Tolkien novel (5) 11 Nonconformist’s doctrine is to demonstrate wicked sin at Mass! (13) 12 He drove
Mass readings
December 05, 2019
Ordinary Form Divine Office Week II Sunday, December 8: The Second Sunday of Advent Is 11:1-10; Ps 72; Rom 15:4-9; Mt 3:1-12 Monday, December 9: The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Gn 3:9-15, 20; Ps 98; Eph 1:3-6, 11-12; Lk 1:26-38 Tuesday, December 10: Weekday of Advent, St John Roberts Is 40:1-11; Ps 96;
How to… Have a penitential Advent
December 05, 2019
The sense of Advent as a penitential season akin to Lent has been largely lost to the popular culture of today, marked as it is by high excitement throughout December, and accompanying commercial and social indulgence. But if Catholics wish to prepare conscientiously for a holy Christmas, then Advent is the season in which they
The true Christian always remains vigilant
December 05, 2019
I have been reading the stylish and thought-provoking sermons of St John Henry Newman. They start with the Advent Scripture’s exhortation to watch, as in Jesus’s words in Mark’s Gospel: “Watch and pray, for you do not know the hour”, or St Paul’s admonition that it is high time to wake from sleep, to keep
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