Catholic Church

By Msgr. Charles Pope - Last Sunday’s Gospel about the raising of Lazarus points to a supreme irony in the Gospel of John: Jesus’ very act of raising Lazarus from the dead confirms the Jewish temple leaders in their conviction to kill Him. The contrast could not be clearer. Jesus, who brings life, is opposed by the death-dealing conviction of His opponents. This is but one example of Johannine irony serving to highlight the differences between Jesus and His opponents… As we approach Holy Week we encounter a lot of contrasts and ironies in John’s Gospel account of the Passion. We do well to look at some of them.

By William Mahoney, Ph.D., Church Militant - Cardinal Gerhard Müller, Isolation at home… "can be transformed into a moment of particular grace if we find time to renew our intimacy with the Lord by listening to His Word, by personal prayer and by meditating on the saving mysteries contained in the Stations of the Cross or in the recitation of the Rosary."… "In these moments of great trial," said Müller, "we, believers in Christ turn our gaze to our Lord and to His glorious Cross, confirming our adherence and belonging to Him — the one Savior and Lord of our lives."

By Father Raymond J. de Souza, EWTN - Regarding confession and canon law in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic: If I get to confession, is there a chance it will be invalid?.. Catholics can be at peace on that important canonical point… The sacraments become more, not less, important in a time of distress… That (is) why bishops who have restricted the public celebration of the sacraments have described the decision as “excruciating.”… A question has arisen that might disturb the peace of the Catholic faithful. If a bishop restricts, or even “suspends,” the sacraments, does that mean that a sacrament administered is invalid?

By Martin Bürger, LifeSiteNews - Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Cardinal Gerhard Müller, the former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, is urging Christians, especially in Italy, not to despair, but to turn their gaze to Jesus and have faith that “we are in God’s hands.”… “In these moments of great trial, we, believers in Christ, turn our gaze to our Lord and to His glorious cross, confirming our adherence and belonging to Him – the one Savior and Lord of our lives. We renew our profession of faith, knowing that in Him ‘we live and move and have our being’ (Acts 17:28)” Cardinal Müller said in a short video, released March 30 …