Catholic Church

By Msgr. Michael Heintz, The Catholic Thing - Just over 1600 years ago, for example, Catholics had their world – a world they shared with numbers of non-believers – rocked. In 410, the Vandals, whose name has become synonymous with “marauding thugs,” sacked the city of Rome, which had stood largely untouched and untouchable for 1000 years. This crisis produced, among believers and pagans alike, deep existential angst, questioning, and insecurity. 

By Donal Anthony Foley, World Apostolate of Fatima - The COVID-19 coronavirus is a new threat to our society, but mankind has faced even more serious ones in the past, including the Black Death in the 14th century, when between 30-60 percent of Europe’s population fell victim to the Bubonic plague. Later, in the 19th century, a cholera epidemic ravaged Europe at the same time that St. John Bosco – popularly known as “Don Bosco” – was building up his Salesian Order, which would do so much for Catholic education around the world.

By Fr. Edward Looney, Catholic Exchange - Each year as a priest I look forward to the celebration of Holy Week. The same is true this year, even though it will be a somber Holy Week, one like none other. Maybe your family has Holy Week or Easter traditions. How can we still mark Holy Week with faith and devotion during such a troubling and difficult time? Here’s a few suggestions… People love Palm Sunday. You would go to Mass like any other Sunday, but Palm Sunday was different. Instead of just one gospel, two are read, one before Mass and then the long Passion narrative.

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.