Mass readings: Isaiah 56:1, 6-7 Romans 11:13-15, 29-32 Matthew 15:21-28 Every year, on August 17, countless Irish pilgrims turn their hearts towards Knock. Many of them cannot think of the shrine without quietly recalling the familiar hymn: “There were people of all ages, gathered round the gable wall, poor and humble men and women, little…
In Heaven our union with God will be constant and have no disruption, writes Johnny Higgins The ultimate destination for a follower of God is as mysterious as it is captivating. Each day with our human limitations we attempt to carry our own cross in prayer and deeds to prove ourselves worthy of entering…
The most convincing argument for the truth of our faith against every denial is the witness of the saints and the beauty that their lives have generated. This is particularly true when that beauty shines like a light in the darkness of a time in human history that threatened us with despair. A terrible time…
“The best thing about being 80 is that you outlive the clocks that have been chasing you. It’s freedom from that lie than anything was ever under control.” – Bob Dylan In anticipation of President Trump’s 80th birthday, The New York Times asked prominent celebrity octogenarians, Bob Dylan, Gloria Steinem, Robert De Niro and others,…
Most Christian denominations do not believe in purgatory. This is specifically a Roman Catholic belief. And in the popular Catholic mind, purgatory is too often mistakenly conceived of as a place distinct from heaven, a place where you are purified and made ready for heaven. But purgatory is not a place distinct from heaven and…
World Friendship Day, celebrated on July 30, invited us to pause and give thanks for one of God’s greatest gifts: the people who have walked beside us on the journey of life. A while back, my wonderful family treated me to an evening at the musical Wicked. They know me well enough to realise that…
Q: What is the current situation with marriages and the SSPX? I have heard different things about whether or not weddings at SSPX chapels are valid. A: From the time of Pope Francis’ pontificate, there was a fairly limited pathway for a valid Catholic wedding ceremony in chapels of the Society of St Pius X,…
“Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish” Matt 15:21 Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Matt 15:22 Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my…
With the release of Christopher Nolan’s new interpretation of The Odyssey (which, at the time of writing, I have yet to see) Homer’s great story has once again captured the public imagination. Anyone who knows me knows of my deep-seated love for Greek mythology. Ever since I was a child, I have been obsessed with…
‘Prudence is a thoughtful refusal to run with every intimation of fear’ says Fr Chris Hayden *** I will give you all of these, if you worship me” – so said Satan to Jesus in the wilderness, while gesturing towards the kingdoms of the world. But what the father of lies actually gives to those…
Fr Dominik Domagala
Fr Ronald Rolheiser