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Featured Term (selected at random):MALTESE CROSS A cross with four equal limbs of spreading or triangular form. So called because it was the badge of the military and religious order of the Knights of Malta. All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

< Miracle of Cana in Galilee SUNDAY of Entrance to Great Lent Romans 14:14-23 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; still, it is unclean for someone who thinks it unclean. If your brother is being hurt by what you eat, your conduct is no longer in accord with love. Do not because of your food destroy him for whom Christ died. So do not let your good be reviled. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of food and drink, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the holy Spirit;...

Dictators, who tend not to die peacefully in their beds, are among the few on this planet who can claim a job for life. And then there’s the pope. No challenge to his authority, no Catholic Spring, no curia putsch allowed there; can’t be dislodged for reasons of poor health, psychological trauma or colossally bad judgment in ministering to the world’s nearly 2 billion faithful. Pontiffs are sitting pretty once elected by conclave. The last pope to resign was Gregory XII in 1415, a strategic maneuver to end the battle for the papacy (three vying) that was known as the...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — When Honduran-born Antonella Cecilia Packard converted to the Mormon Faith 20 years ago, she said it was like “coming home.” The Catholic-educated Packard, who grew up in “the middle of Mayan ruins,” appreciated the faith’s strong sense of family and conservative values. She also saw her own history in the Book of Mormon with stories of migrations, tragedies and triumphs of a people many Mormons believe are the ancestors of some present-day Latinos. But two decades after her conversion while a college student at Mississippi State, the 43-year-old Packard finds herself on a new mission: defeating Mitt...

…if Mitt Romney truly is the presumptive GOP nominee, well then we must familiarize ourselves with the most frequently criticized elements of Mormonism. SNIP …according to NY state court records… …legal bills from separate charges filed against Joseph Smith…show, was arrested three times in the county between 1826 and 1830 for...Smith’s involvement in “glass looking,” or searching for treasure, and “being a disorderly person.” SNIP …describes LDS beliefs on the gods: …LDS Prophet Brigham Young taught: “How many Gods there are, I do not know…" …obedient Mormons can evolve into gods as McKeever describes... SNIP …Joseph Smith did not have...

A retired US Marine officer with whom I corresponded asked, "What type of crisis do you think will cause the intellectual right to form a critical mass - if that is even possible?" I wrote back, "Lincoln's Second Inaugural is chiseled on the wall of his monument, and he said all that needs to be said. If they won't take it from Lincoln, why would they take it from us?" But it's Lincoln's birthday, and it's time for another try. Abraham Lincoln is America's least popular president. It seems odd to say this given the near-deification of a man who...

Listening To Mary’s Voice – Part 3 (Submission) Jan 30th, 2012by Gary Zimak. As we continue with Part 3 of a 7-Part series on Mary’s words in Scripture, I’ll be taking a look at the final words of the Blessed Mother to the angel Gabriel.  Last time we focused on Mary’s declaration that she is the Lord’s handmaid (servant).  Essentially, Mary informed Gabriel that she considers herself to be the Lord’s servant.  Furthermore, as a sign that she fully accepts her mission to bring the Savior into the world, Mary adds the words:“May it be done to me according to...

At St. Patrick’s Cathedral, red is the new green. Workers were busy yesterday revamping the church so the right color scheme will be ready when Archbishop Timothy Dolan returns to New York as a newly elevated cardinal.The traditional green carpet on the steps that lead to the bishop’s throne, or cathedra, was ripped out and replaced with red. The chair’s green velvet upholstery was also switched out.“Red is the color of cardinals; it is also the color of martyrs, those who shed their blood,” said the Rev. Joe Tyrrell, who supervised the alterations yesterday. “So it’s appropriate that it’s red.”The...

Featured Term (selected at random):OUR LADY OF EINSIEDELN Marian shrine in the Benedictine Abbey chapel at Einsiedeln in Switzerland. A Brother Meinrad, in 840, retired from the Benedictine monastery at Reichenau to the forest of nearby, hoping to lead a more austere life. He took with him a small statue of Mary and her Son, and his cell became Our Lady's small chapel. this simple statue showed the Christ Child resting on his mother's left arm, while his little hand is raised in blessing. Twenty-three years later the old monk was murdered by bandits who thought he had hidden gold...

Featured Term (selected at random):HERRENMORAL Literally the morality of the masters (Herren). A concept of ruthless behavior associated with the ethical theories of Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), German philosopher and author of The Antichrist. Such ideas as the will to power, superman, master race, and the primacy of the strong-minded with no regard for Christian principles have deeply penetrated Western society. All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

There is a line from the Book of Hebrews that says this: And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Heb 10:24-25). The teaching is clear, we must come together each week for Mass and learn to live in deep communion with one another. We are not meant to make this journey alone. We need encouragement and exhortation, food for the journey, company and protection. In...

Featured Term (selected at random):CHAMBERLAIN Over the centuries, the title of several classes of prelates of the Holy See, including: privy chamberlains, who compose the college of masters of pontifical ceremony; privy chamberlains to His Holiness, who are honored for special service to the Church; chamberlains of honor extra urbem, who are priests chosen from cities outside of Rome, who have the title of monsignor, and who in turn are subdivided into various classes; and chamberlains of honor of sword and cape, who may not be persons of distinction but nevertheless are deserving of recognition. (Etym. Latin camera, a chamber.)...

He took as many as 48 wives. Sources: [Official LDS website: FamilySearch.org] [A comprehensive PDF] [Wikipedia]Many were teenagers, as young as 13 years old. Many were already married to other men and continued in polyandry: having more than one husband.He married pairs of sisters, and even took a mother and her daughter for wives. The wives of the prophetsThe first seven Mormon prophets had at least 135 wives. Mormon prophet Number of wives Joseph Smith 48 Brigham Young 55 John Taylor 7 Wilford Woodruff 5 Lorenzo Snow 11 Joseph F. Smith 6 Heber J. Grant 3 Summary of Events...

Pope Benedict Shares Sober Remarks on American Culture with Local Bishops and Issues a Call to the LaityBy: Msgr. Charles Pope On January 19,  Pope Benedict addressed bishops from the District of Columbia, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services, and the Virgin Islands. These U.S. bishops were in Rome for their periodic “ad limina” visits, which included meetings with the pope and Vatican officials, covering a wide range of pastoral matters.His words provide some sober reflection for us. As is usually the case, I would like to provide excerpts of the Pope’s remarks...

Featured Term (selected at random):ARCHIEPISCOPAL CROSS A cross with two horizontal crossbars; it forms a part of the heraldic arms of an archbishop. It is carried before him in processions and solemn liturgical functions within his own ecclesiastical province. All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

Syria continues to be in the news as its government persists in its use of violence to crack down on protests inspired by the Arab Spring. It is the latest of many upheavals the country has been through since its formation as a state. In the northwest of the country are reminders of past turmoil and upheaval. Over 700 abandoned settlements bear the collective name The Dead Cities of Syria.These abandoned municipalities scatter the landscape and contain the remains of a confident, vibrant and sophisticated culture – one which effectively disappeared over fifteen hundred years ago. Left behind, incredible and...

(AGI) Vatican City - Benedict XVI will contribute to funding the restoration of Algeria's St Augustine Basilica in Annaba which began a year ago. The news was reported by the Vatican Radio, speaking of how this place of worship - built on the hill overlooking the ruins of Hippo Regius that was Saint Augustine's bishopric and consecrated early in the 20th century - was intended according to the great humanist and man of dialogue to become a sign of the Church's universality.

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On January 22 (2012) on Fox News Sunday Mormon presidential candidate Mitt Romney answered a question from Chris Wallace regarding Mr. Romney’s generous financial gifts (tithing) to the Mormon Church. Mr. Romney said, "This is a country that believes in the Bible, the Bible speaks about providing tithes and offerings, I made a commitment to my church a long, long time ago that I would give 10 percent of my income to the church, and I’ve followed through on that commitment. And hopefully as people look at the various individuals who’re running for president they’d be pleased with someone who...

Listening To Mary’s Voice – Part 2 (Humility) Jan 23rd, 2012by Gary Zimak.  As we continue with Part 2 of a 7 Part series on Mary’s words in Scripture, I’ll be taking a look at a powerful statement made by Mary to the angel Gabriel.  Last time we focused on Mary’s question to the angel after learning that she had been chosen to be the mother of the Savior.  Having made a vow of virginity, Mary was confused as to how God’s will could be fulfilled.  She didn’t doubt that it could happen (unlike Zechariah, who flat out didn’t believe...