Category Archives: POPES

Benedict XVI: last Pope of old era or first of the next?

I’m reading the Italian edition of Pope Benedict’s book-long interview with German journalist Peter Seewald.  I’m jumping around a bit and I ran across an interesting section.  Here is my on the fly translation from the Italian (not from the … Read More

Posted in Benedict XVI, Francis, Pope of Christian Unity, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM | Tagged , , ,
29 Comments

ASK FATHER: Pope Francis said Fr. Hamel is a martyr. Is he now “Blessed Jacque Hamel”?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I saw today that Pope Francis confirmed that Fr. Hamel is a “martyr.” Does this mean we can now refer to him as St. or Blessed or Venerable Fr. Hamel? I strongly suspect that Fr. Jacques Hamel, recently … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Francis, Modern Martyrs, Saints: Stories & Symbols |
33 Comments

Would the young Joseph Ratzinger – or I – have had the same reaction if….

As I often write, we are our rites. In the new interview book with Peter Seewald, Benedict XVI was asked how the son of a Bavarian policeman became a priest. I have a measure of sympathy with Benedict’s answer. I, too, … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Benedict XVI, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries, The future and our choices, Turn Towards The Lord | Tagged , , , ,
23 Comments

Benedict XVI’s Regensburg Address: 10 years later

Has it been 10 years already?   Job 7:6!  John Allen at Crux reminded me of the anniversary. Ten years ago Benedict XVI delivered his famous Regensburg Address which sparked huge controversy over his inclusion of the example of Islam … Read More

Posted in Benedict XVI, The Drill, The Religion of Peace | Tagged , , , , ,
10 Comments

Pope Francis writes to a bishop about the proper interpretation of Chapter 8 of #AmorisLaetitia

Pope Francis wrote to the Bishop of San Miguel of his old haunts Argentina, about the proper interpretation of Chapter 8 of the Post-Synold Apostolic Exhortation Amoris laetitia. Let’s test your Spanish. Via InfoCatólica with my emphases: Carta del Papa Francisco … Read More

Posted in Francis, One Man & One Woman | Tagged ,
24 Comments

Rutler on Luther and Islam

As  a former Lutheran, I won’t look forward to Catholic-Lutheran hoopla in 2017.  I, for one, won’t celebrate theological revolt and the shredding of the fabric of Christendom. A must read is to be found at Crisis from the keyboard of Fr. George … Read More

Posted in Benedict XVI, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Mail from priests, The Drill, The Religion of Peace | Tagged , ,
17 Comments

Pope Francis creates a one new Dicastery out of four, which will be suppressed

Today it was announced that Pope Francis created a “Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development” through a Motu Proprio published on today in L’Osservatore Romano.  More from Vatican Radio HERE. The Dicastery will come into effect on 1 January 2017 … Read More

Posted in Francis, The Drill | Tagged
14 Comments

Of speaking truth to power, close hair cuts, and you

Speaking of St. John the Baptist, here is what the print (and digital) readers of the UK’s best Catholic weekly the Catholic Herald were able to read in the present issue: We celebrate liturgically the births of Our Lord (25 December), … Read More

Posted in Benedict XVI | Tagged ,
7 Comments

Benedict explains more about why he abdicated

From Crux we find some information from Pope Benedict about why he abdicated.  On 30 August in Italy, an Italian biography of Benedict will be release.  He did an interview head of this biography release.  However, his book/interview will be released … Read More

Posted in Benedict XVI | Tagged
55 Comments

Si vis pacem, para bellum. If you want peace, ready war.

Sometimes Leon Trotsky is given credit for saying that you might not be interested in war but war is interested in you.  He didn’t say that, exactly, but it is nevertheless true. I have not infrequently challenged you readers to … Read More

Posted in ¡Hagan lío!, "How To..." - Practical Notes, Be The Maquis, Cri de Coeur, Fr. Z KUDOS, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Semper Paratus, Si vis pacem para bellum!, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices | Tagged ,
30 Comments