Our Lady's Discipleship

The Holy Father's Message of Hope for Today

The Holy Father recently spoke about the dark times through which he lived as a youth, speaking of how "Hitler had subjected one country after another, Poland, Denmark, the Benelux States and France, and in April of 1941 -- precisely in this season 70 years ago -- he had occupied Yugoslavia and Greece."

"It seemed that the Continent was in the hands of this power that, at the same time, cast doubt on the future of Christianity," the Pontiff said.

He had joined the "Sodality of Our Lady" as a young man and, although the dissolution of the seminaries hindered it, this bond continued, since "Catholicity cannot exist without a Marian expression."

"To be Catholics means to be Marian ... that in the Mother and by the Mother we find the Lord," he said.

We have great hope in following Our Lady's example of discipleship. To read the full text of his message go here.

Coren - Fighting the Good Fight

Author and apologist Michael Coren appears in Peter Jackson's extended DVD boxed-sets. He, and others, help to explain the influences on young J. R. R. Tolkien. Now, ZENIT reports, he has a new book that helps to defend the Catholic Church in the continuing onslaught of cultural attacks facing Her today.

A convert himself from Judaism, Coren apparently ranges over a variety of topics and incidents from his life, according to ZENIT. The book, Why Catholics Are Right, may be purchased here.