Cantalamessa - Truly the Son of God

Here is Father Raniero Cantalamessa's Good Friday homily (ZENIT reports both this and this as the 'Good Friday homily' - go figure).

Story of a Soul - Pope Says So

St.Thérèse costumed as St. Joan of Arc

Some years back, I was walking among items at the yard sale of our school's Oktoberfest. I found three (of the four) Liturgy of the Hours prayer books and a book I felt strangely drawn to: the Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. I bought them all for a pittance and took them home.

While I've delved into the Hours, generally via the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I never opened the Little Flower's autobiography. Until now.

Benedict XVI just encouraged us, you see, to read her Story of a Soul. Talk about timely. And, just in case I had any doubts about the importance of doing so, I notice that the translator of my copy happens to be ... Monsignor Ronald Knox. Hmm. Time to get started.

UPDATE: Listen or read here.

Hope and Eternity

If - IF - one forgets everything else about the Christian faith, never, gentle reader, forget what our Holy Father, Benedict XVI, drives home here. The crusty old Baptist preacher, Carlyle Marney, whom I had the privilege of hearing preach at the Duke Chapel, once said, "If it don't preach in the cancer ward, it ain't the gospel."

For the entirety of Benedict's message, go here.

Benedict XVI - Avoiding Activism

The Consideration by Saint Bernard is of course required reading for every Pope. There are great things in it, too, for example: Remember that you are not the successor of Emperor Constantine but rather the successor of a fisherman.

The basic theme is the one that you have noted: Do not become utterly absorbed in activism! There would be so much to do that one could be working on it constantly. And that is precisely the wrong thing. Not becoming totally absorbed in activism means maintaining consideratio, discretion, deeper examination, contemplation, time for interior pondering, vision, and dealing with things, remaining with God and meditating about God. One should not feel obliged to work ceaselessly; this in itself is important for everyone, too, for instance, for every manager, too, and even more so for a Pope. He has to leave many things to others so as to maintain his inner view of the whole, his interior recollection, from which the view of what is essential can proceed.

- Benedict XVI

Respice Stellam

A rich reflection by the Holy Father on Mary, the Magi, the Star, and the light of Christ our Lord.

Invitation to Chivalry

Feeling tired and worn down by your battles with the world? Here is your invitation to Marian chivalry. Corpus Christianum is an international Private Association of the Faithful, open both to men and women, dedicated to praying for a renewal of Christendom.

Marian in character and guided by a Catholic chivalrous spirit, Corpus Christianum members pray daily for the following key points:

- The renewal, unity, and spread of Christendom
- The Supreme Pontiff and all priests/religious
- The protection of Christians around the world
- The restoration of the family
- The conversion of sinners and the sanctification of all people

Corpus Christianum will help develop the skills and craft of chivalry in a world and age that Pope Benedict XVI sees heading for a dark and foreboding future if the Christian faith is not espoused once more.

Join us. Be a part of service to our Lord and our Lady and the Church.

Benedict - Eclipse of Reason

Jill Fallon at Business of Life lifts up Theodore Dalrymple who sees the Holy Father Benedict XVI as the Orwell of our time. Important reading.

6th Day of Christmas

Look upon the Incarnation with faith, says Benedict XVI in his annual Christmas message.

"God is not distant, he is 'Emmanuel', God-with-us. He is no stranger: he has a face, the face of Jesus."

Feeding His Sheep

Sandro Magister lauds the Holy Father and says that, like Pope Leo the Great, Benedict XVI will go down in history for his homilies.

A Voice Crying

(Judean Wilderness - Wiki Commons)

The Holy Father reminds us that the path of salvation must pass through the desert.

Condom-minimum

Given the brouhaha over the comments of Benedict XVI regarding condoms, I find the commentary of my publisher here to be the most measured, historically-oriented, and balanced. With the Holy Father, one must always remember that he takes the long view, speaks with the Fathers of the Church, and, in this case, is not speaking definitively ex cathedra. See what you think.

BXVI - Books and the Church

And for all you fellow bibliophiles, the Holy Father says in no uncertain terms, the Church of Rome is inextricably tied together with the importance of books. Who would have thought it?

What the Pope Really Said

Just in case you only heard - literally - the de-generate side of the story, here is what Benedict XVI really said in Spain.

Benedict - On Immigration

A prophetic word comes from the Holy Father - a small thing, a cloud no larger than a man's hand - namely, states have the right to defend their borders and regulate migration flow, while - of course - treating migrants with human dignity here.

Invitation - Ora et labora

Are you acquainted with the Apostleship of Prayer? Many join with the Holy Father in these intentions in a Morning Offering each day. Indeed, with the two other conditions, this is crucial to fulfilling the requirements for a plenary indulgence.

And, while I am at it, you are cordially invited to join at no cost (yet at all cost) an international organization dedicated to Marian chivalry, the renewal of Christendom and the family, and praying for the Holy Father called Corpus Christianum.

I assure you: chivalry, prayer, and the life abundant are quite alive. You are invited to this needful vocation.

Confounding His Critics

At First Things, William Doino, Jr. - who, incidentally, wrote this review of A Little Guide for Your Last Days - writes about a glimpse of the truth, goodness, and beauty of Pope Benedict XVI's visit to England given to, of all people, a BBC reporter in The 83-Year-Old Pontiff has Confounded His Critics!

UPDATE: Reduced to utter irrelevance

Deo Gratias

One really must give thanks for the wonderful thoughts - and pix - from young John Cusack like the latter (above). Go. Read. Rejoice.

Insieme Con Il Papa

Leave it to young Andrew Cusack to bolster our spirits on this day after Pentecost. He shares an eye-witness report of one Hilary White who sauntered into St. Peter's Piazza not sure what to expect last Sunday (Ascension Sunday). What she found might be expressed as the reality of love.

BXVI - Affirming Our Christian Heritage

Carl Olson lifts up our Holy Father's inestimable reflections on the need to acclaim and affirm the cultural heritage that is still stamped on Western civilization:

"Modern culture, particularly in Europe, runs the risk of amnesia, of forgetting and thus abandoning the extraordinary heritage aroused and inspired by Christian faith, which is the essential framework of the culture of Europe, and not only of Europe. The Christian roots of the continent are, in fact, made up not only of religious life and the witness of so many generation of believers, but also of the priceless cultural and artistic heritage which is the pride and precious resource of the peoples and countries in which Christian faith, in its various expressions, has entered into dialogue with culture and the arts.

"Today too these roots are alive and fruitful in East and West, and can in fact inspire a new humanism, a new season of authentic human progress in order to respond effectively to the numerous and sometimes crucial challenges that our Christian communities and societies have to face: first among them that of secularism, which not only impels us to ignore God and His designs, but ends up by denying the very dignity of human beings, in view of a society regulated only by selfish interests."

More here.

Use Your Suffering Chivalrously

Before leaving Portugal, Pope Benedict asked the suffering and dying to help save the world.

Great advice, Holy Father. I was bolstered to hear you saying it.