On Silence
James
Saint John of the Cross
Silence is an integral element of communication; in its absence, words rich in content cannot exist. In silence, we are better able to...
They Said It…
The Demands of Love
James
"Christian love is particularly demanding because it springs from Christ's total love for us: that love that claims us, welcomes us, embraces us, sustains u...
“Jesus yes, Church no”? Impossible
James
Several years back, I remember watching an NBC Nightly News segment on the Catholic Church. Something was going on in Rome at the Vatican, I don't remember ...
Zeroing in on the Source
James
I am convinced that the ecclesial crisis in which we find ourselves today depends in great part upon the collapse of the liturgy, which at times is actually b...
Why Latin?
James
Saint Augustine: tolle, lege
When Mass is celebrated in Latin, it is a splendid reminder of the Catholicity or universality of the Church across space and tim...
A Tale of Two Councils
James
Just before stepping down as Roman Pontiff, Benedict XVI offered some brilliant and candid reflections on the Second Vatican Council. He lamented the succes...
Vatican II Fact Check: Gregorian Chant
James
If you listen to the media prattle on about Vatican II or its "spirit", you'll hear a lot that just isn't so. Many of the most popular misconceptions have even ...
The Right Way to Pray
James
Pope prostrate, Getty image
When we meet together with the brethren ... and celebrate the divine sacrifices with God's priest, we ought to be mindful of mod...
Everything
James
The liturgy is sacred because it is not made by the hands of man; were it otherwise, it would be idolatry. In the liturgy is the burning bush that is not cons...
Church as Mother, Priest as Father
James
I came across this brilliant elucidation on the complimentary male/female relationship within the Church, as it applies to the roles of priest and acolyte, ...