A Treasure To Be Shared

It used to be that people on the left of the political spectrum gave emphasis to social support systems but not to the detriment of assisting personal responsibility and positive business practices that empower people. Similarly, people to the right of the political spectrum, while giving emphasis to business and resilience did not turn away from the need to provide support for the less fortunate by enabling resources that funded social programs and responsible stewardship. The intellectuals and the young, booted and spurred, feel themselves born to ride us. —Eric Hoffer People on the left once demonstrated intellectual aptitude by being aware of diversity and dependencies while people on the right could see the need for unity in essentials and pragmatism. Right-sided people, while encouraging independence and resilience, did not marginalize interdependence to facilitate ideas that benefitted the common good. Left-sided people encouraged fairness and temperance to curb greed and exploi...

The New Israel In Catholic theology, “the New Israel” primarily means the Church—the people of the new covenant established by Jesus Christ—understood in continuity with God’s covenant with Israel. The New Covenant The Church is “New Israel” because the new covenant promised by God is fulfilled in Christ: Israel’s election is not erased, but the covenant reaches its definitive form in Jesus. The Pontifical Biblical Commission explains that: “(t)he New Testament takes for granted that the election of Israel… is irrevocable… [and] God has also offered to Israel a ‘new covenant’… established through the blood of Jesus.” It then states that the Church is composed of those who accept this new covenant and of others who “have joined them,” while insisting “(f)ar from being a substitution for Israel, [the Church] is in solidarity with it.” So, “New Israel” does not mean Israel is replaced; it means the covenant people reach their fulfillment in Christ, and the Church participates in that stor...

Religion, Society, and Culture Media. Stephen Colbert leaves his late night throne. Having had his feet held to the fire he helped to create, and subject to a loss of market share (declining viewership) indicative of a lack of actual comedy, Colbert leaves late night entertainment after more than 20 years in the spotlight. Some claim, he among them, that he is the victim of political interference . No doubt, he provided some untimely and unseemly pokes that got him the wrong kind of attention, at least to his way of thinking. If ya can't take the heat... . Perhaps he will use the off-air time to work on becoming less cafeteria and more Catholic. Religion. As the SSPX vs Holy See battle continues, those of us on the sidelines can and should pray, and avoid pouring gasoline on an already heated exchange. The Society has many beautiful and truly excellent attributes - love for the sacred liturgy, a robust devotional life, and authentic disciplined spirituality. However, obedience to...

Baptism of the Eunuch by Rembrandt Recently we've read that Pope Leo intends a kerygma-centred mission to be the focus of the upcoming June consistory of cardinals. Mary Rose at Zeale website reports that Pope Leo XIV has formally summoned the world’s cardinals to a June 26–27 consistory in a letter urging a renewed focus on the Church’s core proclamation of the risen Christ rather than institutional preservation. Pope Saint John Paul II describes the kerygma as “the initial, ardent proclamation, by which a person is one day overwhelmed and brought to the decision to entrust himself to Jesus Christ by faith ( Catechesi Tradendae )." FOUR ASPECTS OF THE KERYGMA THE SAVING MESSAGE OF JESUS CHRIST Kerygma is a Greek word meaning proclamation and refers to the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. God loves you and has a purpose for your life. God created us for a relationship with Him (St John 3:16-17; 1 John 3:1), to share a most profound communion of love. Our relatio...

Rev. Thomas Byles The sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912, is one of the most famous tragedies in history, inspiring countless books and films. The disaster claimed 1,496 lives during the maiden voyage of a ship once thought to be unsinkable. Among the passengers was Fr. Thomas Byles, who spent his final moments offering comfort and spiritual support to others. After his death, Pope Saint Pius X is said to have called him a “martyr,” and a plaque at his former parish honors his “heroic death in the disaster” for his selfless devotion to fellow passengers. Sources https://saintoftitanic.org/ https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-victim/fr-byles.html https://catholicexchange.com/priest-on-titanic-the-last-voyage-of-fr-thomas-byles/ Thomas Roussel Davids Byles was born on 26 February 1870, Grosvenor Road in Headingley, England, to Alfred Holden Byles and Louisa Davids, the eldest of their seven children. His father, Reverend Dr. Alfred Holden Byles, was both a congregatio...

Conscientia, secundum ipsam nominis originem, importat ordinem scientiae ad aliquid: dicitur enim conscientia quasi cum alio scientia. (ST I, q. 79, a. 13) Saint Thomas Aquinas Do you give others reason to love you? Why are you afraid? What are you putting in the way of God granting you His peace? Is fear or trust the basis of your decisions? Who is first in your life? God? A spouse? Children? Work? Drugs? Sports? Do you project your own inadequacies on to others? Is holiness important to you? If 'no', then what is your religion? If 'yes', then how do you cooperate with God for your spiritual health and well-being? Do you have high expectations for your children and do you offer a high level of support to help them achieve their potential? Are you indifferent to your children? Your spouse? Do you maintain high expectations without providing support to others or to yourself? Why ask how someone is doing if you are not prepared to listen to his answer? Do you really care...

Saint Michael Crushes And Chains The Devil GN 2026 Recently I came across a document that reads as if most of it was written only yesterday. Though only a portion of the work is here presented and commented upon, a reader could do well by accessing the entire work. The composition points out contemporary challenges that needed to be addressed, but also notes that a certain naïveté had taken hold, blinding some to the reality of and need for spiritual warfare. Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. Christian Faith and Demonology (Fede Cristiana Demonologia) L’Osservatore Romano, English Edition, July 10, 1975, pp. 6-10. This text was first published in Italian ( Fede Cristiana Demonologia)  in L’Osservatore Romano, Italian Edition, June 26, 1975, pp. 6-7. The original text was published in French in L’Osservatore Romano, French Edition, July 4, 1975. https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19750626_fede-cristiana-demonologia_en.html Sa...

There is a disturbing trend among some Catholic influencers. They heap negative criticism upon popes and prelates for meeting with those who are in most need of God's mercy. That hostile trend has been growing for some time, now aided by various technologies. It’s true that some members of the clergy act in ways that go against Catholic virtue and deserve to be called out. More on that later. There are Catholic influencers who are angry at the optics of a pope meeting with a female (Anglican) "archbishop." People assume that meeting with someone is part of a conspiracy that includes acceptance of heterodox teaching and practice. Optics - really?! Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman. St John 4:1-42 Jesus protects a woman caught in adultery by challenging her accusers and offering her mercy instead of condemnation. St John 8:1-11 Jesus dined with tax collectors and sinners at Matthew's house. St Matthew 9:10-13, St Mark 2:15-17, and St Luke 5:29-32 "What was Jesus th...

Excerpt from Architects of Communion  Guide for Parish Development The Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter files.ecatholic.com/3059/documents/2016/6/160531_Guide_to_Parish_Development.pdf?t=1465586849000 Introduction "The clergy and faithful of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter are called to be architects of communion, simultaneously preserving the distinctiveness and integrity of their communities while demonstrating commitment to act in communion with the broader Church. One of the means to demonstrate a commitment to communion is through the careful development of Ordinariate parishes and parochial communities. "The parish has at its basis and center the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, from which all education in the Spirit originates and from which flows various works of charity, mutual help, missionary activity, and different forms of Christian witness. The organization of the Catholic Church known as its hierarchical constitution is understood as f...