It’s finally here. Pope Francis opened the Holy Doors this morning and launched the Jubilee of Mercy. Watch it as it happened, below—joined by a frail but joyful Pope Emeritus, who probably thought he’d never again see a moment like this. Photo: Getty Images Read more

My homily for Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception in 2012: + In his  book about the infancy of Jesus, Pope Benedict mentions one powerful detail in the gospel we just heard—and it’s something that I have to agree is striking. It is Mary’s aloneness. The pope wrote: “I consider it important to focus on the final sentence of Luke’s Annunciation narrative: ‘And the angel departed from her.’ The great hour of Mary’s encounter with God’s messenger–in which her whole life... Read more

I never thought I’d find myself writing a post about Kim Kardashian, but here we are. In case you missed the news:  After much anticipation, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are finally ready to reveal the name of their baby boy. Without further ado, the happy couple announced on Kim’s website that they decided on… Saint West!  The post also revealed the baby boy weighed in at 8 lbs., 1 oz. The decision is one that was made towards the... Read more

Watch: his poll numbers will skyrocket. Details from The Washington Post:  Donald Trump called Monday for a “total and complete shutdown” of the entry of Muslims to the United States “until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on.” In a statement released by his campaign Monday afternoon, Trump included recent poll findings that he says show that a sizable segment of the Muslim population has “great hatred towards Americans.” “Without looking at the various polling data, it is obvious... Read more

“Awesome” is not too strong a word for this. When this little girl was taken to see Santa at a shopping center, her parents explained to the Jolly Old Elf that she doesn’t talk much, because she is hearing impaired. But St. Nick, of course, knows sign language. Just watch what happened. Photo: Cleveland Centre Facebook page Read more

Here’s something you don’t hear about every day, via The Washington Post:  Hundreds of Shiite Muslims turned a major annual spiritual ritual into an anti-terrorism rally Sunday, marching, singing and praying for hours from trendy Dupont Circle to the White House as tourists and brunch-goers rubbernecked. Connecticut Avenue was a sea of black as Shiites mostly from the D.C. region waved banners with the name of their spiritual forefather, Imam Hussein, and pounded their chests with their fists simultaneously as... Read more

Details:  No-nonsense Catholic Sister John Paul Bauer bagged a big deer days ago and is drawing fire from some on social media. An image of the Pennsylvania woman on the Facebook page of the Erie Catholic Diocese has gone viral and attracted more than a million views. The nun, a teacher at Elk County Catholic High School in Saint Mary’s, shot a 10-point buck. “In St. Marys, this is what you do,” she said. “You go hunting. And everybody goes hunting.... Read more

The Vatican has just released the pope’s message for the World Day of Vocations 2016, which falls on April 17.  Take a look:  + The Church, Mother of Vocations Dear Brothers and Sisters, It is my great hope that, during the course of this Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, all the baptized may experience the joy of belonging to the Church and rediscover that the Christian vocation, just like every particular vocation, is born from within the People of God, and... Read more

Here’s a fascinating moment from another time: Pope Pius XII beginning the Jubilee Year in 1950, from a Pathé newsreel. Among other things, it not only shows a stark contrast with the papacy of today—no sedia gestatoria, or throne for being carried—but it also offers a glimpse at media coverage from another age. If you think the Church faces problems now, well,  they thought things were pretty bad back then, too. “Never has the Church faced greater problems,” the narrator intones. “Persecuted in the... Read more

But then, she changed her mind. Details:  The Roselle Park councilwoman who resigned Thursday after the council voted to change the name of the borough’s “Tree Lighting” to a “Christmas Tree Lighting” is now rescinding her resignation. Minutes after the council voted 4-2 Thursday night to change the name, Councilwoman-at-Large Charlene Storey walked out of the meeting. She later submitted her letter of resignation to the municipal clerk’s office. “I cannot in good conscience continue to be part of a council... Read more