From Rome Reports: The remains of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, commonly known as the Padre Pio, will be exhibited in St. Peter’s Basilica from February 8th to 14th, 2016 to mark the Holy Year of Mercy. It was announced on the website of the Convent Sanctuary of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina. According to the post, the Pope himself wanted his remains to be exhibited. Specifically, Pope Francis wanted Padre Pio’s remains to be displayed at St. Peter’s Basilica on Ash Wednesday (February... Read more
From L’Osservatore Romano: South America is making waves on the Popes’s Twitter handle, @Pontifex. Just as Francis’ apostolic visit in Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay concluded, the Pope’s followers in nine languages surpassed 22 million. This record comes just 41 days after that number had reached 21 million. The Popes’ visit to the three South American countries had an immense impact on social networks around the world. Comments, discussions and retweets surrounded the Pope’s addresses and pictures were posted by various media outlets... Read more
It’s in New Zealand: Nature can be a spiritual place for many, and in the Christian tradition, references to the environment abound. New Zealand businessman Barry Cox decided to turn his spiritual connection to nature into a literal sanctuary by building an entire church out of trees. Cox lives on a three-acre property on the country’s north island, and got inspiration for the church one day while surveying his land. “I walked out my back door one day and thought, ‘That space needs a church’... Read more
[getty src=”462786294?et=9GAUgLPnTr1ma7-FANQkcg&viewMoreLink=off&sig=iKPRjKIDOd813jAN59nEfl1bVsGkCI_FeToknuqfFbI=&caption=true” width=”594″ height=”542″] View image | gettyimages.com Last month, when it was announced that Caitlyn (nee Bruce) Jenner would receive the prestigious Arthur Ashe Courage Award from ESPN, I surveyed the remarkable life of Ashe and noted: It has to be said: bestowing this prize on the likes of Caitlyn Jenner—whose life is now a clanging carnival of self-promotion, gossip, publicity stunts and reality TV hucksterism— insults the memory of the truly courageous man for whom it is named. But... Read more
From Rome Reports: The remains of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, commonly known as the Padre Pio, will be exhibited in St. Peter’s Basilica from February 8th to 14th, 2016 to mark the Holy Year of Mercy. It was announced on the website of the Convent Sanctuary of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina. According to the post, the Pope himself wanted his remains to be exhibited. Specifically, Pope Francis wanted Padre Pio’s remains to be displayed at St. Peter’s Basilica on Ash Wednesday (February... Read more
From L’Osservatore Romano: South America is making waves on the Popes’s Twitter handle, @Pontifex. Just as Francis’ apostolic visit in Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay concluded, the Pope’s followers in nine languages surpassed 22 million. This record comes just 41 days after that number had reached 21 million. The Popes’ visit to the three South American countries had an immense impact on social networks around the world. Comments, discussions and retweets surrounded the Pope’s addresses and pictures were posted by various media outlets... Read more
From CNS: UNESCO declared Bethany Beyond the Jordan, on the eastern side of the Jordan River, as a World Heritage site and the location of Jesus’ baptism.“The decision is logical. The Eastern side is where all the Byzantine antiquities and churches are located,” said Franciscan Father Eugenio Alliata, professor of Christian archaeology at Jerusalem’s Studium Biblicum Franciscanum. He said pilgrimages to the Western side began only about 600 years ago. “But for us it is the Jordan River, the middle,... Read more
Glad you asked. The Washington Post reports: Pope Francis, age 78, has become one of the most desired group selfie participants on the planet. Everywhere he goes, it seems, the faithful want the pope to stop and smile for a photo with a cellphone camera perched at the end of an outstretched arm. Well, you guys, all those requests are making the pope feel old. A reporter asked Pope Francis about the selfie requests on a Sunday night flight back... Read more
This is something a little different: a new high school about to open in Illinois, named for G.K. Chesterton—and teaching students without the use of computers or iPads: A new high school focusing on classical education and the Catholic faith will open this fall in Downers Grove. The Chesterton Academy of the Holy Family will be in session as of Aug. 24 at the First Presbyterian Church, 339 Fourth St. The co-ed, private high school will offer an integrated classical curriculum... Read more
From CNS: UNESCO declared Bethany Beyond the Jordan, on the eastern side of the Jordan River, as a World Heritage site and the location of Jesus’ baptism. “The decision is logical. The Eastern side is where all the Byzantine antiquities and churches are located,” said Franciscan Father Eugenio Alliata, professor of Christian archaeology at Jerusalem’s Studium Biblicum Franciscanum. He said pilgrimages to the Western side began only about 600 years ago. “But for us it is the Jordan River, the... Read more
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