View image | gettyimages.com From The Wall Street Journal: Pope Francis called for a more welcoming Catholic church, open even to those don’t accept its teachings, as he preached at a large open-air Mass on the last day of a weeklong South American tour. Speaking to hundreds of thousands of people at a military air base on the outskirts of Paraguay’s capital city on Sunday, the pontiff taught a lesson in how the church should—and shouldn’t—attempt to spread the Gospel. He... Read more
A reader spotted this in a local department store: Want one? Visit this link. Read more
From Christian Today: Influential evangelical and Alpha pastor Rev Nicky Gumbel yesterday sang the praises of the Catholic Church for being at the fore in bringing new Christians to faith in Jesus. Gumbel, of Holy Trinity Brompton, the heart of Anglican church growth in the diocese of London and the nation, told a gathering of nearly 900 Catholic bishops, priests and laity: “I love the Catholic Church – she is leading the way in evangelisation.” He spelled out his Alpha... Read more
[getty src=”480525978?et=iDsK92v1Qgpr5I–KlvUrw&viewMoreLink=off&sig=gQNz2hdK5pYYJPY_4GMwZZOLfxBKEAZE1-CiqsSqIy4=&caption=true” width=”594″ height=”396″] View image | gettyimages.com From The Wall Street Journal: Pope Francis called for a more welcoming Catholic church, open even to those don’t accept its teachings, as he preached at a large open-air Mass on the last day of a weeklong South American tour. Speaking to hundreds of thousands of people at a military air base on the outskirts of Paraguay’s capital city on Sunday, the pontiff taught a lesson in how the church should—and shouldn’t—attempt to... Read more
A reader spotted this in a local department store: Want one? Visit this link. Read more
The Head of the Holy See’s Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, said Pope Francis strongly appreciates expressions of popular piety and that’s why Saturday’s Mass at the Marian Shrine of Caacupé in Paraguay was undoubtedly a moment of “profound joy” for him: Speaking about the Mass celebrated on Saturday at the Marian Shrine of Caacupé in Paraguay, Father Lombardi said this event was definitely one of the highlights of the entire visit to Latin America for Pope Francis. He said... Read more
Flying out of New York’s LaGuardia Airport yesterday, this sign caught my eye: It’s a reminder of the invaluable airport chaplaincy that serves so many faithful travelers shuttling around the world. (That sign dissolved into another message: “God Bless Our Troops,” which made me wonder how much longer such a shockingly religious message will be permitted in a public place before someone complains…but I digress.) I was reminded of my trip through Chicago last winter, where I was blessed to... Read more
The Head of the Holy See’s Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, said Pope Francis strongly appreciates expressions of popular piety and that’s why Saturday’s Mass at the Marian Shrine of Caacupé in Paraguay was undoubtedly a moment of “profound joy” for him: Speaking about the Mass celebrated on Saturday at the Marian Shrine of Caacupé in Paraguay, Father Lombardi said this event was definitely one of the highlights of the entire visit to Latin America for Pope Francis. He said... Read more
Flying out of New York’s LaGuardia Airport yesterday, this sign caught my eye: It’s a reminder of the invaluable airport chaplaincy that serves so many faithful travelers shuttling around the world. (That sign dissolved into another message: “God Bless Our Troops,” which made me wonder how much longer such a shockingly religious message will be permitted in a public place before someone complains…but I digress.) I was reminded of my trip through Chicago last winter, where I was blessed to... Read more
View image | gettyimages.com A few headlines have said as much: Pope slams capitalism as ‘dung of the devil’ is one example. But if you read the context of the speech, you get a different impression: The earth, entire peoples and individual persons are being brutally punished. And behind all this pain, death and destruction there is the stench of what Basil of Caesarea called “the dung of the devil”. An unfettered pursuit of money rules. The service of the... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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