Michael Coren, author of the new book, The Future of Catholicism, and I had this exchange recently, which may be of interest if this is a question in your mind: LOPEZ: You write that in the face of liberation theology, Pope Francis, before he was pope, “was obliged to work out his own deeply Catholic yet non-socialist response to poverty.” You further write that “socialism has failed the poor, and governments of various stripes have not managed to address the... Read more
Helping someone with this, everyday: God calls you to make definitive choices, and he has a plan for each of you: to discover that plan and to respond to your vocation is to move toward personal fulfilment. God calls each of us to be holy, to live his life, but he has a particular path for each one of us. Some are called to holiness through family life in the sacrament of Marriage. Today, there are those who say that... Read more
Earlier this year, I interviewed Pat Gohn, wife, mother, and catechist, and author of Blessed, Beautiful and Bodacious: Celebrating the Gift of Catholic Womanhood, for National Review Online. There was much to talk about. And now, perhaps as you are looking for one last (or first!) Christmas gift — or sitting down to reflect on the past, present, and future — listen in on an extended conversation with Pat Gohn about women in the Church, women in the world, which... Read more
Earlier this year, I interviewed Elizabeth Scalia, known best as “The Anchoress” online, about her book, Strange Gods: Unmasking the Idols in Everyday Life (which I also wrote about here). Pope Francis keeps talking about the dangers of idolatry in our lives, here are some extended exclusive questions and answers with Elizabeth about our inclinations to idolatry and how to better let God reorder our lives. Strange Gods is a good, accessible book to read, to give, to share, especially... Read more
A good Advent image — especially when trying to make sense of what the so-called Francis effect is really about: Jesus accomplishes his work as Savior without any ostentation, simply and humbly; he does not present himself as a conqueror, but rather as one who is meek; as a poor man who has come to preach the gospel of the poor, to heal the sick, and to save sinners. His manner might scandalize those who were looking for a powerful... Read more
Certainly not on the Gospel. I’ve been listening to people describe Washington’s Cardinal Donald Wuerl as a “moderate” over the last day. I could give you many examples, but here’s some a favorite homily of his of mine, from last spring. He celebrated Mass with Catholic students at George Washington University, as their chaplain was undergoing some persecution for teaching what the Church teaches, and in sacramental context. It’s not my favorite because I agree with it, which I do,... Read more
Earlier this fall, I interviewed Emily Stimpson about her wonderful book, These Beautiful Bones: An Everyday Theology of the Body, published by my friends at Emmaus Road, for National Review Online. I subjected her to extra questions so that there would be more to share. This seems like as good a time as any to do so. Some of you are looking for good, quality, potentially life-changing gifts for loved ones for Christmas. Some of you might find yourselves with... Read more
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace. When we hear these words at Mass, after the consecration, just before we are invited to partake in the greatest feast on earth, do we drink these words in? “Behold the Lamb of God who taketh... Read more
Maybe St. John of the Cross can better explain what Pope Francis is up to: Reveal your presence, And may the vision of your beauty be my death, For the sickness of love Is not cured Except by your very presence and image. … In the inner wine cellar I drank of my beloved, and when I went abroad Through all this valley I no longer knew anything, And the lost herd that I was following. There he gave me... Read more
Look at the eyes of Our Lady of Guadalupe. They’re soft and tender. They are praying that we may know the tender, redeeming love of her Son. Sr. Maria Guadalupe, from the religious order, Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist talked to me a few years ago about the significance of Our Lady of Guadalupe for us today: As I understand it, the New Evangelization is about finding new ways to reach people with the same Gospel message we’ve... Read more
Kathryn Lopez
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