I thought this exchange from my interview with Philadelphia archbishop Charles Chaput was one we all ought to meditate on this Holy Week: LOPEZ: Why the Melville quote — “Truth is like a threshing-machine; tender sensibilities must keep out of the way”? CHAPUT: The public discourse of Catholics needs to be guided by charity and respect for others, but above all by truth. The truth can be difficult, so we often want to soften its edges. But this just wastes... Read more
Good prep reading from Fr. Raymond de Souza: I am drawn to the simple, solemn and silent moments of Holy Week. There are two great silences on Good Friday. The first at the beginning of the liturgy, when the priest prostrates himself before the altar; the second during the reading of the Gospel, when the entire congregation kneels after St. John tells us that “He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” I prefer to extend those moments until... Read more
Getting on the Capitol South Metro stop in D.C. Tuesday night, I stood behind a young man — dressed for Hill work — who had his rosary in his hand, by his side, as he was praying. Not flaunting, just part of his commute. Everyone else had a thriller or Ipad or smart phone. Why not a rosary? Fairly quietly powerful. Read more
Fr. George W. Rutler: The whole point of the Passion narrative is that the whole world is at the foot of the cross, and all the characters in the drama represent aspects of every human personality, believer and non-believer. Read more
From an interview with Archbishop Chaput on religious liberty in America and his new e-book on the same: LOPEZ: Does the Church have moral authority in the public square? Should Catholics even have a public voice given the clergy’s abuse scandals? CHAPUT: We don’t have a choice. We need to witness because Jesus Christ commands us to witness. His moral authority is unimpaired. The evil actions of some priests do not license the rest of us to be silent. I... Read more
From Saint Augustine, from the Liturgy of the Hours today: The death of the Lord our God should not be a cause of shame for us; rather, it should be our greatest hope, our greatest glory. In taking upon himself the death that he found in us, he has most faithfully promised to give us life in him, such as we cannot have of ourselves. Read more
A Church bulletin from March I happened upon, that ought to be shared: Note to Georgetown law students – Catholic teaching is very simple: Boys and girls are born into the world. Boys and girls grow up. They practice their Catholic Faith and participate in the sacraments, especially Confession and Holy Communion. Coming of age, they date one another and refrain from sexual activity until the knot is tied. If they get serious, they may choose to be engaged for marriage. They prepare for marriage with... Read more
How do we ever read through that Gospel from today and not walk away unchanged? At the Mass I attended in Virginia today, we sang: Were you there when they crucified my Lord? … Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?… Were you there when they pierced him in the side? … Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? Yes, you know, I was. I am. It should cause me to tremble. It did.... Read more
From the pastor’s note last week in the bulletin of Good Shepherd Parish – St. Stephen Catholic Church in New Orleans: But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD. I will place my law within them and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (Jer. 31:34) What does Jeremiah mean that the law will be “written on our hearts”?... Read more
Kathryn Lopez
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