According to popular opinion, the Catholic Church is still mired in the Inquisition and still ignorant of modern science. After all, look what they did to Galileo Galilei. Every time I hear a critic of Catholicism mention Galileo, I want to say, “Really, you’re going to bring up something that happened 400 years ago? Talk about not moving on!” Harping on Galileo is especially ridiculous since most of what people believe is myth. Vatican Astronomers Attempting to dispel this myth... Read more
“Why do Catholics do that?” is a question often asked. I think we could say in return: “Why don’t other Christians do that?” For example, Catholics are known for using incense, but why don’t Protestants use it as well? Old Testament Use of Incense The Biblical significance and symbolism of incense warrants its place in worship. In Psalm 141:2 we have the plea: “Let my prayer come like incense before you.” Revelation 8:4 says: “From the angel’s hand the smoke... Read more
Did you know that the oldest Marian shrine in the United States is in St. Augustine, Florida? Did you know that shrine is dedicated to Our Lady of La Leche y Buen Parto, that is, Our Lady of the Milk and Happy Delivery? It is not surprising that our oldest Marian shrine is in the oldest continuously inhabited city in the United States. What might be surprising, however, is the long history of the devotion to Our Lady of La... Read more
The topic of beautiful churches is more complicated than you would think. It seems there’s a lot of guilt and criticism out there about the cost of churches, and serious debate about simple versus elaborate. Recently, Claire Swinarski wrote on this topic for her Letters from a Catholic Feminist: “Longing for the Beautiful…an essay on Fancy Ass Churches.” (Nov. 15, 2021) https://thecatholicfeminist.substack.com/ Claire described a “very deep, prayerful experience” looking at a “stunning painting of the Visitation.” This experience was... Read more
Is this world so terrible a place that you wouldn’t want to bring a child into it? Lots of people think so. I think such people have little knowledge of history and a lack of hope and trust in God. A recent article in the New York Times by Alex Williams reviewed the reasons people give for not wanting to have children. Economic worries top the list followed by the high cost of childcare, global instability and domestic politics. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/20/style/breed-children-climate-change.html?smid=tw-share... Read more
Our first sacrament as Catholics is baptism. It is the gateway to all the other sacraments and meaningful participation in the Church. As such, it is not a routine event but one that should be taken very seriously by the parents and godparents. I always cry at baptisms. The idea of a new life beginning the journey to salvation is awesome. Seeing that precious little person so loved — surrounded by proud smiles and dressed in a special baptismal gown... Read more
Politicians have a bad reputation. Few, if any, seem to be saintly. However, it is possible to be a world leader and holy. An example in modern times is that of Blessed Charles, last ruler of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Remarkably, Wikipedia lists 83 canonized kings and queens. In addition, there is a myriad of other royal saints and a long list of those who are being considered for sainthood. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_royal_saints_and_martyrs Most people probably think that these royal saints lived in... Read more
The Catholic Church has a mission to bring forgiveness and healing to all its members. That includes the women who are in need of post-abortion healing. One in four women in America has had an abortion. As discussed in a previous blog, Catholics are as affected by abortion as any other group. https://www.patheos.com/blogs/musingsfromthepew/2021/10/p361/ Chances are that some of the women at Mass have had an abortion. In addition are all those avoiding church because they are afraid they aren’t welcome... Read more
Redemptive suffering is the practice of offering up our suffering as a sacrifice to God. It is a way to connect our suffering with Christ’s so that God can use it to grant further blessings just as God used Christ’s sacrifice to redeem the world. Suffering, when accepted and offered up in union with Christ’s Passion, can reduce the punishment for sin and alleviate our physical or spiritual needs or that of others. If redemptive suffering is a way to... Read more
As the “Wandering Pew,” my husband and I are ceaselessly amazed by the incredible stories we encounter in Catholic churches. For example, the Shrine of St. Joseph in St. Louis, Missouri, is the site of two miracles! The First Miracle – a Terminal Illness Cured Built by Jesuits in 1844-46, St. Joseph’s witnessed its first miracle in 1864. Three years earlier, a German immigrant, Ignatius Strecker, had suffered a breastbone injury at his soap factory job. Within a couple of... Read more
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