Today marks one year since my grandfather, theologian James Likoudis, passed into eternal life. Living with him through my junior and senior years of high school shaped me in ways I’ll never forget. Over his nearly one hundred years, he was a steady light in my life.He would drive me to school each day, and around the breakfast or dinner table I’d listen to him lecture about the liturgy, abuses in the Church, dissenting theologians, and why unity under the... Read more
The Essential Guide to Ratzinger is an accessible and yet thorough synthesis of the theological mind and spiritual witness of Joseph Ratzinger—later Pope Benedict XVI. Perhaps Ramage’s greatest achievement is his success in liberating Ratzinger from the clutches of partisan misuse, presenting him instead as he truly was: a faithful disciple of Christ, a devoted man of the Church, and one of the most profound theological minds of our contemporary age.At the heart of Ramage’s study is what he identifies... Read more
Last week I came across an article in my inbox, written by two respected scholars of religion and social science, Dr. Stephen Bullivant and Dr. Stephen Cranney. Bullivant is a Professor of Theology and the Sociology of Religion and serves as the director of the Benedict XVI Centre for Religion and Society, a joint initiative between St Mary’s University in London and the University of Notre Dame Australia. He has written many books and articles on topics such as atheism, secularization,... Read more
Pope Francis has recently come under intense scrutiny (again), with some detractors (mis-)labeling him a heretic (again) During his September 2024 Apostolic Journey, Pope Francis addressed young people at Singapore’s Catholic Junior College. In a scheduled interreligious meeting, he emphasized the importance of dialogue and mutual respect among different faiths. The comments that stirred this controversy stated: . . . if you start arguing, “My religion is more important than yours. . . ,” or “Mine is the true one,... Read more
James Likoudis speaking with Pope John Paul II. (photo: Courtesy photo / Likoudis Family) By Philip Blosser and Andrew Likoudis The Catholic Church lost one of its most courageous and articulate defenders in James Likoudis, who died Sept. 3 at the age of 95. A revered historian, apologist and educator, Likoudis devoted his life to explaining the teachings of the Catholic Church on a wide range of issues from Vatican II and the papacy, to defending marriage and the family... Read more
Andrew Mioni’s book, Altar Against Altar: An Analysis of Catholic Traditionalism, is a compelling and powerful work, and it is precisely what the Church needs in these perilous times, when prelates are in open rebellion against Pope Francis, including Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, who denies the pope’s legitimacy and is on the brink of formal excommunication, and Bishop Athanasius Schneider, who is calling for resistance to the pope’s decisions to curtail use of the 1962 Missal. Bishop Schneider even claims—in... Read more
“There’s musicianship and then there’s genius, and then way, way, way above all that, out in the stratosphere, is Jacob Collier.” — Hans Zimmer “I have never in my life seen a talent like this… Beyond category. One of my favorite young artists on the planet—absolutely mind-blowing.” — Quincy Jones I was very blessed this past week to have attended my first Jacob Collier concert at The Anthem in Washington DC, for the Djesse World Tour 2024, where he was... Read more
The Silver Jubilee of the Cardinal O’Connor Conference on Life: A Vision for the Next 25 Years Introduction The 25th annual Cardinal O’Connor Conference on Life (OCC), convened this past week, Jan. 20th, at Georgetown University’s Healy Hall, stood as a testament to the preeminent commitment of American Catholics to the sanctity of human life. The OCC is the largest collegiate anti-abortion student-run conference in the country. This event, marked by a blend of profound reflection and forward thinking, brought... Read more
[N.B. The following is the last interview that Alice von Hildebrand granted. Shortly after, she passed away and presented herself to her Lord. She loved God and His Church, and never was ashamed of her Faith and the Doctrines of the Catholic Church. May she hear, from the mouth of the Lord, those sweet words “Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your Lord.”] An Evening With Alice von Hildebrand “God is infinite beauty,” said Alice... Read more
The Liturgical Reform: Council, Consilium, and Papacy Editor’s note: This is a long-form essay in five parts, all published simultaneously below. The word count is around 12,400. Part 1 The liturgical path of the Church after Vatican II Introduction The Second Vatican Council, a watershed in the life of the Catholic Church, famously generated a number of significant reforms, particularly in the realm of the sacred liturgy. Central to these reforms was the document Sacrosanctum Concilium, a constitution that sought to renew... Read more
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