2026
A Link in a Chain
Homily preached by the Reverend Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Ph.D., S.T.D., at the Church of St. Pius X, Forked River, New Jersey, for the Confirmation of Nolan Santos. ‘I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons,’ wrote our latest…
‘Synodal Shepherds’ Attack the Sheep
The Catholic Church is accustomed to attacks upon her teaching. The history of heresy over the centuries reveals the never-ending efforts of those who seek to replace Catholic doctrine with various errors. What the Church has only recently…
The Catholic Church’s American Moment
This year is special for American Catholics in two ways. First, there’s the upcoming 250th birthday of the American Republic on July 4, 2026. But there’s another anniversary to celebrate. Today is the first anniversary of the election of Leo…
If I Were Created a Cardinal
If I were created a Cardinal and dispensed from the canonical requirement to be ordained a deacon or priest – my vocation is as a layperson – this is how I would counsel the Holy Father on the first anniversary of his pontificate. “Holy Father,…
Confessions of a Catholic Writer
Someone asked recently what it’s like to be a Catholic writer these days. That brought me up short. Because the situation of a Catholic writer at present is pretty much like that of any Catholic – we’re all bewildered by the many things now that…
A Trip to France Triggers a Midlife Crisis of Faith
Although the idea of a midlife crisis feels like an outdated concept these days, there is still something to be said about it. It may look different for men today, but they are still forced to confront certain personal challenges that arise…
Why Should We Trust Them?
The German episcopate appears all agog, not to say hot and lathery, to extend blessings to men who bed down with men, and women with women, apparently believing that Saint Paul and Saint Jude have nothing to teach them: Germany having led the…
Raphael at New York’s MET
The current show at America’s greatest museum, Raphael: Sublime Poetry, will run through June 28th of this year. As with most major exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, curators have gathered works by the artist from museums around the…
Respecting Boundaries, Papal and Political
The feud between Pope Leo and President Trump over U.S. immigration policy and military action in Iran raises important questions about the propriety of observing boundaries and not crossing certain lines. Little needs to be said about the…
The Moon, the Crucifixion, and the Feast
The new month brings a trifecta on my ecclesiastical calendar: a full moon, First Friday, and the feast of St. Joseph the Worker. My calendar’s tracking of astronomical events is a holdover from long ago, when the Church had its own astrology.…