On May 20, 2021, the Jesuits kicked off a worldwide "Ignatian Year" to mark the 500th anniversary of Ignatius of Loyola's conversion. May 20 is the traditional date given as when Ignatius was struck by a cannonball during a fight at Pamplona, an event which set him on the course [...]
Fratelli Tutti is not addressed explicitly to religious. Nevertheless, its rich teachings have many applications to consecrated life. In this essay, Fr. Richard Gula, PSS offers three insights into the way Fratelli Tutti can inform a healthy community life. Click here to download a copy of this essay. Richard [...]
May 6-12 was Catholic Nurses week. Although nursing is now largely done by the laity, orders like the Sisters of Mercy continue to operate many healthcare facilities, engaging in healthcare ranging from "scrub nurses and doctors to CEOs, CFOs, and trustees in hospitals and health system." Here's a link roundup [...]
On May 11, Pope Francis released an Apostolic Letter motu proprio titled "Antiquum Ministerium." The letter establishes the lay ministry of catechist, through a rite to be determined by the Congregation of Divine Worship. The letter begins by reflecting on a New Testament theology of charism, focused especially on 1 [...]
Dante is not often thought of as a source that can speak to religious life. Yet, Pope Francis has recommended him to become better known in his recent letter Candor Lucis Aeternae, published on the 25th anniversary of Vita Consecrata. In this essay, Fr. Stephen Pepper, CSC draws a number of parallels [...]
In February, Sr. Nathalie Becquart, XMCJ was appointed undersecretary to the Synod of Bishops. The subsequent media attention on Sr. Becquart, as well as her own interest in promoting the concept of synodality, has led to a spate of articles and thinking about the problems and possibilities synodality possesses. But [...]
Vatican News reported that Pope Francis has authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to proceed with the canonization of a new religious saint and decrees about the causes of a number of other religious. The Congregation will soon canonize Margaret of Città del Castello, a third order Dominican [...]
On March 19th, the Feast of St. Joseph, Pope Francis released his message for World Day of Vocations." This year, Francis focused on St. Joseph in his announcement: Saint Joseph is an extraordinary figure, yet at the same time one “so close to our own human experience”. He did not [...]
On April 20th, a Minnesota jury convicted former police officer Derrick Chauvin of the murder of George Floyd. The Hennepin County Courthouse, barricaded in downtown Minneapolis, had gathered a crowd of protestors, who erupted into cheers when the verdict was read. Seven miles away at the University of St. Thomas, [...]
The Vatican Observatory, long run by the Jesuits, has recently complete a redesign of their website. The new site includes features like a podcast, with episodes such as "Death by Meteorite? What are the Chances?" and "The Vatican's Interest in Space Exploration?" There's a list of the scientists working at [...]