The Pope as the Custodian of Tradition
A complete prohibition preventing diocesan priests from celebrating the TLM would be inimical to the role of the Church as a careful custodian of the living form of tradition.
A Weary Pope Rejoices: Remembering the Humility of Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI demonstrated the heroic virtue of humility in every aspect of his life of service.
Pornocracy II: Electric Boogaloo
Pope Francis appears intent in his attempt to divide the loyalties of the Faithful between himself and Pope Benedict XVI, as Stephen VI did with his post-mortem trial of Pope Formosus.
The Challenge of Charity
As a young man, I was consumed by anger at the state of the world and hated those I thought responsible. Save me, Lord, from falling into that trap today regarding the Church.
Turning Toward the Lord With Benedict XVI
The celebration of the Mass ad orientem is the orientation of man toward his true home in Heaven, pointing him in the right direction for the journey home.
A Berlin Wall—Again
It must seem to the decent Catholics attached to the Traditional Mass that a kind of Berlin Wall is closing in upon them.
Misrepresentation of Mediator Dei, Sacrosanctum Concilium, and Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI
Part Two of a response to Cavadini, Healy, and Weinandy’s critique of the traditional Latin Mass.
Benedict XVI and American Patriotism
The experience of totalitarian regimes shaped Benedict’s formative years; for him, the United States was first and foremost the liberator.
A Wise Man Ends His Pilgrimage
Life and death are inseparable partners in the course of human salvation, and so it is fitting that we end the season celebrating the birth of Christ with the death of a holy man.
The Beauty of a Holy Death
If you are able, do not hesitate to assist at someone’s holy death. You will never regret it.
Pope Benedict XVI and the Ghouls
To me it seems clear that the Church’s problem will be solved as Lefties age out. This doesn’t mean I can’t imagine a better timeline on which Benedict remained pope.
The Legacy of Joseph Ratzinger
With the death of Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI), we look at his substantial legacy as theologian, priest, cardinal archbishop, head of the CDF, pope, and pope emeritus.
An Insider’s View of Benedict’s Resignation
I worked at the Vatican’s Secretariat of State from 2007-2017. I’ll never forget the surprise on February 11, 2013, when Benedict announced his intention to retire.
The Intertwined Minds of Pope Benedict XVI and St. Augustine
A.N. Whitehead famously said that all Western philosophy is “footnotes to Plato.” In the same way, as Benedict says, the history of Western psychological understanding and insight comes directly from Augustine.
The Paradoxical Pope
In spite of the profound impact Pope Benedict XVI has had on my life (or perhaps because of it), I can’t help but have mixed—and confused—feelings about the man now that he has passed.
The Political Philosophy of Joseph Ratzinger
Joseph Ratzinger was aware of the central event of modernity, namely the transferal of basic Christian categories from the transcendent order to the political order of this world.
Joseph Ratzinger: A Man Sent from God
In my opinion, Joseph Ratzinger will be remembered as the best theologian of the twentieth century, having the longest and most impactful legacy of any Catholic theologian since Newman.
‘The Two Popes’ Is Pure Propaganda
The Two Popes is not so much a picture as it is propaganda. The Netflix original follows the mode of the liberal media, presenting imagined interactions and conversations between Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis (when he was Cardinal Bergoglio) that further an agenda that is bent on denouncing the Catholic Church with slick cinematography. … Read more
Buffalo Closure?
Bishop Richard J. Malone of the Diocese of Buffalo is “retiring” a couple of years early. After seven years of allegedly allowing priests accused of statutory rape and unwanted touching to remain in ministry, after concealing hundreds of pages of damning litigation documents from the public, after being secretly recorded calling an active parish priest … Read more
Welcome to the People’s Democratic Republic of Canada
Canadian voters have re-elected Justin Trudeau as their Prime Minister. The October 21 election shows that the Liberal Party garnered 157 seats to 121 for the Conservatives. Four other parties gained 60 seats total, which means that a Liberal minority will be in power. The popular vote was much closer with the Conservatives getting 34.4 … Read more