The Divide That Runs Through America Is Religious, The Virtuous Power of Endurance, and More Links!

The Best in Catholic Blogging

The Divide That Runs Through America Is Religious - Jerry D. Slayer, Crisis Magazine+++

Communist China: Over 200 Church Members Arrested Since the Summer – Lin Yijiang, Bitter Winter

Guiding Youth Through Society’s Traps; Off the Shelf with Leila Miller – Pete Socks, Catholic Stand

A New Adoration Chapel Inspired by the Portiuncula in Assisi – David Clayton, New Liturgical Movement

Press On: The Virtuous Power of Endurance – Pat Archer, The Catholic Gentleman

Seven Aspects of Mary’s Sanctity – Peter Kreeft Ph.D., The Integrated Catholic Life™

More New Reports on the Sex Abuse Scandals & Cover-ups - Big Pulpit

Standing Athwart History: Can We Stop the Decline of the West? - Michael De Sapio+++

Pain & Prayer – Nathalie Fernandez, Ignitum Today

The Hell of Drug Addiction – Sebastian James, Mercatornet

How Do I Love Me? – Alyssa Morrisroe, Catholic Stand

Quæritur: If I am in the State of Mortal Sin, is There Any Point in Praying? – Fr. Z’s Blog

Are Pro-Trump Christians Putting Country Before Christ? – John Zmirak Ph.D.

St. Joseph, Our Patron of a Happy Death – Fr. Maurice Meschler, Catholic Exchange

For the Most Recent in 'The Best in Catholic Blogging' click on  Big Pulpit .

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne attends a German Synodal Way assembly on March 9, 2023.

Four German Bishops Resist Push to Install Permanent ‘Synodal Council’

Given the Vatican’s repeated interventions against the German process, the bishops said they would instead look to the Synod of Bishops in Rome. Meanwhile, on Monday, German diocesan bishops approved the statutes for a synodal committee; and there are reports that the synodal committee will meet again in June.

Palestinian Christians celebrate Easter Sunday Mass at Holy Family Church in Gaza City on March 31, amid the ongoing battles Israel and the Hamas militant group.

People Explain ‘Why I Go to Mass’

‘Why go to Mass on Sundays? It is not enough to answer that it is a precept of the Church. … We Christians need to participate in Sunday Mass because only with the grace of Jesus, with his living presence in us and among us, can we put into practice his commandment, and thus be his credible witnesses.’ —Pope Francis