MEXICO CITY (CNA)—Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera of Mexico City will preside at a Mass to consecrate a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Shrine of Lourdes in France.

According to the Archdiocese of Mexico City’s news service, the consecration will take place at 11:30am on Sunday, Sept. 18. Cardinal Rivera will be joined by Bishop Jacques Perrier of Tarbes and Lourdes.

The new chapel was designed by the late Jose Barroso Chavez, who was the international president of the Red Cross and president for life of the Red Cross in Mexico. Barroso also contributed to the building of the current Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City. 

A statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe sits in...READ MORE

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Embarking for college at 18, with a solid Catholic upbringing by faithful parents and 14 years of Catholic school, I cared very much about following God’s will. I was comfortable with myself, and I certainly didn’t think anything would change me.

Unfortunately, I experienced culture shock right away, and instead of bracing myself for a bumpy ride, I let go and fell into a world wrapped up in the college party scene.

This happens to many Catholic college students, especially those at secular schools. There are no parents or teachers around to tell them to go to Mass. There are coed dorms, even coed rooms, which completely blur the sacred...READ MORE

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (EWTN News/CNA)—Pope Benedict XVI told a gathering of new bishops Sept. 15 that they should encourage lay movements within the Church and seek the holiness of the laity.

“Bishops have the task of watching and working to ensure that the baptized increase in grace, in accordance with the charisms the Holy Spirit causes to arise in their hearts and communities,” the Pope told more than 100 new bishops gathered at the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo.

He added that such “charisms which the Spirit arouses” amongst the laity are “for the edification of the Church” and that bishops should accept them “gratefully, for the sanctification of the Church and the vitality of...READ MORE

RALEIGH, N.C. (EWTN News)—Bishop Michael Burbidge of Raleigh has praised the North Carolina Legislature’s decision to allow citizens to vote on a marriage amendment that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

“I extend my sincere gratitude to all who worked on behalf of this amendment, but our work is not done. I remain committed to work with all who want to preserve and protect the true essence of marriage as a union of one man and one woman,” he said.

The state Senate voted on Sept. 13 to approve the legislation by a 30-16 vote, with Republicans voting in favor and Democrats voting against. The amendment passed the House by a vote of 75-42, with 10 Democrats voting in...READ MORE

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI embarks on a visit to Germany Sept. 22-25, the third visit to his homeland since he was elected Pope.

The four-day apostolic voyage begins in Berlin, followed by the cities of Erfurt, in the former East Germany (and also where Martin Luther was ordained a priest), and Freiburg im Breisgau, near the Swiss-German border. 

This will be a state visit, and, in accordance with protocol, the Holy Father is scheduled to give a historic address to the Federal Parliament in the Reichstag, an event which is eagerly anticipated but has drawn strong opposition from some anti-Church politicians.

Indeed, his visit to the German capital is likely to be the most...READ MORE

Five Ways We Can Know God Exists and What These Ways Tell Us About Him - Nicene Guys

The Case Against Protestant Special Pleading - Joe Heschmeyer, Shameless Popery

Flogging: The Best Hope for Our Broken Prison System? - Stefan McDaniel, Public Discourse

Dour Combat: Gavin O’Connor’s “Warrior” - Daniel McInerny, Catholic Exchange

The Massgoer’s Guide To Full and Active Participation - Keyser Soze, New Springtime!

Faith and the Scientific Imagination - Mark P. Shea, Catholic and Enjoying It!

Fragmented Liturgy: It’s Time to Restore Unity in the Church - Dylan Parry, A Reluctant Sinner

How Should People of Faith Respond to Tragedy - Royce, VirtuousPla.net

Seven Reasons Why Parenting...READ MORE

New Children’s Books for Catholics - Carl Olson, Ignatius Insight Scoop

Sheep Without a Shepherd - Joe Heschmeyer, Shameless Popery

Protestant Founder of Life Chain Gets It - Mark P. Shea, Catholic and Enjoying It!

Pope Benedict: “Kneel before the Eucharist” - Fr. Simon Henry, Offerimus Tibi Domine

One in Christ - Sarah Babbs, VirtuousPla.net

New Translation: Eucharistic Prayer II, Part IV (Intercessions) - Jake Tawney, Roma locuta est

You Might Be a ‘Good’ Catholic If. . . - Marissa K. Nichols, Theology of Laundry

Mary and the Liturgy - Kristina Johannes, The Catholic Thing

Quæritur: Frequent Confession to Root Out a Particular Sin - Fr. Zuhlsdorf, WDTPRS?

Assisted Suicide: The...READ MORE

WASHINGTON — Today, Sept. 14, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Catholic Church leaders, members of the Diplomatic Corps and Vice President Joseph Biden gathered for a memorial Mass for Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the former papal nuncio to the United States, who died in July. Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C. provided welcoming remarks, and Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York offered a homily that reflected on the significance of commemorating the nuncio’s death on the feast of the Triumph of the Cross.

Editor’s note: The following article ran in July, following Archbishop Sambi’s death.

WASHINGTON — The death of Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Holy...READ MORE