A few months after Dorothy Day (1897-1980) passed away, I was interviewed for a New York City TV station by what I would describe as a “liberated” or “feminist” nun.

She asked me, “What is the legacy of Dorothy Day?”

A perfectly good question, I thought, and responded without hesitation: “Her faith.”

It was obvious from the interviewer’s facial expression that that was not the answer she wanted. It was clear she would rather have heard something like: “her pacifism” or “her activism” or “her condemnation of capitalism” or “her advocacy for the poor.” Pace the nun.

If you read letters in All the Way to Heaven, it is transparent that Day’s Catholic faith was the flesh of her being and...READ MORE

Apostle to Prostitutes: Today’s Saint John Eudes - Taylor Marshall, Canterbury Tales

Why Do Catholics Abstain from Meat on Fridays? - Joe Heschmeyer, Shameless Popery

Why the Priest Blesses the Water at the Offertory of the Mass - Fr. Ryan Erlenbush, New Theological Movement

There Is Some Blue Sky! Let Us Go Chase It! - Julie Robison, VirtuousPla.net

Myth Busters: The Impeccability of the Pope - Brent Stubbs, Almost Not Catholic

We’ve Got a Lot to Learn from the Italians about Brotherly Love - Fr. Alexander Lucie-Smith, Catholic Herald

Universal Salvation and Probability - DarwinCatholic, The American Catholic

Mormonism and Natural Law - Francis Beckwith, The Catholic Thing

Love of...READ MORE

What an incredible day! Tears start dripping down my face and onto my keyboard as I sit here and type this. It is a day where memories and feelings will be forever in my heart.

I got to see the Holy Father! Not just see him: He was within a few feet of us, and he blessed us! One hardly knows how to describe the peace and joy of that moment. There is an amazing feeling of unity with the whole Church here and a power that is above normal circumstances.

The day began different then I had anticipated. I am a person who likes to control things, and all of my plans for the day were not going well. A late start and large crowds made seeing the city difficult and getting to the talks out of the...READ MORE

Dear young people,

We have celebrated this Way of the Cross with fervor and devotion, following Christ along the path of his passion and death. The commentaries of the Little Sisters of the Cross, who serve the poor and most needy, have helped us enter into the mystery of Christ’s glorious cross, wherein is found God’s true wisdom, which judges the world and judges those who consider themselves wise (1 Corinthians 1:17-19).

We have also been assisted on this journey to Calvary by our contemplation of these wonderful images from the religious patrimony of the Spanish dioceses. In these images, faith and art combine, so as to penetrate our heart and summon us to conversion. When faith’s...READ MORE

CNA/EWTN News

DENVER — The secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Family said an overemphasis of the sexual aspect of the theology of the body runs the risk of eliminating the depth and “mystery” involved in human and divine love.

Bishop Jean Laffitte said in an Aug. 3 interview, “The problem is: If you focus only on sexuality, you can’t develop beyond that, and you don’t see that this beauty is a gift given by the Creator, but in a much wider context.”

The bishop, in Denver for the Knights of Columbus’ annual convention, said when interpreting Blessed Pope John Paul II’s teachings, it is essential to first understand God’s design in creating man and woman.

Bishop Laffitte said...READ MORE

MADRID (EWTN News/CNA) — Pope Benedict XVI met with young religious sisters and later with young university professors on Aug. 19 at the royal site of El Estorial. He emphasized the importance of the sisters’ radical consecration and urged the professors to be a source of encouragement for students.

“The Pope spoke about a personal encounter with Christ, and that (encounter) is what fulfills us,” said Sister Ruth Martin, a 38-year-old sister of the recently founded religious community Ieuso Communio.

“It was a huge privilege — a great joy!” she told EWTN News, amid the cheering and singing of sisters from various communities.

The sisters of Ieuso Communio, as young as 18 years old,...READ MORE

MADISON, Wis. — The recall contests in Wisconsin this summer set a national record — an indication of how deep feelings run in the state.

The last recall elections ended Aug. 16 with Republicans still holding the state Legislature. But the partisan battle over the fate of pensions, benefits and collective bargaining rights for public-sector unions created painful divisions even among Catholics — and that still needs pastoral and catechetical attention.

Wisconsin’s Catholic bishops say it’s time to set aside the political divisions that have divided parish communities and even some families.

Bishop Robert Morlino of Madison has invited his flock to reconcile their differences. But he...READ MORE

World Youth Day 2011 travelers will have plenty to do in Madrid. In addition to the WYD events, visitors can make a pilgrimage within a pilgrimage by visiting some important religious sites in the area. All but one is in Madrid itself.

Highlights range from centuries-old churches steeped in Spanish history to a two-year-old church considered the world’s highest Catholic chapel. Some are small, some huge. Many have liturgical art by Old World Masters. One even has a special connection to the founder of World Youth Day, John Paul II.

San Pedro el Leal Church and San Nicolás de los Servitas Church are the two oldest churches in Madrid. San Pedro was constructed shortly after San Nicolás, which...READ MORE