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

This article has been updated since the afternoon of Aug. 18.

MADRID (EWTN News/CNA) — Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Madrid for World Youth Day 2011 on Aug. 18 to the delight of a massive throng of young people. Over the next four days, he will meet and pray with more than a million young pilgrims.

“I come as the Successor of Peter, to confirm them all in the faith, with days of intense pastoral activity, proclaiming that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life,” he said upon his arrival at Madrid’s Barajas Airport.

Pope Benedict was formally welcomed by King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia of Spain, along with Cardinal Antonio Rouco of Madrid.

As military bands played the...READ MORE

MADRID (CNA/EWTN News) — Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston encouraged young people to faithfully attend Sunday Mass and to bring their friends to Jesus Christ.

“We live in a culture that is addicted to entertainment, but we don’t come to Mass to be entertained,” he told World Youth Day pilgrims at a morning catechesis session in central Madrid Aug. 17.

“Our presence there, gathered as a family, is of crucial importance. It is at the Sunday Eucharist that we learn our identity as Christ’s family, where we witness to each other that we are believers and that we want to live as Jesus’ disciples.”

Cardinal O’Malley addressed more than 1,000 young English-speaking pilgrims who were crammed...READ MORE

60 Years a Priest, On the Anniversary of the Pope’s Ordination - Fr. James V. Schall SJ, Ignatius Insight

Spiritual Heirloom - Elizabeth Hillgrove, VirtuousPla.net

In Praise of the Cassock from an Unexpected Source - Fr. John Zuhlsdorf, WDTPRS?

Cross & Eagle Catholic Blogging Award for Longest Post Title - The American Catholic

Zeba, the “Princess” Who Ran Away for Love - Mauro Pianti, La Stampa/Vatican Insider

Receiving Gifts, a 1626 Missale Romanum & Galileo - Dr. Stacy Trasancos, Accepting Abundance

The Marriage Gap that’s Destroying Middle America - Carolyn Moynihan, MercatorNet

The Last Gasp of the Revolution that Failed - Mark P. Shea, Catholic and Enjoying It!

Deception for...READ MORE

When Father Ian Hellyer, a Catholic priest in England, figures his personal budget, he faces concerns that are unusual for a Catholic priest: He must consider the needs of his wife, Margaret, and their nine children.

A former Anglican clergyman, Father Hellyer was ordained in June into a Church that by and large has not had to provide for men with families. He is a priest of the personal ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, a newly erected diocese for former Anglicans. It was created under the provisions of Pope Benedict XVI’s Anglicanorum Coetibus, which made it possible for former Anglicans to come into the Catholic Church in groups.

A similar ordinariate is expected to be up and...READ MORE

Trust in divine Providence. I say that because today was a perfect example of the Holy Spirit guiding our day. Let me explain.

Our day began with a few delays and a little rain storm. Not a big deal, but when we made it to the English center at Palancio de los Deportes, it was packed to capacity for the English Mass. We were stuck outside, unable to get in and attend Mass. That was a huge disappointment for our group, but as things would go, EWTN was filming little groups outside of the doors. To the delight of the teens in our groups, EWTN filmed them doing their different chants — all thanks to Life on the Rock’s awesome producer! (Thanks Jill!)

When we were unable to get in there, we...READ MORE

The Church has a Deep Theology about the Seventh Commandment - Carl Olson, Ignatius Insight Scoop

The Truth Is - Steven Lawson, VirtuousPla.net

On the Reading of Obscure Documents - John M. DeJak, The Distributist Review

The 2011 Cross & Eagle Catholic Blogging Awards - The American Catholic

. . . Cross & Eagle Award for Best Author Pseudonym . . .

. . . Cross & Eagle for Most Beautiful Blog . . .

The Liturgy of St. James on the Eucharist - Joe Heschmeyer, Shameless Popery

Excerpts from Thomas Aquinas’ Childhood Journal - Mark P. Shea, Catholic & Enjoying It!

Mexico: The Farewell of the Ranchero Cardinal - Andrés Beltramo Álvarez, La Stampa/Vatican Insider

Santorum Momentum...READ MORE

Hey, gals, there’s a one-time-only “special” on forgiveness in Madrid this week! Had an abortion? No problem, as they say in Spain. The Pope in Rome has waived your culpability — just this once!!

That is how way too many news stories about World Youth Day read. “Pope dangles ‘fruits of divine grace’ to excommunicated Catholics who admit, during Madrid event, to terminations,” the Guardian tells us.

And then, there are the commentaries in response: full of anger and confusion, only adding to the pain people affected by abortion already know. On Slate’s “XX Factor” blog, where you go to find out “What Women Really Think,” Amanda Marcotte writes: “Oh boy, the Vatican, no doubt patting...READ MORE