Nicodemus on the Necessity of Sacred Prayer, The Voices of 20th-Century Chinese Martyrs, and more!

The Best in Catholic Blogging

Nicodemus on the Necessity of Sacred Prayer – Wolfsbane, Θησαυρος της Εκκλησίας

The Voices of 20th-Century Chinese Martyrs – Anthony E. Clark PhD, Catholic World Report

The Latest Reaction from the Catholic Blogosphere to the Supreme Court Health Care Ruling – Big Pulpit

Struggling with Church Doctrine? Go to Confession! – Arman J. Partamian, Matins Musings

The Reform of the Roman Rite – Msgr. Andrew Wadsworth, The Chant Café

Has the Austrian Hierarchy “Had It”? – The Motley Monk, The American Catholic

Vatileaks Scandal Strengthens Opus Dei’s Influence in Rome – Sandro Magister, La Repubblica/www.chiesa

How Not to Prevent AIDS – Dale O’Leary, Catholic Lane

St. Irenaeus: The Priest Who Captured the Smugness of Gnosticism – Catholic Herald

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Declared Venerable – Bonnie Engstrom, Ignitum Today

Ordinariate Returns £1m Grant to Charity after Ruling – Mark Greaves, Catholic Herald

The Priestly Ordination of Fr. John Hunwicke – Shawn Tribe, New Liturgical Movement

Russian Orthodox Pilgrims Swell in the Middle East – Giorgio Bernardelli, La Stampa/Vatican Insider

For the latest on the best punditry, analysis, and news in the Catholic blogosphere click on Big Pulpit.

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