St. Francis Xavier, Vatican Christmas Tree, St. John the Baptist, Mystic Magdalena Gornik, and more!

The Best in Catholic Blogging

A Selection from Louis de Wohl’s novel about Saint Francis Xavier - Ignatius Insight Scoop

Ukraine Sends Christmas Tree to Vatican as Relations Thaw Further - Dylan Parry, A Reluctant Sinner

The Catholic Witness of St. John the Baptist - Dc. Mike Bickerstaff, Integrated Catholic Life™

Why was John Baptizing? - Fr. Ryan Erlenbush, New Theological Movement

Parental involvement in New Social Media - Teresa Tomeo, OSV Newsweekly

Magdalena Gornik: Mystic, Stigmatic and Victim Soul - Mystics of the Church

Cohabitation and Marriage: Not Equal Alternatives - Fr. John Flynn LC, Zenit

A Canonical Comment on Newt Gingrich’s Oddball Remark - Dr. Ed Peters, In the Light of the Law

Newt Gingrich on His Catholic Faith & the Eucharist (video) - The American Catholic

Abp. Nichols Responds to Critics of his Civil Unions Approach - David Kerr, Catholic News Agency

Peter Kreeft: A Catholic cannot be Today what is called a Liberal about Abortion - Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Pelosi and the “Lobbying” Bishops - Elizabeth Scalia, Patheos/The Anchoress

Two Lesbians Raised a Baby and This Is What They Got - Marc Barnes, Bad Catholic

For the latest round-up on the best punditry in the Catholic blogosphere click on the ThePulp.it.

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

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