The miracle of Nain as seen by Cranach the Younger
The raising of the son of the widow of Nain is one of Jesus' most sensational miracles. There are several paintings depicting it, including the splendid altarpiece by Cranach the Younger, which emphasises the power and uniqueness of the Son of God.
Brussels' war against Hungary and Poland. And against common sense
Hungary confirms confidence in Orban and re-elects him. And Brussels is ready to retaliate: no Recovery funds, frozen in the name of respect for the rule of law. This is an expected and predictable response, but it shows how much the EU has become a super-state that punishes or rewards, depending on the loyalty of its members to "its" values. And even the Recovery for Poland is still pending, awaiting approval, because Brussels is demanding that the government dismantle its justice reform. Despite Poland taking in millions of war refugees from Ukraine, Brussels continues to fight its own internal war.
The virtue of Charity
The theological virtue of Charity is the noblest of all the virtues, the one that gives the others their place and without which they would lose all value. It is primarily friendship with God, a supernatural virtue that inclines the will to love God and others.
“I baptise you female and confirm you male.” Turin Church break rules for trans
In Turin, a woman "becomes" a man and then asks for Confirmation. The parish priest turns to the curia and the Diocese gives its consent: "Yes to Confirmation with the new name, but the natural name is to be written in the baptismal register with a note on the sex change". The Daily Compass recounts the parish priest’s dilemma, the curia’s email giving consent and the new stage in the demolition of Catechism: if nature no longer counts and only personal "rights" do, then demise is inevitable.
The Bucha massacre and warmongering
If the desire for truth were the main issue, an independent international commission should be set up immediately to determine responsibility for the Bucha massacre. But the desire to use this episode to escalate the war and get Europe more involved seems to have gained the upper hand.
LGBTQ: Cardinal Marx heads latest assault on Catechism
A coordinated attack has been undertaken in order to change the Catechism with regard to homosexuality, and the theatre chosen for the battle is the Synod on Synodality. In a long interview, Cardinal Marx openly supports the necessity to modify doctrine in order to legitimise homosexual acts, while on April 3, Sister Nathalie Becquart, undersecretary of the Synod, referred directly to an American LGBTQ group in order to lend it legitimacy.
Northern Ireland, elections exclude "Catholic" vote
The Northern Ireland Assembly is up for renewal on May 5, but the two main nationalist parties, Sinn Féin and SDLP, have already turned their backs on Catholics: they not only support abortion and gay marriage, but are in favor of a law that promotes state schools penalising Catholic schools. Yet, the number of those electing not to vote is on the increase.
The healing of the lepers, an under-represented miracle
One of the most impressive but least represented miracles of the Lord Jesus is the healing of the ten lepers. The fact, however, is splendidly depicted in an illuminated codex: the Golden Codex of Echternach, now in the German National Museum.
Sins against the virtue of hope
Despairing of salvation and the presumption of salvation are the two main sins against the virtue of hope. Lust, gluttony and greed lead to despair; vainglory and pride lead us to believe that we can be forgiven without repentance.
Consecration to Maria: it is late, but not too late
A careful reconstruction of the messages and letters of Sister Lucia assists us in understanding that the Consecration of Russia to the Sacred Heart of Mary may be late in coming, and that therefore the errors of Russia have been spread throughout the world, but at the same time, it may still succeed in diminishing this time of trial.
The deception of war driven by ideals
Catholics too are fascinated by the opposing ideal motivations of the war in Ukraine: Western values of freedom against Russian totalitarianism, or the struggle of a Russian Christian leader against the New World Order. But it is neither; the reality is much more down to earth...
