Hubert of Liège, a Good Friday conversion
He had decided to go deer hunting, his great passion, rather than go to church for the Good Friday services. At that point, he had no idea what was about to happen to him. Or that he would become St Hubert, the first bishop of Liège.
The Daily Compass brings us back to the catechism
From today, the first Sunday of Advent and the start of the liturgical year, the Daily Compass will dedicate every Sunday to the catechism. Lessons will be taught by Professor Luisella Scrosati which are introduced today with a reflection written by Cardinal Robert Sarah.
The Catechism prepares us to meet Jesus
There is an urgency to go back to the Catechism and teach it again, because too often today, the faith is reduced to a personal feeling. By saying, "I believe" means to open up under the influence of grace to the objective content that God reveals, to which we give our assent. Today, teaching is considered the opposite of experience, but it’s impossible to experience God except through teaching.
- THE DAILY COMPASS BRINGS US BACK TO THE CATECHISM
Black Friday offers outrageous sale on babies
Among the discount proposals that are flooding the web recently, customers can also find a gruesome baby discount by BioTexCom, a Ukrainian centre that offers wombs for rent and artificial insemination. The marketing gimmick and promises of happiness, conceal a world of suffering and exploitation. Melanie's story: Ukraine costs less and offers more choice.
Popular movements and the ambiguous ‘theology of the people’
Popular movements, encouraged by Francis, are a heterogeneous galaxy bringing together socialism, ecologism, feminism, 'cancel cultures', etc. Their new pastoral approach presupposes doctrinal convictions often at odds with the SDC. The 'theology of the people' is an ambiguous category, and the Catholic who participates in such movements errs on two counts.
Vaccines and abortion, how Church teaching is being mystified
In newspapers and on TV it has become fashionable to deride and demonise Catholics who refuse to be vaccinated, while several bishops and priests are adamant that the Church is calling for compulsory vaccination. But the document of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith places very clear conditions on the moral legitimacy of the use of these vaccines, including pressure on pharmaceutical companies and governments to ban the use of cell lines from aborted foetuses. On this point, however, the silence of the bishops is deafening.
Covid, a pretext to induce totalitarian control
Totalitarianism always begins with "mass formation" of the population. It is not the same as a dictatorship: in a dictatorship, people obey, out of fear, the dictator at the top. Totalitarianism is the opposite: people are hypnotised by obedience "for the good of the community." Four conditions are needed for "mass formation" to take place: social isolation and lack of ties; lack of meaning in life; the presence of fluctuating anxiety and strong psychological discontent. Here is The hypnosis of society that Professor Desmet theorised, with a few clarifications to explain how this theory applies to what we are experiencing today.
US Bishops on the Eucharist, nice words contradict practice
The long-awaited and widely discussed document by the US bishops on the Eucharist correctly re-proposes the Church's doctrine which is its treasure, but contradicts itself in not foreseeing ways to defend it. It privileges the unity of the episcopate as a facade and the will to avoid political tensions in respect to Christ and the lives of millions of children.
Lucy, the beauty of being bride of Christ
Lucy suffered martyrdom under Diocletian because of her firm decision to live as a woman consecrated to Christ and therefore not to abjure her faith. Her patronage of the eyes does not stem from the acts of martyrdom, but from the devotion linked to her name (from lux, light). For centuries, her testimony of life has inspired the faithful, artists, and poets.
St Joseph’s all-powerful intercession
Over the last century and a half, the Magisterium has honoured the role of St Joseph in salvation history several times, stating what is implicit in Holy Scripture and inherent in the sensus fidei. Not only was Mary's spouse recognised (under Blessed Pius IX) as the Patron of the Church, but his intercession was also described by Pius XI as “omnipotent”.
Poland defends Europe’s borders, the EU cuts its funds
Europe is taking advantage of the crisis at its borders and intends to starve Warsaw. Belarus is deliberately pushing immigrants to Eastern European borders, especially Poland’s, in retaliation against EU sanctions. Therefore, Poland is serving the interests of all members of the Union. Just two days ago, the European Parliament’s major parties sent the Commission a request to suspend the Recovery Plan, essential for the reconstruction of the Polish economy post Covid. The same reason is always given, the reform of the judiciary which, according to the European parties, "violates the rule of law". Hungary is next on the list.
