On this day, January 3rd, the Church celebrates the Most Holy Name of Jesus! The celebration was established eight days after the birth of Christ, when he was circumcised and named Jesus. Despite its origins being as old as Christianity itself, the devotion to the name of Jesus developed primarily from the 12th and 13th centuries onwards. The first references to devotion to the "Holy Name" can be found in the texts of Saint Anselm of Canterbury (1109) and Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1153). However, the great "Apostle" of devotion to the Most Holy Name of Jesus is Saint Bernardino of Siena (1444). This Franciscan priest traveled throughout Italy preaching devotion to the name of Jesus, often as a means of reconciling rival families and factions. Saint Bernardino used to preach holding a tablet with the monogram IHS, formed by the first three letters of the name of Jesus in Greek (Iota-Epsilon-Sigma). Later, the abbreviation was also interpreted as the Latin acronym "Jesus Hominum Salvator …More
JRR Tolkien's AI Warning for 2026 | Paul List What was J.R.R. Tolkien's message in The Lord of the Rings? Paul List reveals Tolkien's prophetic warning about artificial intelligence. 00:00 In This Episode 00:30 Introducing Paul List 01:42 Tolkien's Secret Spy Training 05:06 The Impact of War on Tolkien's Writing 06:55 The Battle of Languages: Machine vs. Creation 10:42 The Creation Myth of Arda 12:30 Middle Earth as a Representation of the Human Mind 16:23 The Role of Virtues in Tolkien's Mythology 21:44 The Allegorical Disagreement: Tolkien vs. Lewis 25:21 Gandalf, Saruman, and the State of Education 27:45 Saruman Is John Dewey at Columbia University 37:29 The Mines of Moria: Academia and Pride 42:09 Becoming Gandalf the White 45:03 The Role of AI and Technology in Tolkien's Work 48:02 Tolkien's Sauron: A Reflection of AI 52:04 The Nature of Virtual Reality and Idolatry 57:26 Ringwraiths: Tech Billionaires 59:22 The Symbolism of the Rings of Power 1:04:54 Shelob: …More
Who Is Vito Marcantonio, the Catholic Socialist Invoked by Zohran Mamdani? COMMENTARY: Zohran Mamdani’s admiration for Marcantonio revives the memory of a Catholic socialist whose legacy remains deeply contested.
The setting of the date of 1960 for the opening of the third part of the secret of Fatima is a central fact, attested by the Archives of the Diocese of Leiria. Sister Lucie wrote this text in April 1944, on the explicit order of her bishop, and placed it in a sealed envelope. This envelope bears the indication that it should be opened at the latest in 1960, an indication confirmed by Bishop João Venâncio in several testimonies of the 1950s. In a letter from 1955, preserved in the Archives of the Holy Office, Sister Lucie states that the secret should be known in 1960 because “then it will be clearer”. We are under Pius XII and it speaks neither of a change of pope, nor of a breach of legitimacy, nor of a judgment against Roman authority. This clarification excludes any interpretation that the date was chosen to denounce a future pope. It is fundamental to remember that, in the logic of the apparitions, this date is not a human initiative but an indication received and transmitted under …More
As the Archdiocese of Dubuque finalizes its "Journey in Faith" plan, Catholics in northeast Iowa are grappling with parish consolidations, fewer weekend Mass sites, and a shift toward evangelism amid priest shortages and declining attendance.
Pretty simple solution - Have Vespers Saturday night, and one Holy Mass on Sunday from 10:00am - 12:00 noon. Then have a pot luck lunch ( Like the Orthodox )
Cut the crap... the real problem is not enough priests - even with church attendance in single digits. Reduce Mass locations? That just means you "hope" people will care enough to travel to get to a N.O. Mass far from their locale so it will "look" full. But the decline is still happening! There is NO increase!!
People love saying “all religions lead to God” because it sounds polite, enlightened, and non confrontational, but the moment you slow down and actually think about what that claim means, it completely falls apart. If all religions lead to the same God, then truth no longer matters, contradiction no longer matters, and doctrine is just aesthetic preference. At that point, God is no longer Someone who has revealed Himself, but a vague spiritual concept you can project anything onto. And then you have to ask the obvious question: if all paths are equal, are we really saying that a blue-skinned Hindu deity with multiple arms, a trident, and an entirely different cosmology is just another costume God put on? Are we supposed to pretend this is just another “route” to the same destination, like choosing Waze instead of Google Maps? Because if that’s the case, then why not go further and say a Marvel-like character named Shiva leads me to God too? If doctrine doesn’t matter, history doesn’t …More
During the deadly New Year’s Eve fire at a crowded ski bar in Crans-Montana, one survivor shared a powerful testimony. She said that a friend of hers had become trapped and could not find a way out. He sat down where he was and held a cross in his hand. According to her, the flames never touched him. "The fire just avoided him. There were flames all around, but not on him. " He later escaped alive. Although officials have not verified the details, the woman described what she witnessed as a miracle.
Une femme présente lors de l'incendie d'un bar de ski en Suisse affirme avoir été témoin d'un miracle : les flammes auraient complètement épargné son ami, qui s'était assis, une croix à la main, lorsqu'il s'est retrouvé piégé. « Un de mes amis ne pouvait pas sortir, alors il s'est simplement assis et a tenu sa croix dans sa main. Le feu l'a épargné. Les flammes ne l'ont pas touché. Elles l'entouraient, mais ne l'ont pas atteint. »
The Christmas Eve homily of Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako of Baghdad, delivered at the Chaldean Cathedral of St. Joseph, sparked major controversy in Iraq. He said: “There is talk about normalization, and I hope from the new government that normalization in Iraq and with Iraq will take place. Iraq is the land of the prophets. Just as the Talmud was written in Babylon, the world should come to Iraq, not elsewhere.” The phrase was quickly interpreted by some Iraqi media and politicians as advocating normalization of relations with Israel. The Eucharistic celebration was attended by Iraq’s Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who later commented on the homily, saying: “In Iraq, we do not need normalization; rather, we need brotherhood, love, and coexistence”. He added that “normalization” in Iraq’s context was linked to an “occupying entity,” referring to Israel. Iraq’s parliament passed a law in 2022 that makes it a criminal offense to normalize ties with the Israeli state — …More
THEREDIS NOT AN EXCEPTION FOR THEBLUE Whoever affirms Vatican Council II irationally i.e LG 8 etc, refer to invisible cases in 2026 he would be affirming the dogmaextra ecclesiam nulla salus, with no known exceptions. He would be saying that all need Catholic faith and the baptism of water for salvation ( Ad Gentes 7, Vatican Council II). Therefore, all must be converted to Him, made known by the Church's preaching, and all must be incorporated into Him by baptism and into the Church which is His body. For Christ Himself "by stressing in express language the necessity of faith and baptism (cf. Mark 16:16; John 3:5), at the same time confirmed the necessity of the Church, into which men enter by baptism, as by a door.-Ad Gentes 7, Vatican Council II. This Church constituted and organized in the world as a society, subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the Bishops in communion with him,(13*)although many elements of sanctification and of …More
Serene Dawn at Richelsley Hill: Historic Venn Cross and Mary Grotto in Winter Silence Experience the tranquil beauty of Richelsley Hill in the Hohes Venn (High Fens) – a unique upland plateau and nature reserve straddling the German-Belgian border near Monschau. The Venn Cross, erected in 1890 to honor Prior Stephan Horrichem – the "Apostle of the High Fens" who aided the oppressed during the Thirty Years' War – stands atop the rock. Alone in the quiet, long meditative scenes evoke awe and reverence for God at the Mama Mary Grotto and hilltop cross. Ends with breathtaking panoramic views over Kalterherberg and Ruitzhof on a crisp winter morning. Ideal for spiritual reflection and nature lovers worldwide. No disturbing narration. The scenery speaks for itself. If you have questions, you are more than welcome to ask in the comments. I'll be glad to answer.