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We should first briefly consider some objections to the concept of miracles. Today, in the secular Western world, many are skeptical of the very possibility that miracles can occur.   This is an assumption of secular Westerners, but it is not shared by other peoples. And there is actually a great deal of evidence that miracles do occur, including in today’s world. The Catholic Church has rigorously evaluated many reported miracle …

In his book Radical Love: Introduction to Queer Theology, Patrick Cheng claims, “Radical love is ultimately about love [emphasis in original], which, as St. Paul teaches us, is patient and kind, and not envious, boastful, arrogant, or rude. As such, radical love is premised upon safe, sane, and consensual behavior.”ccii This language jibes with a prevailing modern sexual ethic that emphasizes consent and taking precautions against disease and pregn …

The Catholic Bible contains the deuterocanonical books because they were part of the biblical tradition that Jesus and the apostles were familiar with and made reference to. Called the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament that contained these books was widely used in the early Church because Greek (like English today) was a universal language of commerce. Some Protestants say we should not include the deuterocanonical books in the canon because Jesus and the apostles …

The most obvious references to the Virgin Mary are those that mention her explicitly. These may be few, but they are the most important. Literal references take priority in any doctrinal discussion and are the basis for all other ways of reading Scripture. The Protestant theologian Daniel Migliore reminds us to keep in mind:The Gospel writers were not interested in supplying us with material for a biography of Mary any more than they were in giving us material to write a life of Jesus …

Practical Habits for a Liturgical Life Simple practices help us enter more deeply: Show up early: Silence the noise. Let your soul catch up to your body. Greet Christ in the tabernacle before the liturgy begins. Offer your life: During the Offertory, consciously place your joys, trials, and labors upon the altar with the bread and wine. Read and reflect: Meditate on the readings beforehand. This prepares the heart to receive. Remain after: The final blessing is not the end. The grace just rec …