Category Archives: Ecclesiology

Papa Luciani and the Restoration of a Church

Posted on February 16, 2009 by Deacon Bob

Pope John Paul I, on September 28, 1978, the last day of his life, sent a letter to Msgr. Hugh Aufderbeck marking the occasion of the 700th anniversary of the building of the church of St. Serverus. It had recently … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecclesiology, Popes | Comments Off on Papa Luciani and the Restoration of a Church

Fr. Thomas Reese, SJ and Vatican Reform

Posted on February 9, 2009 by Deacon Bob

An interesting article written by  Fr. Thomas Reese SJ about his ideas for Vatican reform can be found at: www.commonwealmagazine.org/article.php3?id_article=2200 I won’t try to summarize it here but leave it for you to read.  As Fr. Reese himself says at the end, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecclesiology | Comments Off on Fr. Thomas Reese, SJ and Vatican Reform

In Re: SSPX and the Church

Posted on February 8, 2009 by Deacon Bob

From the Vatican Secretary of State, 4 February 2009 “In the wake of reactions provoked by the recent Decree from the Congregation for Bishops lifting the excommunication on the four prelates of the Society of St. Pius X, and with … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecclesiology, Popes | Comments Off on In Re: SSPX and the Church

Current Events

Posted on February 6, 2009 by Deacon Bob

If you have been keeping up on recent news you are aware of the admission by the Legionaires of Christ that their founder, Fr. Marcial Maciel, lived a double life, keeping a mistress and fathering a daughter, now twenty years … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecclesiology, Ethics and Morality, Politics | Comments Off on Current Events

Benedict XVI and SSPX

Posted on January 28, 2009 by Deacon Bob

You may have been following the news of Pope Benedict lifting the excommunications of the four bishops illicitly ordained by Archbishop Marcel Lefebrve back in the late 1980s.  Lefebrve, now deceased, was the founder of the schismatic Society of St. … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecclesiology | Comments Off on Benedict XVI and SSPX

Quote for the Day

Posted on January 13, 2009 by Deacon Bob

“The sooner we realize our predicament, that we are indeed lost, then the sooner God can put us to work for Him.”  –Warren Rose, OFM I agree with Warren to a degree.  We truly are lost without Christ whom we … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecclesiology, Prayer and Meditation | Comments Off on Quote for the Day

Immigration and Catholic Social Teaching – An archbishop’s thoughts

Posted on January 9, 2009 by Deacon Bob

I ran across another very interesting address about Catholic social teaching and immigration in this country. This one was given by Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, S.T.D., of San Antonio at the Annual Assembly of the Missouri Catholic Conference on October … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecclesiology, Ethics and Morality, Politics | Comments Off on Immigration and Catholic Social Teaching – An archbishop’s thoughts

Theosis and Kenosis

Posted on December 29, 2008 by Deacon Bob

I have been thinking about the two theological concepts of theosis and kenosis.  In the Latin Church, we have become rather familiar with kenosis, which is, simplistically stated, the self-emptying of God in the Incarnation. Jesus so loved us that … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecclesiology | Comments Off on Theosis and Kenosis

Priests on Loan and the Diaconate

Posted on December 28, 2008 by Deacon Bob

I’d like to alert you to a New York Times article about priests from other countries, especially Asia and Africa, filling shortages found in American dioceses. To read it, log on to: www.nytimes.com/2008/12/28/us/28priest.html?_r=2&hp In my home diocese, we have several … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecclesiology | Comments Off on Priests on Loan and the Diaconate

Why Stay Catholic?

Posted on December 19, 2008 by Deacon Bob

I have been asked on occasion, “Why remain a Catholic?”.  Usually the person asking the question is someone who has experience some injustice in the Church, or may have been a practicing Catholic but lukewarm or perhaps no longer practicing … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecclesiology, General Interest | 2 Comments

Collegiality and Infallibility

Posted on November 21, 2008 by Deacon Bob

Started to read a book recently about the power struggles in the Church during the late 19th and 20th centuries.  Was referring to papal authority especially and the pontificates of Pius IX and Pius XII. I often wonder how reunification … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecclesiology | Comments Off on Collegiality and Infallibility

Hispanic Church

Posted on November 12, 2008 by Deacon Bob

I was reading last night a short history of the Hispanic experience in the American Catholic Church.  One thing struck me.  The Hispanic way of being Catholic is very different that the Euro-American way of being Catholic.  Hispanic Catholicism took … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecclesiology | 4 Comments

USCCB – More News

Posted on November 12, 2008 by Deacon Bob

Want to highlight a few of the comments the bishops are making at their fall meeting.  Bishop Joseph Martino of Scranton:  “we are going to have to speak as firmly as possibly to Catholic politicians who are not merely reluctant … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecclesiology, Ethics and Morality | Comments Off on USCCB – More News

USCCB’s Fall Assembly Baltimore

Posted on November 11, 2008 by Deacon Bob

I’d like to share another quote today, from Cardinal George at the Bishop’s fall assembly in Baltimore, currently convened. “We are, perhaps, at a moment when, with the grace of God, all races are safely within the American consensus.  We are not … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecclesiology | 2 Comments

Pope Leo the Great

Posted on November 10, 2008 by Deacon Bob

Yesterday was the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of John Lateran, and today is the memorial of Leo the Great.  An appropriate juxtaposition of celebrations it would seem.  Leo held back the barbarians from the city of Rome, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecclesiology, General Interest | Comments Off on Pope Leo the Great