During the Counter-Reformation, Jesuits used theater to warn of the dangers of Hell and the guide to the glories of Heaven. Performances of Jacob Bidermann, SJ’s Cenodoxus were no exception, causing some audience members to do penance and leading others into religious vocations. Links: Websites about Cenodoxus and Jacob Bidermann can be found here and [...]
The first steps of Neil Armstrong were “one giant leap for mankind” and led Catholics from Vince Lombardi to Paul VI to reflect on their faith and place in the universe. For some, the Apollo 11 mission was a source of inspiration – for others, there was concern that looking to the heavens meant forgetting [...]
Pope Benedict XV repeatedly called for an end to the violence of the First World War, but his cries just as repeatedly were rejected by the governments of belligerent countries that would be satisfied with nothing less than total victory. Yet, it was not only the governments of belligerent countries that thwarted Benedict’s mission – [...]
The holiness of Saint Isaac of Syria, also known as Saint Isaac of Nineveh, transcends the divisions between the Orthodox, Catholic, Coptic and Assyrian Churches. His words describing the great love that God has for all of His creation have inspired Christians everywhere. Links: Selections from the writings of Saint Issac Prayer in the writings [...]
During the Age of Exploration, the encounter between the Thomas Christians of India and the Portuguese led to a tragic schism whose effects are still felt today. Against the threats of Latinization, the Thomas Christians struggled to preserve their faith and traditions. Links: Website of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Website with much information on [...]
In the 1850s, the rise of the Know-Nothing movement symbolized increasing hostility to Catholics and immigrants in the United States. This hostility would even leave its mark on the Washington Monument. Links: Part One and Part Two of an article on the Pope’s Stone About.com Catholicism Readers’ Choice Awards Sources: Endres, David J. “Know-Nothings, Nationhood, [...]
After his ordination, Fr. Gereon Goldmann, OFM ministered in Prisoner of War camps braving the anger of German Nazis and French guards. More than once his life will be in grave jeopardy. He will have to endure much before he finally fulfills his dream of going to Japan. Links: Biography and photos of Fr. Goldmann, [...]
When WWII broke out, Gereon Karl Goldmann, a Franciscan seminarian, was ordered to enlist in the German Army. He will struggle to remain faithful to his Church and to his country both as an officer in the Wehrmacht and, later, in Hitler’s Waffen SS. This struggle will bring him on the path to the priesthood [...]
Many cultures have special traditions for the celebration of Christmas. Polish Catholics celebrate with the sharing of opłatki. Austrian and German Catholics await the coming of the Christkindl. New traditions are also being established – for example, the Christmas Pickle. Links: You can purchase opłatki from here and here and here. An example of the [...]
Las Brigadas Femeninas de Santa Juana de Arco were instrumental in the successes of the Cristeros in their war against the government of Mexico. These women faced arrest, imprisonment, and even the opposition from some within the Catholic Church as they struggled for religious freedom. Links: Article on the Cristeros Wikipedia has a brief article [...]
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