The obscure paganism of eastern Europe

On Tracey Rowland’s important Introduction to Communio Theology By Larry Chapp on Mar 12, 2026 04:00 pm In an ancient Greek legend, Alexander the Great famously solved the challenge of untying the Gordian knot by bypassing that seemingly impossible task entirely and instead chose, simply and directly, to slice through it with [...] Read in browser » Synod calls for more leadership roles for women but female diaconate ‘not yet ripe’ By Victoria Cardiel on Mar 12, 2026 01:56 pm The Synod on Synodality’s study group on “Women’s Participation in the Life and Leadership of the Church” has issued its final report, calling for expanded leadership roles for women in the Church. [..] Read in browser » A new Lenten pillar: Abstaining from technology By Dr. R. Jared Staudt on Mar 12, 2026 03:00 am Since we are halfway through Lent, it’s a good moment to consider how it’s been going. The purpose of our self-denial is conversion, as we learn to let go of control and to depend more [...] Read in browser » Trappists considering abandoning historic abbey after 900 years due to lack of vocations By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú on Mar 11, 2026 04:28 pm The potential closing of the abbey is a sign of the times and the state of the Church in some areas of the world. [...] Read in browser » John Allen, nonpareil Vaticanista By George Weigel on Mar 11, 2026 04:00 am Early Sunday morning, July 28, 2002, things were looking grim for the closing papal Mass of World Youth Day in Toronto. The previous four days had been a tremendous success, symbolized by hundreds of thousands [...] Read in browser » Extra, extra! News and views for Wednesday, March 11, 2026 By CWR Staff on Mar 11, 2026 03:00 am Is conclave secrecy dead – and does it matter? (The Pillar): “A new book published on Sunday purports to pull back the curtain on the papal conclave which elected Pope Leo XIV last year.” The [...] Read in browser » Cardinal Newman: Doctor of Catholic Education, Part One By Peter M.J. Stravinskas on Mar 11, 2026 12:01 am Editor’s note: The following is Part One (of two) of an address given to The Thomistic Institute of Fordham University on February 26, 2026. Introductory Remarks We are gathered in the month which marks the [...] Read in browser » Cardinal Mathieu evacuated from Iran, many Catholics leaving the country By Elias Turk on Mar 10, 2026 11:20 am Archbishop of Tehran-Isfahan Cardinal Dominique Mathieu was evacuated from his residence in the Iranian capital and arrived in Rome last weekend after witnessing the first days of military clashes. [...] Read in browser » A unique fairy tale meant to give “Escape and Consolation” By Paul Senz on Mar 10, 2026 12:42 am Author E.P. Cowley is a retired homeschooling mother living in southern British Columbia, Canada, who holds a master’s degree in English literature from Portland State University. Her novel, Tales from Wakken Wood, recently published by [...] Read in browser » Slouching toward Gethsemane with Johnny Cash By Kenneth Craycraft on Mar 09, 2026 07:38 pm As we head toward Laetare Sunday, many of us are feeling rather discouraged by the inconstancy of our Lenten disciplines. We woke up on Ash Wednesday piously determined to pray the Rosary every day, or [...] Read in browser » NBC poll: Pope Leo XIV held in highest esteem among public personalities By Kate Quiñones on Mar 09, 2026 05:14 pm A March NBC poll found that American voters hold Pope Leo XIV in highest esteem among other public personalities. [...] Read in browser » Frances of Rome: The homemaker who became a saint By Dawn Beutner on Mar 09, 2026 04:00 am She never held a job in her life. She never went to college, and of her three children, only one survived her. She founded a religious community, but only joined it after her husband died. [...] Read in browser » Pondering the war on Iran By Marcus Peter on Mar 08, 2026 10:38 pm A recent appeal from Pope Leo XIV urged patient diplomacy amid rising tensions between Western powers and the Islamic Republic of Iran. His words reflected the Church’s perennial instinct toward peace. Through long decades of [..] Read in browser » Sudanese bishops: Killings in South Sudan mark a “descent into the abyss of human depravity” By Ngala Killian Chimtom on Mar 07, 2026 10:12 pm Catholic bishops in Sudan and South Sudan have described the recent killings in parts of South Sudan as “a fresh descent into the abyss of human depravity.” At least 178 people were killed on Sunday, [...] Read in browser » Hidden with God and completely enchanted by the love of God By Donald Jacob Uitvlugt on Mar 07, 2026 06:32 pm Among the other saints and blesseds given for March 7th in the Matyrologium Romanum, one finds the following brief entry: At Florence in Tuscany, the commemoration of Saint Teresa Margaret Redi, virgin, who, having entered [...] Read in browser » El Paso Diocese declares bankruptcy amid abuse filings, ‘very limited’ financial resources By Daniel Payne on Mar 07, 2026 02:23 pm Bishop Mark Seitz said nearly 20 lawsuits against the diocese led him to file for Chapter 11 reorganization. [...] Read in browser » Lent: a journey, an encounter, a time of purification By Carl E. Olson on Mar 07, 2026 10:00 am Readings: • Ex 17:3-7 • Psa 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 • Rom 5:1-2, 5-8 • Jn 4:5-42 Lent is not merely a season, but a journey, an encounter, and a time of purification. Pope Benedict XVI, [...] Read in browser » Felicity and Perpetua: On the horns of heroic dilemma By Sean Fitzpatrick on Mar 07, 2026 03:00 am The expression “caught on the horns of a dilemma” derives from the undesirable situation of facing a charging bull and having to choose which horn to be gored upon. Life is full of such terrible [...] Read in browser » Opinion: Mirabelli v. Bonta comes with heavy interventionist baggage By Gregory J. Sullivan on Mar 06, 2026 05:09 pm In the emergency-docket opinion in Mirabelli v. Bonta issued on March 2, the Supreme Court ruled that a district-court injunction should remain in place to stop California school policies that thwart parental knowledge of their [...] Read in browser » Silence of the Gods chronicles the obscure paganism of eastern Europe By Casey Chalk on Mar 06, 2026 08:52 am In the secular recounting of the history of the West, it is commonly asserted that Christianity held a many-centuries-long dominance over the peoples of Europe, stifling (supposedly) intellectual and moral development because of its superstitious [...] Read in browser »