Page 7 - Trinity Communications News Today

In one moment we may be overflowing with gratitude to God; in the next we may catch ourselves in a frivolous distraction or even a temptation or sinful thought.

Many claim that no particular acts can in themselves be classified as good or evil, but that their goodness depends ultimately on the purposes of the actor.

It is not only true that we can love God “directly”, but that we are both called and required to do so as our very first priority.

In complex discussions, most of us lose our balance at times. Pope Benedict XVI was a rare exception. In treating every topic, he remained exquisitely poised.

Benedict XVI’s purpose in writing about Islamic-Christian dialogue was so that we might “guard against hasty parallels”.

To put this more succinctly, we need to understand that the only alienation worth worrying about is alienation from our Heavenly Father.

The problem of authentic Catholic renewal is very much in the air leading up to the Synod on Synodality.

I wish to look at this issue of “rigidity” more closely. I am certain it is very commonly misunderstood. The Pope himself has never described the issue well.

Sound Catholic educational institutions draw sound Catholic families like spiritual magnets; sound dioceses with outstanding bishops and priests do the same.

Even if we do not wish our homilists to preach in verse, we might benefit from imitations of St. Ephrem in the occasional flight of reverent rhetoric.