 |  | Would God Stop an Assassin's Bullet? A Reflection on American Providentialism Kody W. Cooper
Since its birth, providentialism—the belief that God actively governs human events according to his design and purposes—has been in America's DNA. The tradition of presidential invocation of the Almighty's blessing upon American endeavors has continued into the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. So when multiple assassin's bullets whizzed by former President Donald Trump's head on that fateful July 13 afternoon, it wasn't particularly surprising that theistic commentators, and Trump himself, saw the hand of God's providence in the event. But is the judgment warranted? Who can know God's secret providential will for the United States? | | READ ARTICLE | | |  | Is My Generation Capable of a Happy Death? Lindsay Schlegel
What can a "happy death" mean if one doesn't understand there to be something greater than this world on the other side of it? To embrace Catholicism is to seek meaning in suffering and to trust that this world is not the end; that in fact there is something greater, something we can't begin to imagine, awaiting us. There is a parallel here with marriage. The Catholic perspective understands the union of spouses to be pointed at something beyond themselves as individuals or even as a couple. Two recent reads demonstrate how marriage can be most beautiful and most profound in the face of death. | | READ ARTICLE | | |  | Logos-Filled and Properly Human Work Alejandro Terán-Somohano
Despite the entrance of sin and corruption into creation, God's original plan for man's work remained unchanged. We cannot even begin to speak properly about the ethical concerns surrounding the development of new AI technologies and their impact on human work if we do not first understand what human work actually is. Human work, to be properly human, must be logos-filled, which denotes its profoundly intellectual character. By perverting the nature of human work, we obscure the image of God that man is, thus distorting what it means to be human. It is not the workers who need to adapt to AI or other technology in the workplace, but the latter that needs to serve the worker. | | READ ARTICLE | | |  | Science or Materialism? Pick a Lane Dr. Christopher Kaczor
Materialism can be defined as the worldview that nothing exists but what is material or physical. If the philosophy of materialism were true, immaterial realities would not exist. If materialism is true, there is no God, no soul, and no afterlife. The chief argument for materialism is the success of science, but the argument from the success of science fails since many scientists do science successfully without the materialist worldview. Combining the philosophy of materialism and science is self-defeating. To be consistent, we must choose science or materialism.
| | READ ARTICLE | | |  | What Can I Do? Elizabeth Wellendorf and Hogar Niño Dios Mark Bradford
"All God is truly asking you to do is love them like he does." Elizabeth Wellendorf is an American who has found herself in the Holy Land, in Bethlehem, at Hogar Niño Dios, a home for special needs children. She describes, "The sisters see the children and adults of the house as family, so they will stay in this home until God calls them home. The children have either been abandoned, or due to some circumstance, cannot be cared for by their family. The home provides not only their basic care but also a school, therapies, and advanced medical care." Mark Bradford joined Elizabeth to learn more and share her incredible story. | | READ ARTICLE | | |  | Celebrating Our New Chancery Chapel
Bishop Robert Barron
One of the most satisfying moments in my two years as bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester was the dedication and consecration of the gorgeous chapel in our new chancery office. As your eye moves around the decoration of the chapel, you are struck by the intricacy of the stenciling and tracery on the walls and ceiling. This beautiful complexity is meant to stand for the harmonious coming together of all of the elements of creation when God's work of redemption is complete. When stepping into any Catholic church building, one is not so much stepping out of the world into heaven as stepping into "a new heavens and a new earth," a transfigured and perfected creation. (Léelo en español aquí.) | | READ ARTICLE | | |  | Finding God in the Extraordinary Mark Bradford
There is a resurgent desire for more traditional worship. Contrary to what some may think, this desire is not borne of nostalgia and led by grumpy old folks who are longing for the preconciliar Catholicism of their youth. It is being led by young people. Faith is rooted in mystery and nourished in prayer. It is reinforced by the rigor of a ritual that demands we handle what appears to our sight as ordinary with reverence and solemnity. The bread and wine, if regarded casually, are no longer reverenced for Who they really are. It isn't what is common that makes us aware of God's presence; it is the extraordinarily radical difference where we find him. | | READ ARTICLE | | |  | The New "Working Document" for the Synod of Bishops Dr. Richard DeClue
The second session of the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will take place in October 2024. Like last time, the discussions to take place will be guided by a "working document" (Instrumentum Laboris), which has recently been published. This new document is not a magisterial text but more of an advanced explanation of the kinds of topics that will be addressed (or not, as we shall see) at the upcoming gathering. The questions and issues raised by the Instrumentum Laboris are meant to help the Church conduct her mission in the face of present obstacles and difficulties so that the healing power of Christ can be spread throughout the world. | | READ ARTICLE | | |  | The Dangers of Technodeterminism: Transhumanism and a Catholic Perspective Dr. Steven Umbrello
Transhumanism raises crucial ethical and theological questions. While it promises human enhancement and transcendence, it poses significant dangers. Transhumanism advocates for using advanced technology to enhance human capabilities, aiming to transcend the natural limitations of the human body and mind to achieve superhuman intelligence, physical prowess, and even immortality. An approach that respects human dignity and fosters genuine human flourishing will ensure that technology serves humanity rather than diminishes it, upholding the Catholic vision of a life oriented toward eternal fulfillment in God.
| | READ ARTICLE | | |  | Advice from St. Philip Neri on Our Journey of Faith Dr. Holly Ordway
A renewed focus on the Eucharist can have a profound impact on our spiritual lives, if we are diligent and persistent. We have just had a National Eucharistic Congress during which tens of thousands of attendees participated in Eucharistic Adoration, processed with the Blessed Sacrament, as well as attended Mass. While many attendees have had powerful experiences, the real test is whether these will result in lasting spiritual growth. How would St. Philip advise us to build on this national moment of worship and prayer? We can see what he has to say in the Oxford Oratory's new edition of The Maxims and Sayings of St Philip Neri.
| | READ ARTICLE | | |  | A Parable from the Science Textbook: Evangelization Like Movement Across a Cell Membrane Vanessa Lopez
The cell is the smallest unit of life. All biological life is ultimately dependent on the interplay of the parts of the cell. The cell membrane controls what enters and exits the cell. The Catholic Church is like a cell in its marvelous complexity and internal harmony. As a cell is necessary for our biological life, so the Catholic Church is necessary for our spiritual life. For the cell of the Church to live and give life, it must maintain its cell membrane. The "cell membrane" of the Catholic Church is its teachings, its clergy, and its laws. The Church's membrane must be semi-permeable, able to let the goodness out and let the sinners in. | | READ ARTICLE | | |
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