First Things: LETTERS FROM THE SYNOD-2018: #11
October 17, 2018 / by Xavier Rynne II
The eleventh in a series of reports on Synod-2018.

"The Simplicity and Subtlety of St. Thomas's Fifth Way"

Crisis Magazine: Cardinal Ouellet’s Response to Archbishop Viganò Lacks Credibility by JOHN M. MCCARTHY

Sandro Magister: The Wrong People Francis Can’t Get Rid Of

The School of St. Albans

I Hope This Was a Commission

And not hanging at the monastery...

First Things: LETTERS FROM THE SYNOD-2018: #10
October 16, 2018 / by Xavier Rynne II
It is crucial that there be a clean, transparent, and agreed-upon mechanism by which the Synod fathers can register their judgments issue by issue.

Matthew 20:25

Kyrie eleison. We deserve greater chastisement.




The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church has Considered it Impossible to Remain in the Eucharistic Communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople

Statement by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church concerning the encroachment of the Patriarchate of Constantinople on the canonical territory of the Russian Church

Metropolitan Hilarion: Decisions taken by Constantinople run contrary to canonical Tradition of the Orthodox Church

Homo Abyssus

From 2017: Stephen Brock, "Thomas Aquinas, the Bearer of Practical Truth, and the Rationality of Action"

The Papal posse with Raymond Arroyo

First Things: LETTERS FROM THE SYNOD-2018: #9
October 15, 2018 / by Xavier Rynne II
The ninth in a series of reports on Synod-2018.

Changing the Practice of the Sacraments of Initiation for Children?

In areas where infant morality is low, can a case be made that for some children, the giving of the sacraments of initiation should be delayed until they have been properly catechized and can choose to receive them? Here I am thinking of children whose parents have been poorly catechized and have a non-existent prayer life, and have very little to give to their children. Is it proper to expect the parish priest (or parish community) to shoulder the burden of preparing their children to become Christians? Should there be a more serious examination of whether parents are actually ready to educate their children before administering the sacraments of initiation to the children?

Psaltikon and Manuel Chrysaphes

From 2017: Stephen Brock - "Aquinas and the Life of the Mind"

A One-Sided Examination of Paul VI

Focused entirely on Humanae Vitae.

NCReg: My Wife is Catholic Because of Pope Paul VI by Shaun McAfee
We couldn't be more grateful to those faithful Catholics who brought us sweetly and courageously into the Church, and now, we await the official recognition that Pope Paul VI is a saint.

And another...

Paul VI’s Canonization Presents an Opportunity by Matthew E. Bunson
Recalling the Pope’s Prophetic Papacy

And the world didn't end...

But will it be an embarrassment and a PR disaster for the Patriarchate of Rome in the future? Or will everyone have forgotten the controversy in 100 years? (Will there be a true cult of Paul VI by then?)

A Diagram

The Metaphysics of Prayer

An Oldie

From One Eucharistic Prayer to Many: How it Happened and Why by FATHER CASSIAN FOLSOM, OSB

Somewhat appropriate given that Paul VI is supposed to be canonized today.

Edit.