"Doctor Ecclesiae"...

I suppose this honorific won't be retired any time soon, as it is a conceit of the patriarch of Rome.

Is there any example of "development of doctrine" that isn't a form of theological reasoning? Certainly this is the case with the development of moral teaching. If we set aside the 7 ecumenical councils, what will we find if we look for the premises yielding some of the doctrines put forth by various Latin synods (reckoned to be ecumenical by some Latins) of the second millennium?

What role for deacons in the Latin churches?

Forget married priests - what changes would there have to be to make full-time deacons possible?

A Generous Gesture

Considering the size of the community of Constantinople today.

Ecumenical Patriarchate: Pope Francis of Rome gave relics of Saint Peter to the Church of Constantinople

Canonization of John Henry Newman

Rules for Christian Intellectuals, Part 3

CWR: Rules for Christian Intellectuals, Part III by Dr. Kelly Scott Franklin

The world is falling apart. Gunmen kill civilians in office buildings and schools; babies die in wars and in abortion clinics. People suffer poverty, sexual violence, hunger. Our planet is rife with racism and tyranny [...]

On the Feast of the Sacred Heart

Why One Must Be Careful with Figurative Language

The Church as the Bride of Christ, and individual Christians as "brides" of Christ -- but if the latter is an appropriate application of the first statement, taken literally, that would mean that the Theotokos is both the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ and His bride. (One of many.) Do you see a problem with that?

(Then there is the Latin title of Mary, Spouse of the Holy Spirit... this will have to be addressed in a separate post.)

Sister Vassa Interview w Rev. Prof. Andrew Louth: "Fear" of God, "Tradition," Women's Ministries

Hm.... I don't doubt that some will be scrutinizing this.

How Far Do You Want to Take This Metaphor?

Who was the captain?

Sure to Be a Bestseller?

Christopher Altieri on the Amazon Synod Working Document

CWR: Working document for Amazon synod is both a catch-all and a cover by Christopher R. Altieri
It is rather unseemly that a coterie of mostly northern European churchmen are apparently using the pressing issues of a long-suffering local Church in the developing world to advance their pet project in ecclesial sociology.

"Compassion" and "Mercy"

Pope Francis' mentions the Sacred Heart devotion but in connection with his own language of "compassion" and "mercy," which may be compatible with sentimentalism but may not be compatible with law or the good. Charity separated from truth.







CNA: ‘The heart of the Church’s mission is prayer,’ Pope Francis says

Catholic Herald: The time is ripe for a revival in devotion to the Sacred Heart by Fr Alexander Lucie-Smith

Can the devotion to the Sacred Heart be separated from Latin soteriology and its concepts of merit, atonement, expiation, and reparation that are logical consequences of it? (It has also been linked to the modern Latin devotion to Christ the King, cf. the reference by Pius XI to Quas Primas in Miserentissimus Redemptor.)

Consecration to the Sacred Heart. Pope Leo XIII - 1899 - Vatican.VA
Miserentissimus Redemptor (May 8, 1928) | PIUS XI
CARITATE CHRISTI COMPULSI Pope Pius XI 3 May 1932 Sacred Heart - EWTN - Vatican.VA
Haurietis Aquas (May 15, 1956) | PIUS XII

One of These Is Not Like the Others

Interview with Professor Pierluigi Guiducci

CWR Dispatch: Symposium attests to Pius XII’s monumental work as Defensor Civitatis by Alberto Carosa
An interview with Professor Pierluigi Guiducci, author of several works on the pontificate of Pope Pius XII during the Second World War.

Entering a Byzantine Temple

Slavic tradition...

Theotokos of the Sign

The Vladimir Icon

Cardinal Brandmüller on the Amazon Synod

Sandro Magister: Heretical and Apostate. Cardinal Brandmüller Excommunicates the Amazon Synod


Fr. Z

Feast of the Sacred Heart