Daily Theology
Church
Pope Francis’ Good Intentions
This week saw the announcement that Pope Francis’ celebration of Sunday’s Feast of Corpus Christi will include Eucharistic adoration—but of a particular sort. In what a Vatican spokesperson called an historic event, Francis’ hour of prayer will be timed to coincide with adoration in cathedrals around the world (check your local listings). Synchronized prayer is … Continue reading
A Mother’s Day Interview with Julian of Norwich
Yesterday being Mother’s Day, one does not expect to find a sermon relating the absence of one’s father on a business trip to the ascension of Jesus, and one might be surprised to hear a letter from the Bishop which in no way mentioned women or mothers. Yet, there I was, hearing all these exciting … Continue reading
The Pope and the Power of Humility
Few events have defined Pope Francis’s young papacy as much as his monumental decision to break from tradition in the Holy Thursday ritual of washing the feet. The moving witness of him bending over and cleaning the feet of twelve marginalized poor (non-Italian) young men and women may be remembered as an important moment in … Continue reading
Theological Shark Week IV: “Pope Francis, Theology, and the Church of the Poor”
In the weeks since the election of Cardinal Bergoglio as Pope Francis, the world has been struck by how the new pope has comported himself. Everything from his sartorial decisions (dropping the ermine-lined mozzetta and the red shoes) to his living arrangements (paying his hotel bill in person, staying in the Casa Santa Marta instead … Continue reading
Vatican III?
I’d like to begin with a disclaimer. This story might be a moving target, and I am not a journalist. But I’ll do my best here. According to a twitter feed claiming to be the official feed of Jean-Louis Cardinal Tauran, Pope Francis is planning to call an ecumenical council. It’s a few days late … Continue reading
Oscar Romero, Pray For Us
Today marks the 33rd anniversary of the assassination and martyrdom of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador. Though many of us – inspired by his witness, his conversion, his commitment to justice, and his love for the people – already see him as a saint, there is renewed hope these days that the election of … Continue reading
The People of God and the Bishop of Rome
First impressions are important. I must confess that when Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s election was announced, my initial response was: who? Since then I’ve been sifting through the many news reports (and memes) about Pope Francis as the media, secular and Catholic, work to make this new pope known to the world. Francis’ first address … Continue reading
The Bishop of Rome: Remembering the Local Church
In January, I spent eleven days in Italy with Loras College undergraduates. While in Rome we attended a papal general audience, and I was struck not only by the diversity of people who had gathered from around the world, but also by the number of Italians in enthusiastic attendance. I commented on this to our … Continue reading
An Office, Not a Person – Benedict’s Gift
So I, like many people, was woken up this morning by what I thought was a story from the Onion – that Benedict XVI was resigning effective at the end of the month. Here, in no particular order, are some initial ecclesiological thoughts. Theologians of the future, be kind to my mistakes, we’ve only had … Continue reading
The Pope of Surprises
Early this morning I received a few text messages before 7:15am. Generally, this should be a bad thing. Who died? What did I forget to do? When I saw they came from my theologian friends, my sleepy mind went right to Rome and I had flashbacks to my participation in the funeral services of John … Continue reading
