Beheading St. John the Baptist – August 29

Father Kevin O’ Sullivan commentaries 1957,
St. John the Baptist, Elias and God’s Kingdom

When John the Bap­tist appeared at the Jordan river, pro­claiming that the kingdom of God was at hand (cf. Mt. 3:1-12; Mk. 1:2-8; Lk. 3:2-18) the Jews flocked to hear him. The expectation of the Promised Re­deemer, the Messias, was strong at this time, and here was a Prophet announcing his proximate arrival and calling on the people to repent of their sins in order to be prepared to receive him. Continue reading

President of U.S. bishops’ conference seeks papal audience after Viganò letter

President of U.S. bishops’ conference seeks papal audience after Viganò letter

NEW YORK – In response to Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò’s astonishing claims that Pope Francis knew about former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick’s history of sexual abuse and decided to lift sanctions against him supposedly imposed by Pope Benedict XVI, the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has released a statement on Monday saying the allegation “brings particular focus and urgency” to the USCCB’s pledge for a full investigation into the former archbishop of Washington. MORE

Saint Bartholomew Saint of the Day for August 24

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As they say in these writings, not very much is known about Saint Bartholomew but in my Maryknoll Missal 1959 they have him listed as a doctor of the Jewish Law. He was a  man in whom there was no guile, his mine was opened to the truth, he recognized the Saviour immediately as the son of God.

In the New Testament, Bartholomew is mentioned only in the lists of the apostles. Some scholars identify him with Nathanael, a man of Cana in Galilee who was summoned to Jesus by Philip. Jesus paid him a great compliment: “Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him” (John 1:47b). When Nathanael asked how Jesus knew him, Jesus said, “I saw you under the fig tree” (John 1:48b). Whatever amazing revelation this involved, it brought Nathanael to exclaim, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel” (John 1:49b). But Jesus countered with, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this” (John 1:50b).

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Major Hurricane “Lane” expected to turn toward Hawaii

Category 4 Hurricane “Lane” is heading west at 19 km/h (12 mph) and is expected to turn toward Hawaii on August 22 and 23 and pass dangerously close to the main Hawaiian Islands. Current forecast track doesn’t call for a direct impact and Lane will be a significantly weaker hurricane by the time it draws closer to the islands. However, impacts from this dangerous hurricane will extend well away from its center, large and potentially damaging surf is expected along exposed shorelines as well as excessive rainfall across portions of the state from August 22, leading to flash flooding and mudslides.