[Young men] should realize that this quotation from Cicero applies in a certain sense to them: “It is not…so great a distinction to know Latin as it is a disgrace not to know it.”  Pope St. John Paul II, 1978 Like many Catholics, I’ve wanted to learn Latin for...

In his new book Mysticism, Magic, and Monasteries, Catholic philosopher Sebastian Morello promotes so-called “Hermetic magic”* as an important part of the spiritual revival of Western civilization. How can a Catholic possibly promote magic as an integral part of the faith? Watch...

It’s time for the Catholic Culture staff’s roundup of our favorite things we read in the past year! This year we have lists by Phil Lawler, Dr. Jeff Mirus, Peter Wolfgang, Dr. Jim Papandrea, and Thomas Mirus. Phil Lawler In no particular order: NON-FICTION Science at the...

Cardinal Timothy Dolan has written an opinion piece for The Free Press, “The Evils of Antisemitism”, in which he speaks out against the proliferation of anti-Jewish hatred in some quarters today. Such a moral stand well befits a prince of the Church. It should be a no-brainer for...

It’s time for my annual list of my favorite films I saw in the past year. Eight of the twenty-two films listed here we discussed on Criteria: The Catholic Film Podcast, in which cases I link to the relevant episode. New films: Ethan Hawke, Wildcat. The film is a respectful...

Let me propose a way to instantly improve the liturgy at your parish. Fear not, beleaguered pastors: it won’t require developing a new skill, arguing with a choir director, or getting in trouble with your bishop. Probably no one will complain, though if someone does, it’ll be a...

Erika Kirk’s statement of forgiveness for her husband’s assassin has to be the most God-glorifying act by an American public figure in a long while. I pray that this will be the pleasing offering to God that helps to turn our country around. Aside from Erika’s heroic...

Many otherwise orthodox Catholics are uncomfortable with the Scriptural teaching on authority in marriage. “Catholic feminists” may embrace other Church teachings hated by secular feminists (anti-abortion, anti-contraception, the all-male priesthood). But when it comes to marriage,...

Asked in 1997 whether the Holy Spirit is responsible for the election of a pope, Joseph Ratzinger said: I would not say so, in the sense that the Holy Spirit picks out the pope. . . . I would say that the Spirit does not exactly take control of the affair, but rather like a good educator, as...

This is the first article in a four-part series. In 2018, five years after his resignation from the papal office, Benedict XVI wrote an essay for Communio about the Church’s relationship with the Jewish people. In it, he assessed certain aspects of the modern Catholic consensus on this...