Patheos

BuddhistCatholicContemplativeEvangelicalGeneral ChristianHinduJewishLatter-day SaintMuslimNew VisionsProgressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Patheos

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

musingsfromthepew

2021-12-17T19:28:35-08:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Married Priests: The Demand for Consideration

Last updated on: December 17, 2021 at 7:28 pm   By Lois Kerschen

The subject of married priests is one that is broached frequently among Catholics. It is supposed that more men would be interested in the priesthood if they didn’t have to take a vow of celibacy. The reason for the increased consideration of this change is the shortage of priests, which has resulted in multiple problems. There are not enough to serve all the parishes, leaving priests unsurprisingly stressed, fatigued and lonely. Many do not now have the companionship of other... Read more

Patheos Catholic

married priests

shortage of priests

synod

2021-12-14T16:26:10-08:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Catholic Church and Galileo: Truth or Myth?

Last updated on: December 14, 2021 at 4:26 pm   By Lois Kerschen

According to popular opinion, the Catholic Church is still mired in the Inquisition and still ignorant of modern science. After all, look what they did to Galileo Galilei. Every time I hear a critic of Catholicism mention Galileo, I want to say, “Really, you’re going to bring up something that happened 400 years ago? Talk about not moving on!” Harping on Galileo is especially ridiculous since most of what people believe is myth. Vatican Astronomers Attempting to dispel this myth... Read more

Patheos Catholic

Catholic Church

Galileo

myth

Pontifical Academy of Sciences

truth

Vatican observatory

2021-12-11T21:01:46-08:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Wake Up and Smell the Incense

Last updated on: December 11, 2021 at 9:01 pm   By Lois Kerschen

“Why do Catholics do that?” is a question often asked. I think we could say in return: “Why don’t other Christians do that?” For example, Catholics are known for using incense, but why don’t Protestants use it as well? Old Testament Use of Incense The Biblical significance and symbolism of incense warrants its place in worship. In Psalm 141:2 we have the plea: “Let my prayer come like incense before you.” Revelation 8:4 says: “From the angel’s hand the smoke... Read more

Patheos Catholic

incense

Protestants

2021-12-08T18:32:30-08:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Our Lady of La Leche: A Needed Image for Women

Last updated on: December 8, 2021 at 6:32 pm   By Lois Kerschen

Did you know that the oldest Marian shrine in the United States is in St. Augustine, Florida? Did you know that shrine is dedicated to Our Lady of La Leche y Buen Parto, that is, Our Lady of the Milk and Happy Delivery? It is not surprising that our oldest Marian shrine is in the oldest continuously inhabited city in the United States. What might be surprising, however, is the long history of the devotion to Our Lady of La... Read more

Patheos Catholic

canonical coronation

Marian shrine

Milk Grotto

Our Lady of La Leche

St. Augustine

2021-12-05T17:04:32-08:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Spiritual Value of Beautiful Churches

Last updated on: December 5, 2021 at 5:04 pm   By Lois Kerschen

The topic of beautiful churches is more complicated than you would think. It seems there’s a lot of guilt and criticism out there about the cost of churches, and serious debate about simple versus elaborate. Recently, Claire Swinarski wrote on this topic for her Letters from a Catholic Feminist: “Longing for the Beautiful…an essay on Fancy Ass Churches.” (Nov. 15, 2021) https://thecatholicfeminist.substack.com/ Claire described a “very deep, prayerful experience” looking at a “stunning painting of the Visitation.” This experience was... Read more

Patheos Catholic

beautiful churches

beauty

2021-12-02T20:09:14-08:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Babies Mean the Parents Trust in God

Last updated on: December 2, 2021 at 8:09 pm   By Lois Kerschen

Is this world so terrible a place that you wouldn’t want to bring a child into it? Lots of people think so. I think such people have little knowledge of history and a lack of hope and trust in God. A recent article in the New York Times by Alex Williams reviewed the reasons people give for not wanting to have children. Economic worries top the list followed by the high cost of childcare, global instability and domestic politics. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/20/style/breed-children-climate-change.html?smid=tw-share... Read more

Patheos Catholic

babies

Carl Sandburg

childless

climate change

hope

parents

2021-11-29T18:05:15-08:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Baptism: An Awesome Occasion

Last updated on: November 29, 2021 at 6:05 pm   By Lois Kerschen

Our first sacrament as Catholics is baptism. It is the gateway to all the other sacraments and meaningful participation in the Church. As such, it is not a routine event but one that should be taken very seriously by the parents and godparents. I always cry at baptisms. The idea of a new life beginning the journey to salvation is awesome. Seeing that precious little person so loved — surrounded by proud smiles and dressed in a special baptismal gown... Read more

Patheos Catholic

baptism

faith formation

godparents

original sin

parental responsibilty

2021-11-25T20:15:18-08:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Saintly Leaders: The Example of Emperor Charles I

Last updated on: November 25, 2021 at 8:15 pm   By Lois Kerschen

Politicians have a bad reputation. Few, if any, seem to be saintly. However, it is possible to be a world leader and holy. An example in modern times is that of Blessed Charles, last ruler of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Remarkably, Wikipedia lists 83 canonized kings and queens. In addition, there is a myriad of other royal saints and a long list of those who are being considered for sainthood. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_royal_saints_and_martyrs Most people probably think that these royal saints lived in... Read more

Patheos Catholic

Blessed Charles I

canonized royalty

Daniel Lipinski

Grand Duke Henri

saintly leaders

Servant of God Zita

2021-11-22T15:09:35-08:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Post-Abortion Healing: The Need and the Response

Last updated on: November 22, 2021 at 3:09 pm   By Lois Kerschen

The Catholic Church has a mission to bring forgiveness and healing to all its members. That includes the women who are in need of post-abortion healing. One in four women in America has had an abortion. As discussed in a previous blog, Catholics are as affected by abortion as any other group. https://www.patheos.com/blogs/musingsfromthepew/2021/10/p361/ Chances are that some of the women at Mass have had an abortion. In addition are all those avoiding church because they are afraid they aren’t welcome... Read more

Patheos Catholic

forgiveness

post-abortion healing

programs

Project Rachel

Rachel's Vineyard

retreats

2021-11-20T13:59:35-08:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Redemptive Suffering and the Little Cajun Saint

Last updated on: November 20, 2021 at 1:59 pm   By Lois Kerschen

Redemptive suffering is the practice of offering up our suffering as a sacrifice to God. It is a way to connect our suffering with Christ’s so that God can use it to grant further blessings just as God used Christ’s sacrifice to redeem the world. Suffering, when accepted and offered up in union with Christ’s Passion, can reduce the punishment for sin and alleviate our physical or spiritual needs or that of others. If redemptive suffering is a way to... Read more

Patheos Catholic

Charlene Richard

Little Cajun Saint

offer it up

redemptive suffering

Follow Us!

Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter



TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which city did David conquer and make his capital?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Bethel Hebron Gibeon Jerusalem


Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Patheos Catholic Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 July 2026 May 2026 December 2025 November 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 November 2023 September 2023 July 2023 June 2023 February 2023 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021


TRENDING AT PATHEOS Catholic

Rejecting Doom: Christian Hope And Human Action

Christianity is a religion of hope. We are to have hope and...

It’s What Comes From Within Which Matters

One of the most difficult things for us to understand is why...

Why I Choose the Eucharist Over the Sermon

Choose the Eucharist, Not the Sermon What are we supposed to get...

5 Design Elements Found in Spiritually Rooted Homes

Putting Spirituality Into Home Decor Our homes are more than our living...

Credo: A Story of God Told with the...

About 10 years ago, I began to imagine a personal "Credo" that...

The Anatomy of Divine Revelation in Catholic Thought

The claim that God has made Himself known to human beings is...

view all Catholic blogs

Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Copyright 2008-2026, Patheos. All rights reserved.

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube