In 1966, during my year as a deacon prefect at Our Lady of Providence Seminary on Warwick Neck, the college freshman class numbered one member who has recently received the personal affirmation of Pope Benedict XVI himself. more

St. John the Evangelist wrote it memorably and succinctly, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The Greek original actually reads, “…and tabernacled among us.” One innovative translator has rendered that literally, “…he pitched his tent among us.” The ancient creeds convey the same message in time-honored if unadorned phraseology, “…he was born of the Virgin Mary and became man.” more

On most days in the Holy Land, a cooling breeze blows in from the sea shortly before sunset. The Book of Genesis refers to this refreshing gust as “the wind of the day” and it takes note that it was at this relaxed moment that God the Father would visit Adam and Eve to discuss the affairs of the day. more

The repudiation of Christopher Columbus as discoverer of America and his vilification as conqueror, exploiter and slave owner have become regular autumn events on some campuses and in certain cities. more

Judge Donald and Ursula Shea, residents of St. Francis of Assisi parish in Warwick, were recently honored when a scholarship in their name was endowed at Providence College for a student who would pursue a career in community service. more

One of the saddest revisions that occurred after the Second Vatican Council was the elimination of saints from the calendar, from sanctuaries and from prayers. Sts. Christopher and Philomena, Saints John and Paul, among many other of the blessed, were dropped from the church’s list of feast days. more

Jesus was undeniably a charitable person. His heart was troubled when he saw the crowds who were like sheep without a shepherd. His instinct was to feed the multitude in the wilderness rather than send them home unnourished. He was touched by the plight of the widow at Naim about the loss of her beloved son. more

There was a time when ransoming captives was a very relevant act of mercy. Moors from North Africa regularly captured unlucky Europeans and then demanded ransom from their unfortunate families. more

One of the saddest results of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century was the distressing neglect of sacred Scripture that resulted in the Catholic Church. Officially, the church never neglected Scripture. more

Princess Mae of Teck came from a branch of the English royal family who lived under reduced circumstances. Although she was indeed a great granddaughter of George III, her family once had to move to Florence, Italy to save money. more

Bishop Edward Slattery, of Tulsa, Okla., has decided to celebrate Mass at the diocesan cathedral "ad orientem," i.e., facing the altar at the head of the people toward God in the distance in an effort to recapture a "more authentic" Catholic worship. more

The Gospel versions according to Sts. Matthew, Mark and Luke are often termed the “Synoptic Gospels” because the similarity among them can be observed “at a glance,” as the Greek word “synoptic” indicates. Nowhere is this evangelical agreement more evident than in the sacred authors’ reporting of Christ’s triple predictions of his Passion. St. Mark’s three chapter and verse references to the Passion are most easily remembered: 8:31, 9:3 and 10:33. more

A good friend on the West Coast, a dear cousin in the Midwest, and a respected local pastor were all impressed with the religious novel “The Shack” by William P. Young, a son of Protestant missionaries in the Orient and the heir to multiple religious influences. more

Flannery O’Connor (actually Mary Flannery O’Connor) was a celebrated author of short stories in the middle of the last century. A native of Georgia, O’Connor was characteristically southern in her frame of mind and in her turn of phrase. more

Father John Farley was a legendary philosophy professor at Our Lady of Providence Seminary College in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. An insightful teacher and a clever preacher, Father Farley would arrive five minutes late for class with his signature cup of coffee, lengthy cigarette butt and scruffy cassock. more

The question occasionally arises among Roman Catholics as to whether they should receive Communion when attending Episcopal Church services. After all, some argue, their Mass looks just the same as ours, and indeed it does. more

During these summer months, the Church’s liturgy wisely focuses the worshiper’s attention on the Eucharist. Chapter six of St. John’s Gospel is a glorious exposition on the Eucharist as a sacred banquet, a memorial meal, a cause of grace and a pledge of future life. more

My senior prom from La Salle Academy was held in the spring of 1958 at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet. My date was Mary Kelly, a classmate from my parish grammar school. more

For many centuries even pious believers might have pondered why it was Eve rather than Adam who the ancient author of Genesis depicted as succumbing to the tempting serpent. By singling out Eve … more

My father, mother and I attended the 9 a.m. Mass every Sunday at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Woonsocket. Originally this was the children’s Mass, but even in my teenage years, we continued to attend at this hour since Catholics rarely went to Communion at the later Masses in those days. more