Category: Faith & Life

CONVERSATION WITH FATHER GONZÁLEZ, OP – “Fidelity to the Gospel is the Real Limit Pope Leo Will have to Face”

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After stepping out to the main balcony of Saint Peter’s Basilica as Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost identified himself not by nationality, but as being “a son of Saint Augustine, an Augustinian”. That sense of identity, Father Javier González claims, is more than symbolic and unquestionably influences the pope’s spiritual and theological outlook. The former Prior Provincial of the Dominican Province of Our Lady of the Rosary is confident that Pope Leo XIV will continue the legacy of his predecessor, albeit with a much more moderate style. The Spanish missionary – who as a Dominican follows the Rule of Saint Augustine – believes Pope Leo will strive to safeguard the Church’s prophetic value and her loyalty to the Gospel of Christ. Fidelity to the Gospel, Father González says, is the only limit the Holy Father will face. 

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NEW VICAR OF CHRIST ON EARTH – Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, Most Welcome!

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As we all know well, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost Martinez was elected Pope on May 8, 2025 in the fourth vote of the Conclave of Cardinals meeting at the Sistine Chapel (the Vatican). He chose as his name Leo XIV, right after Leo XIII, the pope that initiated powerfully and creatively the so-called Social Doctrine of the Church, which is necessary part of the teaching and practicing our Christian faith. When Cardinal Prevost Martinez (with Spanish and French/Italian roots) was elected the 267 Successor of St. Peter, he was the Prefect of the Dicastery of Bishops and the President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. 

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KEEPER OF THE KEYS (8) – Fine-tuning the liturgy: Evaristus, Alexander I, Sixtus I

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ST EVARISTUS (96/99 – 108)

The Liber Pontificalis notes that Evaristus was, “by nationality a Greek of Antioch, son of a Jew named Judah, from the city of Bethlehem.” Memmo Caporilli, in his chart of The Roman Pontiffs says that Evaristus was the founder of the first seven diaconates in Rome which were entrusted to senior priests. These were given the task of keeping a watch over the doctrinal correctness of the bishop’s preaching! This group of seven priests is believed to be the origin of the present College of Cardinals. How careful were the pastors of the early Church to make sure that they were teaching the doctrine of Christ and not their own!

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TWO BEAUTIFUL WAYS OF CELEBRATING ONE HOLY MASS

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I recently had my holiday in the US and I spent it with my relatives there. On a Sunday, I joined them to fulfill my Sunday obligation, and we went to a small and modest church. The mass was entirely in Latin and the liturgy was entirely different. The entire mass has brough me to sleep and I felt I went to see a sad stage show than to Sunday mass. I respectfully told my relatives that I have to attend the real mass. They were horrified to hear my words, and they were claiming that they are now Traditional Roman Catholics and that they prepare the Tridentine or Latin Mass for their Sunday mass.  I have observed how my relatives became so devoted to the church and closer to God now than before. Does this mean that Tridentine mass is more effective and valuable than the ordinary mass, or more reverent than the other?  Could you explain to me the difference? 

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6TH SUNDAY OF EASTER – “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit … will teach you everything ….”

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This Sunday’s Gospel Reading is set at the Last Supper.  Yet Jesus speaks in veiled terms about His Ascension to the Father, which of course took place less than seven weeks after the Last Supper.  In Sunday’s Gospel Reading, we hear Jesus proclaim:  “If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father”.  But how could we expect the apostles to rejoice over Jesus leaving them?

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Pope Leo XIV, pride of the Order of Saint Augustin – A testimony of prayer and simplicity

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In statements to a journalist from the Fides news agency, Father Stephen Alathara, Deputy Secretary General of the Latin Rite Bishops’ Conference of India and Founding Director of “Communio” – an initiative of the Latin Episcopate of India (CCBI) to support dioceses and religious congregations in rural areas – recalls the pastoral activity of Father Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, in India. As Superior General of the Augustinian Fathers, that North American cleric visited the gigantic Asian nation on two occasions, where he is still remembered today as “a simple man” who knew how to adapt to the local context “with an attitude of listening and dialogue”, without ever neglecting “his spirituality rooted in an intense life of prayer”.

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FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER – Jesus Transforms History into Glory

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Today, as we reflect on John 13:31-35, we are invited into the mystery of Jesus’ glorification—not through power, wealth, or worldly success, but through humility, sacrifice, and love. In a world where many leaders choose destruction and war, Jesus offers a radically different path. He does not seek to annihilate his enemies. Instead, he builds bridges. As Pope Leo XIV reminded us in his first speech, we must pursue a peace that is both disarmed and disarming—a peace that does not merely silence conflicts for a time but heals wounds, reconciles divisions, and prevents future hatred.

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4th SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR C – The Good Shepherd Model for All Vocations – Five Essential Conditions

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The Gospel of this 4th Sunday of Easter presents to us the Good Shepherd. Some people might think that this Gospel message is addressed only to priests. It would be like saying that they are shepherds and the people are their sheep. While this is true, we are all called to become pastors and shepherds. The ideal of life is not to remain like “sheep”, but to become good shepherds, according to the Heart of Jesus. Regardless of our vocation, God gives us responsibilities, and we will all have our own flock to take care of, whether in the family, at work or in society. If we reflect on chapter 10 of the Gospel of St. John, we can see that for someone to be a good shepherd, or true leader according to the evangelical model, five conditions are evident in the example of Jesus:

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