Christian Today

  Gospel in Art: Mary, Mother of the Church https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/55071

  Christian Witness and America’s Birthday https:/ Christian Witness and America’s Birthday https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/christian-witness-and-americas-birthday?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=novashare via @CrisisMag Christian Witness and America’s Birthday Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap In his great biography of Benjamin Franklin, Walter Isaacson noted that Franklin donated money to “the building funds of each and every sect in Philadelphia.” For Franklin and his founding brothers, religion promoted the civic virtue essential to sustaining the republican model of government. Franklin was a deist throughout his life. But he understood, nonetheless, that religious belief had concrete, powerful and very positive implications for shaping public life. There are many Benjamin Franklins today, who, whether believers or not, welcome the contributions of religious faith to the public square. Many others, however, including some who hold publ...

  Truth and Tradition: Seeing the Future in the Light of the Past https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/truth-and-tradition-seeing-the-future-in-the-light-of-the-past?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=novashare

 I have to admit it: I’m an old white guy. In fact, I am a privileged old white guy. To be honest, I am a very privileged old white guy. I grew up in a middle class home with a successful businessman for a father. My mom was a “homemaker.” Mom and Dad both considered their primary vocation to be Christian parents, and to raise their five kids to “love and serve the Lord.” Dad paid for college. Having been given a strong work ethic, I worked hard, did well, and made my way not only to grad school, but to Oxford. I was ordained as a minister, eventually got married to a wonderful woman, and we have four terrific children—all of whom have graduated from college and are doing well. My wife has her own business, and I’m blessed to have a job I love, which allows time to write. With such blessings, it is my duty to share them as I can. Therefore, it was a joyful challenge when the bishop asked me to become the pastor of a Catholic parish in a difficult part of town. Our Lady of the Rosar...

  The fall of Constantinople: The Greatest tragedy of the 2nd Millineium Pre-Siege Preparations April 1452: Construction of the Rumeli Hisarı fortress begins on the Bosphorus Strait under Mehmed II's orders, effectively blockading Constantinople from the Black Sea. The Siege Begins April 5, 1453: Sultan Mehmed II arrives outside the walls and formally begins the siege. The outnumbered Byzantine defenders—roughly 7,000 men under Emperor Constantine XI—take up positions behind the Theodosian Walls. April 12, 1453: The first heavy bombardment of the city's ancient walls by Ottoman cannons begins. March 1453: The Ottoman fleet, including massive siege cannons gathers near the city.

 Saint of the day May 25 Venerable Bede. Bede was born near St. Peter and St. Paul monastery at Wearmouth-Jarrow, England. He was sent there when he was three and educated by Abbots Benedict Biscop and Ceolfrid. He became a monk at the monastery, was ordained when thirty, and except for a few brief visits elsewhere, spent all of his life in the monastery, devoting himself to the study of Scripture and to teaching and writing. He is considered one of the most learned men of his time and a major influence on English literature.   St. Aldhelm, 709 A.D. Bishop and abbot, also called Adelemus, Athelmas, Adelnie, Eadelhelm, Aedelhem. Born about 639, and a relative of King Ine of Wessex, he received his early education at Malmesbury, in Wiltshire, England. There he was trained by an Irish teacher, Maildubh, and by Adrian, a native of Roman Africa. Adrian arrived in England with Bishop Theodore and was made abbot of St. Augustine's, Canterbury. After his training in Malmesbury, A...