Father Ronald D. Witherup
Synodality ‘Redivivus’
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After the conclusion of the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 29, 2023, there was a flood of media articles and reports attempting to assess the synod and what it did, or did not, accomplish. The headlines of one newspaper screamed: “Vatican synod ends without clear stances on women, LGBTQ.” Similar headlines appeared in numerous other Read More
Preparing for the Synod
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The Holy See recently announced the dates of the second part of the Synod on Synodality, to take place in Rome Oct. 2-27, 2024. This will culminate the long process initiated by Pope Francis to make synodality very much a “constitutive” element in the life of the contemporary Catholic Church. Synodality is vital to the Read More
The Way: Pilgrimages in Biblical Perspective
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During my 14-year sojourn in France, I was impressed with the number of individuals who passed through our Sulpician house in central Paris to undertake, or continue, their pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain. This is one of the most celebrated pilgrimages, well-trod since the Middle Ages. Part of the main road (El Read More
The Mysterious Letter to the Hebrews
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I recently had the opportunity to teach a seminar on the Letter to the Hebrews. Despite many years of teaching, I had never taught Hebrews, except for brief overviews in introductory courses. Yet all priests know that this letter is particularly important for our theology of the priesthood. Most ordination ceremonies employ the inspiring reading Read More
Pope Francis on Faith and Reason in a Skeptical Age
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More than 10 years on, Pope Francis continues to surprise. One such occasion occurred in the early summer of 2023 when he published an apostolic letter that seemingly flew under the radar. On June 19, the pope promulgated Sublimitas et Miseria Hominis (“The Grandeur and Misery of Man”) for the 400th anniversary of the birth Read More
John the Baptist’s Example for Priests
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Every priest knows that John the Baptist is a major figure in the liturgical season of Advent. He is hard to miss. A dominant image in all four canonical Gospels, John looms large in the story of Jesus of Nazareth, primarily because of his important role as the forerunner of the Messiah. Yet we can Read More
Resolutions for the New (Liturgical) Year
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New Year’s resolutions. They are not my favorite, mostly because — to be honest — I am not very good at keeping them. But why should we be concerned with these when Jan. 1 is almost two months away? For us presbyters, of course, the “new year” that looms is the new liturgical year, which Read More
Facing Discord, Old and New in the Church
Father Ronald D. Witherup Comments Off on Facing Discord, Old and New in the Church
Some pundits claim that we live in the most divisive times in human history. While this may or may not be accurate, there is no denying the multiple divisions and conflicts that persist today. Sadly, examples abound in virtually every aspect of modern life: race relations, gender identity, ethnic tensions, generational divides, international conflicts, political Read More