A wonderful breakfast w/renowned Ratzinger scholar Dr. Tracey Rowland at #NewRessourcement! Enjoyed our conversation on Catholic education, faith, formation, & (of course) rugby! Looking forward to her presentation tonight after another outstanding day of theological reflection & fellowshBarron @ThinkerCatholic @FrSteveGrunow @MatthewBecklo @MattPetrusek @LarryChappGS22

11 years since meeting then-Fr. Barron. Grateful to reconnect at #NewRessourcement & for the profound influence of @WordOnFire on my formation.

Please pray for all of us gathered here as we seek to be Cooperatores Veritatis!

@ThinkerCatholic @FrSteveGrunow @MatthewBecklo @Mat22 @NCRegister

Pope Leo XIV to the student athletes of Villanova University and the University of Notre Dame:

“No one is born a champion, just as no one is born a saint. Rather, holiness requires a daily training in love. In this regard, Christians are called to run in the race of life, but g an imperishable crown of glory.

I pray that the activities, which comprise your pilgrimage, especially your business, the tombs of the apostles, who gave their lives in defence of the faith, will serve as a reminder that our true goal, beyond emerging victorious in any one event, is to win the prize of everlasting life.”

Video of the Pope’s remarks in full here:

Two cities. One Paris.

Hundreds of thousands gathered in prayer. Weeks later, violence in the streets.

St. Augustine warned us about civilizations divided by what they love.

Has the West forgotten what holds it together?

My latest : brendantowell.substack.com/p/two-cities-o…

@ThinkerCatholic Fire @FrSteveGrunow @BishopBarron

Pope Leo XIV, Benedict XVI, & St. Augustine offer a compelling lens for understanding Europe's crisis of identity. @Pontifex @VaticanNews @EWTNews @NCRegister @CatholicNewsSvc @EWTNNewsNightly

If Europe is a warning for America, Catholic education must be part of the answer. Our schools can become modern monastic centers of revival.
@RealMattFradd @MatthewBecklo @MattPetrusek @michaeljknowles @KonstantinKisin @triggerpod

Pope Leo XIV invites all believers to join spiritually with religious leaders who are set to meet in Assisi to mark the 40th anniversary of the first World Day of Prayer for Peace.

Just wrapped up reading a delightful short novel from an Irish author I had never come across before. I highly recommend for a refreshing & enjoyable read!
@ThinkerCatholic @LarryChappGS22 @RealMattFradd @MatthewBecklo @BishopBarron @WordOnFire

brendantowell.substack.com/p/the-pleasure…

Is the debate over Mary as Co-Redemptrix really about doctrine - or the language we use to express it?

As the controversy reignites, my @NCRegister reflection on Mater Populi Fidelis (drawing on Yves Congar & St. John Paul II) is worth revisiting.

ncregister.com/commentaries/t…

I'd be particularly interested in hearing how others are reading these latest developments. Is the disagreement fundamentally doctrinal, terminological, or pastoral? Can Congar's caution & John Paul II's enthusiasm help us find a way forward? @LarryChappGS22 @ThinkerCatholic @MatthewBecklo @RealMattFradd @MattPetrusek @michaeljknowles @BishopBarron @FrSteveGrunow

Pope Leo XIV’s surgery to remove a “small, localized nodule” from his lung was successful and he has returned to his room in the Gemelli Hospital, according to the Holy See Press Office.

Grateful to speak with Theology III seminarians at @StCharlesSem today on Catholic Schools in a Missionary Age.

Our schools sit at the intersection of theology, culture & evangelization - true mission fields for the Church!

Please pray for these men and for vocations to the prie. ⛪️ 🙏 ❤️‍🔥

@Philly_Priest
@ArchbishopPerez
@AOPS_Schools
@NCRegister
@AveMariaRadio
@AscensionPress
@WordOnFire
@BishopBarron
@FrSteveGrunow
@ThinkerCatholic
@LarryChappGS22

Many people are rediscovering the Gospel and embracing the faith against the backdrop of a society marked by a deeply secularized culture. With pastoral tenderness and fraternal charity, we must recognize, welcome, and protect the small flame that the Holy Spirit has kindled in the darkness of the night. #ApostolicJourney #France vatican.va/content/leo-xi…

An unprecedented surge of donations and sold-out crowds precede Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming visit to France, signaling renewed spiritual interest across the country.

ewtnvatican.com/articles/an-un…

Is the West cutting off its nose to spite its face?

The West has not simply drifted from Christianity. It has, in a profound way, orphaned itself.

@brentowell joins @AveAfternoon

⬇️Link Below⬇️

Today, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Monica.

St. Monica’s life is a testimony to the power of persistent prayer, patient suffering, and trust in God’s Providence. Born around the mid-fourth century in Tagaste, North Africa, she was raised in a Christian family ith. Her life, however, would be marked by many trials that she faced with remarkable courage and perseverance.

At an early age, Monica married Patricius, a pagan government official whose temper and lifestyle often caused her distress. With patience, charity, and faithful example over the years, she helped him convert to Christianity shortly before his death.

Her greatest concern, however, was her son Augustine. Gifted with extraordinary intelligence, Augustine pursued success, pleasure, and philosophical speculation while turning away from the Faith of his childhood. Monica prayed constantly for his conversion, following him across North Africa and Italy.

Having sought help for Augustine from holy men before, she met St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, who, by God’s grace, helped Augustine to learn, understand, and embrace the Catholic Faith. Augustine was baptized at Easter in 387, and Monica’s prayers were answered after nearly two decades of perseverance.

Later that same year, while waiting at Ostia for passage back to North Africa, Monica became ill and died peacefully. Her son lovingly recorded her life and final conversations in his Confessions, preserving her example for generations of Christians.

St. Monica is honored as a model of faithful motherhood, perseverance, and confidence in God’s mercy.

Read more: ewtnmission.com/dailysaint/st-…

Turning 40 made me wonder something I had never thought to ask:

What was the Church reading on the day I was born?

Then came the more interesting question:

What was She reading on the day I was born again in Baptism?

I looked up both.

My latest reflection: “What Was the Church Reading When You Were Born… Both Times?”

(Graphics created by AI)

substack.com/@brendantowell…

In his Angelus address, Pope Leo XIV reflects on the importance of developing a personal relationship with Christ in order to allow him to transform our lives and the world, even by sometimes embarking on unfamiliar paths.

vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2…

Pope Leo XIV on Aug. 15 called on Catholics to look to Mary, the Mother of God as an example of “true beauty,” with the Holy Father pointing to her youthful appearance in sacred art as a sign of “love that never ends.”

ewtnnews.com/vatican/pope-l…

Pope Leo XIV has urged Catholics to prioritize attending Sunday Mass, warning that in-person attendance cannot be replaced by virtual gatherings.

ewtnnews.com/vatican/pope-l…