Jeanine Morelli

Delighted to share this fascinating interview on "The Spiritual Life," with James K. A. Smith, a scholar of St. Augustine, who speaks about the saint whose life and writings have profoundly influenced Pope Leo XIV. youtube.com/watch?v=L6HQKQ…

My statement through the USCCB:

@unclemokie Great photo 💕

Easter pic of my dad, sisters, and me in France circa 1966. Mom was a wonderful seamstress and sewed our fancy-schmancy Easter dresses. Pray you all had a blessed Easter surrounded by family and friends.

Pope Leo's Easter message: "Let those who have weapons lay them down! Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace! Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue! Not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them!"

I agree with what Pope Leo XIV stated today in his first Easter speech:

The discipline of Lent consists of three separate parts:  1. Corporal or External Fast: including the abstinence from certain foods, drinks, and amusements during Lent. 2. Spiritual or Internal Fast which consists of abstinence from all evil, namely, sin. Saint John Chrysostom taught that the "value of fasting consists not so much in abstinence from food but rather in withdrawal from sinful practices." And Saint Basil the Great explains: "Turning away from all wickedness means keeping our tongue in check, restraining our anger, suppressing evil desires, and avoiding all gossiping and swearing. To abstain from these things—herein lies the true value of fast!"   3. Spiritual Change achieved by the practice of virtues and good works must be the main objective of our fasting.

#Lent begins tomorrow, and here are 10 ideas for a more meaningful Lenten season from the @archtoronto.

A life-changing spiritual experience for a man who would become one of the world's pre-eminent New Testament scholars, Ben Witherington, III. Listen to our whole conversation on "The Spiritual Life" podcast. americamagazine.org/thespiritualli…

"The [#AssistedSuicide] legislation triggered intense opposition from Orthodox Jewish communities, which had campaigned against it for nearly ten years. [They] argued that the law undermines the sanctity of life and crosses fundamental moral boundaries." israelnationalnews.com/news/422542

Congratulations! For the 22nd consecutive year, we're thrilled to share that we've been recognized as one of the colleges and universities with the most students selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Read more: bit.ly/3O9TA39 ️ #KnowThyself #HamiltonCollege

During my graduate theology studies, my New Testament professor, Daniel J. Harrington, SJ, once summed up the Synoptic Gospels with a little grid, which he drew on the blackboard. Across the top he wrote, “Jesus,” “Disciples” and “Christian Life” and along the side he wrote “Mark, Matthew and Luke.” The grid was to summarize how each Gospel treated each of those topics. It always amazed me that this great scholar who, as the saying goes, had forgotten more about the New Testament than we would ever learn, could sum things up so succinctly. Everyone in class hurried to copy it down. In the box for “Matthew” under “Jesus” Dan wrote, “Old Testament fulfilled.” This is Jesus’s essential character in Matthew’s Gospel. And we see this in today’s reading when he says that he has come not to abolish but to fulfill the Law. How does Jesus do that? Of course in many ways in his public ministry. But in this case, he does so by asking us to go deeper. It is not enough simply not to kill; you also much avoid name calling. In a passage almost universally overlooked, Jesus says, pointedly, you will go to hell if you call someone “raca” (“fool,” “emptyheaded”). It’s not enough simply to avoid adultery, we must avoid looking lustfully on anyone. And so on. Jesus asks us to go deeper. I thought of this when I read Pope Leo XIV's @Pontifex profound invitation for Lent this year: "I would like to invite you to a very practical and frequently unappreciated form of abstinence: that of refraining from words that offend and hurt our neighbor. Let us begin by disarming our language, avoiding harsh words and rash judgement, refraining from slander and speaking ill of those who are not present and cannot defend themselves.” What a wonderful way to start Lent. And a wonderful way to “fulfill” what Jesus, the fulfillment of the Old Testament, asks of us.

Happy St. Valentine’s Day! While Emperor Claudius II forbade soldiers from marrying, Valentine defied him by performing weddings in secret, championing marriage and family. He was martyred for his faith, supposedly executed on February 14, 270 AD.  Happy Valentine’s Day to all my followers & thank you for being here❤️

Happy Valentines Day 🩷

Happy St. Valentine’s Day 🩷

Free samples! Happy to share this: If you go to this page, you'll be able to read (free) the first part of the first chapter of "Work in Progress" and listen (free) to a 4-minute excerpt from the audio book. @HarperOneBooks harpercollins.com/products/work-… harpercollins.com/products/work-…

Each person has a unique value. “God has imprinted his own image and likeness on man, conferring upon him an incomparable dignity.” — Pope St. John Paul II (Centesimus Annus) All CST flows from this idea! Read more at: bit.ly/3Gq0M5d

@ValaAfshar GKCHESTERTON

“Wrong is wrong, even if everyone is doing it. Right is right, even if no one is doing it.”

Now live on Substack: “The Most Misunderstood Principle in Catholic Social Teaching.” Take a few minutes to read and explore the latest piece. We’d love to hear what you think! Read Here: cappusa.substack.com/p/the-most-mis…

@sscjusa Happy birthday 🥳

Today is my birthday, and facebook somehow forgot my birthday appeal. I decided to put something up here on X, if you are ever in a position to help. Or you may send directly to Sister Servants of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus , 866 Cambria St., Cresson, PA 16630. sacredheartsisters.org. Thank you in advance! Love you all. paypal.com/ncp/payment/U4…