Category Archives: evangelization

Pope Francis dances around a tough spot here. Many other commentators have expended ink, breath, and electronic space on the matter of ordaining women to holy orders. He begins by laying down matters that are a given. First the equal … Continue reading →

Pope Francis on women. Part of the sexist mindset of the institutional church–he has been a part of that all-male domain in religious life certainly, but also in his time as a bishop. 103. The Church acknowledges the indispensable contribution which … Continue reading →

Pope Francis turns our attention to the laity in today’s post of Evangelii Gaudium. His observation is that within the structure and operation of the church, we have progress yet to make. He also speaks of the need for a … Continue reading →

Let’s wrap up the discussion on Christian incivility: 101. Let us ask the Lord to help us understand the law of love. How good it is to have this law! How much good it does us to love one another, … Continue reading →

Pope Francis in Evangelii Gaudium touches on ecumenism here. Remember, this is directed at workers: bishops, priests, lay ministers, and others who exercise leadership in the Church. Ecumenism is the task of all the faithful, but let’s attend to what the … Continue reading →

In today’s Evangelii Gaudium post, we read the Holy Father’s challenge to be an example to the world, which obviously, has enough conflict and division: 99. Our world is being torn apart by wars and violence, and wounded by a widespread … Continue reading →

For Evangelii Gaudium 98-101, Pope Francis urges believers to say “No to warring among ourselves.” 98. How many wars take place within the people of God and in our different communities! In our neighborhoods and in the workplace, how many wars … Continue reading →

Pope Francis concerned about pastoral workers, people from bishops to lay volunteers who exercise some leadership, who are bothered by those who want to think beyond their own concerns. Read Evangelii Gaudium for more on this half chapter (EG 76-109) addressing our … Continue reading →

Pope Francis delivers some military imagery, though I was thinking more of Dante with the challenge to those who might prefer to lead a lost cause than serve in a lowly spot in a good one: 96. This way of … Continue reading →

Pope Francis seems to be speaking to some believers. Is his criticism fair of those who value the liturgy itself as something akin to the whole world? Or do the preoccupied have a just focus? Weigh in in the comments … Continue reading →

In this section of Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis zeroes in on a few modern trends of concern: 94. This worldliness can be fuelled in two deeply interrelated ways. One is the attraction of gnosticism, a purely subjective faith whose only … Continue reading →

Evangelii Gaudium 93-97 will address “No to spiritual worldliness.“ What could Pope Francis possibly mean by this?  93. Spiritual worldliness, which hides behind the appearance of piety and even love for the Church, consists in seeking not the Lord’s glory but human … Continue reading →

We’ve spent a week with Pope Francis and his thoughts on this section of Evangelii Gaudium (87-92, “Yes to the new relationships brought by Christ”) In EG 91 we are urged to resist the temptation to isolation. But there must be something … Continue reading →

Pope Francis calls upon a few classic saint-guides from the spiritual life to remind us that the minister can never lose the thread of service to others. I also note the instability of those who “flit” and do not settle. … Continue reading →