A brief introduction to academic New Testament studies will be a somewhat shocking eye opener go most beginners. They will soon find that most “respectable” New Testament scholars have made an career out of de-bunking the gospels and trying to show them to be late compositions written by anonymous authors who added mythological magical details to the story of Jesus  to make him sound more like the Son of God.

Mother Mary spent forty days at home (or rather, in the stable at Bethlehem) after Jesus’ birth, before returning to public life and worship with the presentation of Our Lord in the Temple (Luke 2:22).

Annually in June, the Catholic liturgical calendar is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus – an enduring epitome of divine love that is pierced, poured out and aflame with mercy. Concurrently, in the secular calendar, June is also known as Pride Month – a celebration of LGBTQ+ identities and rights. As devoted Catholics, one may find these two observances to be in apparent contrast. But beneath the surface lies a shared human longing – one that longs to be seen, known and loved.

The Church is born primarily of Christ’s total self-giving for our salvation, anticipated in the institution of the Eucharist and fulfilled on the cross. “The origin and growth of the Church are symbolized by the blood and water which flowed from the open side of the crucified Jesus.” “For it was from the side of Christ as he slept the sleep of death upon the cross that there came forth the ‘wondrous sacrament of the whole Church.’”

The outcome of the conclave on 16 October 1978 came as such a surprise around the world that newspapers in New York could not get a picture of the Cardinal Wojtyla, Archbishop of Krakow. Despite the difficulties, the article on the newly elected Holy Father had to be published, especially when there was a huge interest and what is an article without the likeness of the main character!

I was piqued to see my own bishop, Cardinal Goh, appear on EWTN. As he spoke with Matthew Bunson, Vice President of EWTN, I felt a profound sense of relief — as though a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

The time has passed for Catholics from all walks of life to hide our ignorance behind the intellectual competence of the clergy by claiming that it is only the clergy who have access to a fuller knowledge of the Church’s body of teachings.

As we honour this feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we are called to enkindle a deeper reverence for the sanctity of motherhood in structures that support maternal health, family life and postpartum well-being. This article calls for a universal recognition that every pregnant mother carries God’s promise and every postpartum mother reveals God’s love through her body. The Church, following Mary’s example, is called to bless, serve and support this sacred reality in every mother.

Jan Deskur was born in Kraków, Poland, and is currently in his fifth year of a Master’s programme in Systematic Theology at the Pontifical University of John Paul II. He is deeply engaged in the life of the Church and his local parish. He is also a member of the editorial board of Miesięcznik Salwatorski, the parish magazine.

In one of his letters, Erasmus of Rotterdam (d. 1536) buttressed the great project of Renaissance Humanism to return to the sources (ad fontes) with the claim: “It is at the very sources that one extracts pure doctrine.” In the history-conscious 19th century, St. John Henry Newman (d. 1890) illustrated his theory of the development of doctrine (and worship) with a strikingly different image: “It is indeed sometimes said that the stream is clearest near the spring. Whatever use may fairly be made of this image, it does not apply to the history of a philosophy or belief, which on the contrary is more equable, and purer, and stronger, when its bed has become deep, and broad, and full.”

We should begin with primary questions. What is sacred art? What is it for? Is it important to the spiritual life? If so, why? If not, why not?