I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.Indeed, war may be inevitable (because of our proud fallen nature) and according to the Church's Just War Theory, even necessary, but a war that could annihilate millions of people? A war that could destroy a whole continent? A war that could destroy the whole planet?
War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. Jimmy CarterMaybe we need a little perspective. The bomb that destroyed 90 percent of the city of Hiroshima was the equivalent of 15,000 tons of TNT. That immediate explosion killed 80,000 people. The bomb that was dropped over Nagasaki killed 40,000 people but that bomb produced a 22,000 ton blast. Today there is a bomb called the B83 that equals 1.2M tons of TNT and the Tsar Bomb which was set off by the Soviets in 1961, produced a 50 million ton blast – that’s over 3000 times more powerful than the ones used to end the war with Japan!
The way to win an atomic war is to make certain it never starts. Omar Bradley (1893 - 1981)This past week, the Vatican hosted a conference titled "Prospects for a World Free from Nuclear Weapons and for Integral Disarmament". For the first time the Church seems to be saying that there are no circumstances in which owning nuclear weapons would be justifiable. Matthew 6:21 says, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." The reverse is also true: We know where our heart is by where we spend our treasure.
You can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake. Jeannette Rankin (1880 - 1973)
Deacon Pedro explores the ins and outs of a modern Conclave, and asks, "Where is the Holy Spirit in all this?"
For the Jubilee of Hope, there are designated local pilgrimage sites in every country, and Canada is no exception. How is a local pilgrimage site determined? The local bishop can designate any parish, shrine, or basilica in his territory as a Jubilee Year pilgrimage site.
Fashion and clothing designed to draw people closer to God can inspire and even sanctify others. Nate Nagello, the CEO and owner of the Toronto-based Sanctified Collective, hopes the clothing he creates can provide opportunities for conversation, engagement, and evangelization.
The Rosary is powerful: many graces can be bestowed upon those who pray it, and it can also offer special protection. Reciting the Rosary aloud in church and praying for the pope’s intentions can grant the supplicant a plenary indulgence.
What is the difference between heresy and simple disagreement? Looking at some of the main heresies throughout history might light the way forward.