Commentary When I think about the saints most beloved by modern Catholics, Padre Pio tops the list. His weathered face and brown Capuchin habit are iconic. His remarkable personal story, his strong-willed personality and the intensity of his spiritual life are absolutely captivating. But here’s the thing: I think most people get the reason this […]
Father Patrick Briscoe: Falling leaves embody surrender, God’s love
Commentary As the long days of summer fade and autumn’s cool, crisp air starts to settle in, it’s hard not to feel a shift in our spirits, too. I’m not one to have a favorite season; I love them all. But there’s so much to praise about fall. The vibrant colors of the leaves, the […]
Father Patrick Briscoe: Shia LaBeouf’s conversion
COMMENTARY In August 2022, when “Transformers” star Shia LaBeouf revealed during a conversation with Bishop Robert Barron that he had experienced a conversion and begun to attend Mass, I wrote that LaBeouf seemed to me to have undergone a genuine change of heart. He spoke regretfully of the pain and harm he had caused […]
Father Patrick Briscoe: Did the pope change church teaching?
COMMENTARY Did Pope Francis change Catholic teaching on gay marriage? The short answer is no. Despite the number of headlines and photos you’re seeing all across the media, Catholic teaching understands now and always that marriage is a privileged union that can only exist between one man and one woman. That bond is forged in […]
Father Patrick Briscoe: Following, or followed by, the saints
COMMENTARY We like to think we follow the saints, but sometimes the saints follow us. As I walked home from class in Tours, France, I had an irresistible urge to explore the church I was passing by. As I entered, I marveled at the architecture. A choir of nuns happened to be singing Vespers. The […]
Father Patrick Briscoe: Preachy pilot or priest?
COMMENTARY In the realm of aviation, a recent video of an American Airlines pilot delivering a stern but compassionate pre-flight announcement has sparked a wide variety of reactions online. The pilot’s speech, which set ground rules for passenger conduct inflight, didn’t mince words. While some deemed it patronizing, others praised his words as a […]