The town of Lincoln can boast of several historic homes and businesses along Great Road in the village of Saylesville. The Eleazer Arnold House dates back to 1693 and the memorable Hearthside House was built in 1810. more

Every October the Diocese of Providence requests from each parish a “mass count,” a census of exactly how many Catholics are attending Mass on a given Sunday. Bishop Thomas J. Tobin has noted in these pages that 17 percent of Rhode Island Catholics attend Mass on any given Sunday. more

Since I have spent most of my adult life lamenting modernity, the subtitle of a new publication quickly caught my eye: “How the World Became Modern.” more

The thoughts of the late Cardinal Archbishop of Milan, whose final interview was given much attention in the press and whose opinions were considered in this column last week, are considerably echoed by the opening reflections of Pope Benedict in his call for The Year of Faith 2012 which commences this Friday, the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. more

Two correspondents chose to send me articles on the final interview of the recently deceased Cardinal Martini of Milan. more

What’s all this fuss about bullying? Once in St. Charles’ schoolyard in Woonsocket, Francis Marrah punched me right in the eye. more

Most homosexuals lead routine daily lives indistinguishable, for the most part, from their heterosexual neighbors. more

Catherine of Aragon, Ferdinand and Isabella’s ill-fated daughter and Henry VIII’s ill-used wife, was actually quite a competent queen for England. During Henry’s several ventures overseas, Catherine was his regent, one time even defeating the Scots at Flodden Field while her husband had lesser luck in his French expeditions. more

I say bring back the Cappa Magna. more

Perhaps no words of Scripture are more controversial nowadays than the utterance of St. Paul to the Ephesians found in this coming Sunday's second reading: “Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.” more

St. Ignatius of Antioch was perhaps only one generation removed from the Apostles. Some enthusiastically claim he was a disciple of St. John the Apostle. more

When President Obama announced his endorsement of homosexual marriage, he acknowledged that there were religious implications to his decision to endorse same-sex unions. more

The Archdiocese of Boston recently sponsored an afternoon of talks on issues critical to appreciating the church’s teachings on sexuality and reproduction. more

The Gospel according to St. Mark is traditionally considered to be the oldest of the four canonical Gospel accounts. more

A young priest of my acquaintance wrote his master's dissertation on the spirituality of the early Roman martyrs. more

The 19th century Russian writer Leo Tolstoy is remembered in the Western world chiefly as the author of the voluminous novels “War and Peace” and “Anna Karenina.” more

In the United States worshippers at Mass are encouraged to kneel after the “Holy, Holy, Holy” and rise again at the “Great Amen,” just before the “Our Father.” This rubric is not mandated in some other countries. more

Although Good Friday has now passed and the church looks forward to the majestic celebrations of Christ’s Ascension, Pentecost, Trinity Sunday, and the Solemnity of Christ’s Body and Blood, nonetheless the crucifix that was the center of attention on that solemn Friday is still the center of attention as believers enter their parish churches Sunday after Sunday. more

Readings: Acts 1:15-17, 20-26; 1 John 4:11-16; and John 17:11-19 more

Uniquely among the Evangelists, St. John does not report the hallowed words of consecration that are so familiar to Catholics both from the Scriptures and from the Mass. more