Msgr. Charles Pope

Columnist

Are These the End Times? What the Catechism Says Default Thumbnail
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Are These the End Times? What the Catechism Says

The Catholic approach to the end times is different from that in certain (but not all) Protestant circles, especially the Evangelicals, who have a strong and often vivid preoccupation with […]

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The Longing of Creation to Be Set Free

St. Paul speaks of the longing of creation to be set free. He almost personifies creation: For indeed, creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be […]

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‘Church-Speak’ – Strange Things Church People Say

Many groups have a tendency to use words that make sense to their members but are unintelligible to outsiders. I have sometimes had to decode “Church-speak” for recent converts. Here […]

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What Does it Mean to Be Salted with Fire?

The image of Salt occurs more frequently in the Bible than we often realize. Most of us remember Jesus calling us the salt of the earth. But there are many […]

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Why Did Christ Not Stay After the Resurrection?

After Christ rose from the dead, He appeared to His disciples at certain places and times, but did not seem to stay with them continuously. On the first Easter Sunday, […]

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Seven Teachings on Hell from St. Thomas Aquinas

The teachings of the Lord on Hell are difficult, especially in today’s climate. The most difficult questions that arise relate to its eternal nature and how to square its existence […]

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Family Life as Seen in a Rock Tumbler

Most Lenten reflections center on fasting or abstinence along with prayer and almsgiving. However, the word “repent” in our English bibles translates the Greek word “Metanoiate” which most literally summons […]

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You Forgot! A Reflection on a Central Spiritual Struggle

One of the more basic human problems in our relationship with God is that we forget. Over and over again in the Scriptures comes an almost exasperated accusation from God: […]

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The Hardening of Hearts Caused by the Deceit of Sin

There is a line from the Letter to the Hebrews. In it was an important admonition, especially appropriate for our times: Encourage yourselves daily while it is still today, so […]

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‘Ordinary Time’

Welcome to the wearing of the green, green vestments that is. The weeks of the year outside of seasons such as Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter are termed “ordinary time.” […]

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The King of Thieves

Jesus Christ is King of Thieves, though He never stole. He is savior of sinners, though He never sinned. In Luke’s Passion narrative, Christ reins from the cross. Nothing could […]

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The Not-So-Nice Origins of ‘Nice’

Words can change meaning over time — sometimes dramatically. For example, “manufactured” originally meant “handmade” (manu (hand) + facere (make)). The word “decimate” used to mean “to reduce by a tenth” (decem = ten); […]