I. Introduction Today’s saint, Martin de Porres, bears witness to the importance of prayer and humility in our interior lives and in our lives of service to others. In light of the Scripture readings we can see even more clearly what this beloved saint teaches us about following Christ as members of the family of...Read More

I. Introduction Saint Augustine, in his autobiography The Confessions, records so movingly his last moments with his mother, Saint Monica, as she lay dying, still only in her mid-fifties, in the Roman suburb of Ostia. Augustine and his brother were overcome with grief, and were discussing the practicalities of the funeral arrangements for their mother....Read More

A few weeks ago, I joined a group of ecumenical leaders at Morgan State University in support of the Dream Act. A reporter covering the event asked me how the Church could support the Dream Act but be against legalizing same sex marriage. Weren’t we being inconsistent, he wanted to know. I told the reporter...Read More

I. Introduction Let me begin by saying how happy I am to be here with all of you today. For many years, when I was a student at Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg and later a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington, I used to drive along the roads of Garrett/Allegany County on my...Read More

Next week, a federal appeals court will hear arguments regarding John Merzbacher’s request to be released from prison. John Merzbacher was a teacher at Catholic Community School in South Baltimore who sexually abused and terrorized multiple children during the 1970s. Without getting into the legal technicalities, Merzbacher and his attorneys claim he was never made...Read More

I. Introduction: The Rosary Novena Dear friends, today we begin a Rosary Novena for Life and Liberty. The Church throughout the United States, in many dioceses, parishes, and church-related organizations, is making heroic efforts to defend life and liberty. How grateful we are for those who work so hard to protect the lives of the...Read More

I. Introduction: New Beginnings It was nearly five months ago that I was installed as the 16th Archbishop of Baltimore. Providentially, my installation occurred on the cusp of the Year of Faith which will official commence this coming Thursday, October 11th, the 50th anniversary of the opening of the II Vatican Council in Rome and...Read More

I. Introduction “Faith,” Pope Benedict XVI has said, “opens our eyes to human life in all its grandeur and beauty.” And nothing more opens our minds and hearts to the wondrous gift of human life than the gift and mystery of the Eucharist by which we are gathered together as God’s family. Here the author...Read More