Question Corner: Is confession required for obtaining a plenary indulgence if there is no mortal sin? January 14, 2026By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner It’s useful to observe that the Church presumes that one seeking an indulgence will already be in a state of grace, meaning free from unconfessed mortal sin.
Silence and stillness January 12, 2026By Mark Viviano Special to the Catholic Review Filed Under: Amen, Commentary, Full-Court Catholic The weight of a loaded schedule is possible even in retirement, but the weight is made lighter in silence with God, and in time for stillness to stop and sip coffee instead of taking it to go.
Jesuit missionaries and a log chapel: Exploring the Catholic history of Delaware January 11, 2026By Father Anthony D. Andreassi OSV News Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Commentary As the nation marks the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution this year, this series will examine the origins of the church and Catholic life in each of the 50 states, following the order in which they ratified the United States Constitution. The journey begins in Delaware, the first state — small in size, but foundational in the nation’s constitutional life.
Catholic writer Kathryn Jean Lopez on the pro-life movement’s ‘frontlines of love’ January 11, 2026By Charles C. Camosy OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Respect Life As the pro-life movement faces tensions with previous political allies, Catholic writer Kathryn Jean Lopez, a senior fellow at the National Review Institute and religion editor at National Review magazine, recently spoke with Charles Camosy for OSV News about the loving, human encounters that can spread what St. John Paul II called “the Gospel of Life,” even in difficult times.
Why we shouldn’t leave Mass early (or get there late) January 9, 2026By D.D. Emmons OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Worship & Sacraments By showing up late or leaving early, we not only trivialize the real presence of Jesus, not only trivialize the Eucharist, but we also miss the full richness of the Mass.
Catholics should identify neither as liberal nor conservative January 8, 2026By Kenneth Craycraft OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Religious Freedom Our Catholic faith fundamentally rejects the possessive individualism of both major parties as contrary to the doctrine of solidarity. We do not have a home on the continuum of liberalism.
The grandparent shortage January 8, 2026By Greg Erlandson OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Marriage & Family Life The desire to “live to see your children’s children,” as Psalm 128 puts it, is wired deep inside the human heart. We want to see the children we worked so hard to parent in turn bring the next generation into being.
Question Corner: Why is Mary’s perpetual virginity so important to Catholics? January 7, 2026By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Marian Devotion, Question Corner Beyond the Gospel accounts, Mary’s perpetual virginity is something that has been continuously affirmed though our sacred tradition.
Kneeling in the pigpen: Human connection in the age of efficiency January 7, 2026By Leonard J. DeLorenzo OSV News Filed Under: Commentary It’s easier than ever to pull away from people with minimal consequence: ghost someone, block, unfollow. We’ve built technologies that make disconnection frictionless.
The God of second chances January 5, 2026By Effie Caldarola OSV News Filed Under: Commentary The God of second chances is always ready to move forward. Not that we aren’t supposed to acknowledge our failings. But we can’t linger in the past, spending time beating ourselves up as God makes plans for us.
Today could have been the day January 4, 2026By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window I hoped everything would be fine, and that the baby would continue to grow and thrive. But, just a few weeks later, we learned the baby had passed away.
‘Knives Out’ discovers the strange, attractive light of the Christian story January 2, 2026By Liz Hansen OSV News Filed Under: Commentary “Wake Up Dead Man” may not share your politics, but it offers a timeless reminder that transcends ideology: The Gospel’s saving message is attractive and compelling, even in a skeptical world. We need only step aside and let false fronts fall away.
