Pope Benedict XVI

Martyrdom has been cited as a “form of total love for God” (Pope Benedict XVI). In a time when Christians were being persecuted for their worship of God, or more specifically a refusal to worship the emperor, martyrdom was practically an honor bestowed upon unrepentant Christians. The Martyrdom of Sts. Perpetua and Felicitas is a rare first-hand account of sacrifice in its truest form. Perpetua writes of her numerous visions and encounters while mentally preparing herself for the death of a martyr at the hands of the pagans. Prophecies and visions are a time-old symbol of a true follower of God. Perpetua’s martyrdom is no exception. She tells of visions bestowed upon herself and her fellow Christians being held in prison. Each vision helps…

measured in the form of wealth, which is artificial in terms of real spiritual importance. However, Hildegard believed success could be gained through the development of self by understanding the natural world. In conclusion, Hildegard of Bingen helps to provide one with a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith through the interpretations of her visions. She lived a life of spiritual fulfillment by the time she died at the age of eighty two on September 17th, 1179 (Singer 57). However, her…

Library). At the time of the crimes Joan did not realize that she had been doing something against the law. Then on May 30 she was taken to Roven and was burned at stake where more than 10,000 people had watched (“Joan of Arc Biography”). After the death, King Charles ordered an investigation that declared Joan innocent of all charges and designated martyr (“Joan of Arc Biography”). Even though King Charles would not attempt to get her out of prison after her death he ordered an investigation…

By definition, Apostolic means “having been sent”, which means that Christ has sent the church into the world. The Church is built upon the continued tradition that the Apostles and the followers of Christ have carried. The previous statement is displayed even today with Pope Francis connecting his teachings with every prior Pope, dating back to St. Peter. The Apostolic nature of the Church helps her faithful identity and mission to stay rooted in Christ. The Church is built on the foundation…

One comments that they tend to update at least once every few days when they are home and three to four times a day when they are traveling. It is wonderful that it “allows updates instantly” another comments. The documentary goes on to include that Pope Benedict III does not only allow social media sites but, encourages the members to use sights to spread their gospel truths. He also expresses his concern because there have been many instances where people have become confused or angered by…

article about a legendary female pope, or popesse, appealed to me as a Catholic who has learned a lot about Church history in nine years of Catholic schooling. A pope had a lot of influence in the Middle Ages as the head of the highly powerful Church, and the idea of an accidental female pope interested me due to the low status of women at the time. I also enjoy reading stories about mysterious legends and myths. Noble wrote this article intending to explain where her story came from, why she…

Over the years, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) has become more common as infertile couples seek solutions to fulfill their desire for biological children. The procedure involves extracting eggs and sperms, which are then fused together in a Petri dish in a laboratory. The fertilized egg or eggs are later implanted in the woman. In addition to the many social implications, the Catholic Church has raised numerous moral issues with the process and has remained steadfast in its opposition to the…

turning point for the Roman Catholic Church, which was defined by the formation of a Franciscan Order by Pope Innocent III. St. Francis had become famous throughout Italy as a friend of animals, the natural world, and the most importantly, the common people that he served in the local community. The decline of the Roman Catholic Church provided an opportunity for St. Francis to revive the community0-based foundation of religious beliefs, which made his life an important symbol of Italian culture…

- the year in review: Timeline of major news stories | Home News | News | The Independent,” n.d.). That year also saw the election of the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and the first pope from the Americas. When the new Pope stepped out onto the balcony on March 13, 2013, no one could have envisioned how this man in basic white vestments, a traditional liturgical garment, would catch the world’s attention. Before he pronounced the traditional blessing on those gathered in St. Peter’s…

control and condoms. Focusing on birth control, “the Pill was first approved in 1960, [and] birth control continues to work in only one of two ways: by preventing fertilization or by preventing ovulation” (Watkins, 2012, p. 1462). Birth control has changed and developed immensely over the years. A long time ago in AD 354-430, Augustine took a stance on birth control saying “it was gravely (a mortal sin) if married people had sex when they knew they could not have a child” (Kelly, Magill,…