“I am not yet so lost in lexicography,” writes Dr. Johnson on introducing his acclaimed Dictionary of the English Language, “as to forget that words are the daughters of earth, and that things are the sons of heaven.” Leaving aside the obvious misogyny of the comparison—at least by today’s progressive standards—the point Dr. Johnson is making is hardly a controversial one.

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The president seems to be surprised that Catholics of all stripes are rushing to defend Pope Leo from his odd attacks. On Tuesday he went after Giorgia Meloni of Italy. She said his attacks on Leo were “unacceptable.” He said, “She’s unacceptable. She’s unacceptable because she doesn’t mind that Iran has a nuclear weapon and would blow up Italy in two minutes if they had the chance.

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When I began to see Regis Martin’s “Why Being Rather Than Nothingness?” series showing up among my Crisis email reminders, I was immediately intrigued because (1) It’s Regis Martin! and (2) It is the question above all questions: the question every soul wants answered and doesn’t want answered. How’s that? Well, we want to know the answer, but it scares us. A man I know…

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It felt like a scene taken out of the Middle Ages—only much sillier. A political leader publicly calls out the pope for his lack of support for a particular military engagement. It riles up the faithful, who now feel conflicted between their country and their Faith. Finally, everyone demands some kind of response from the slighted pontiff, who then breezily dismisses the problem and continues his…

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For 125 years, Dominican Sisters belonging to an order founded by Venerable Rose Hawthorne Lathrop (Mother Mary Alphonsa, O.P.), the youngest child of Nathaniel Hawthorne, have lovingly nursed the poor dying of cancer at Rosary Hill Home in Hawthorne, New York. According to the Westchester County facility’s website, Rosary Hill Home accepts no remuneration from any source for this care…

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Just steps from Preterm, Ohio’s blue-ribbon winner each year for most murdered babies, the scene outside resembles a kindly pop-up country fair. Slices of pepperoni pizza, snack bags, racks of sharp-looking maternity wear, shiny new toys, rosaries, and Miraculous Medals circulate like borrowed cups of sugar—passed hand to hand among white volunteers and their black friends outside LaRonde…

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A common narrative of Western intellectual history—one which I have been exposed to for a time—runs as follows: the scientific revolution marked the beginning of a gradual decline in philosophy, theology, and Christian faith. Although inklings of this decline were already present in Roger Bacon (c. 1220-c. 1292), Duns Scotus (c. 1265-1308), and William of Ockham (c. 1287-1347)…

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It was only a matter of time. It was only a matter of time before President Donald J. Trump exploded at Pope Leo XIV. Unfortunately, Trump seems to eventually explode at most people critical of him or his policies. It’s a lamentable character trait. You may have noticed that since Trump entered the political scene in 2015, not many of his advisers have lasted. They tend to run afoul of him…

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“If you have tears to shed, prepare to do so now.” This was the inscription I used to write whenever I gave a copy of Graham Greene’s The End of the Affair to anyone as a gift. Perhaps I did it because, upon first reading Greene’s final text of his so-called Catholic teratology, whose other titles include Brighton Rock, The Power and the Glory, and The Heart of the Matter, the book appears to be…

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When he began his massive assault on Iran, the president was confident in its ultimate success. He had been advised that the Iranian people were deeply dissatisfied with their government and were groaning under the weight of an unwanted clerical autocracy. Furthermore, the country was in political disarray, racked by internal conflict, and would easily capitulate to its attackers…

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