Cesar Lepine

Married mild-mannered Mexican mathematician middling with music, marooned in Michigan in the middle of the Midwest, marveling at the midnight moon.

[Cesar Lepine @CesarLepine]

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[Cesar Lepine @CesarLepine]

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[Cesar Lepine @CesarLepine]

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[Cesar Lepine @CesarLepine]

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[Cesar Lepine @CesarLepine]

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[Cesar Lepine @CesarLepine]

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[Cesar Lepine @CesarLepine]

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[Cesar Lepine @CesarLepine]

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[Cesar Lepine @CesarLepine]

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[Cesar Lepine @CesarLepine]

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[Kristan Hawkins @KristanHawkins]

Hot take:  

Being pro-life isn’t political.  

It’s Biblical.  It’s basic biology. 

You don’t have to guess where God stands on the value of human Life. 

Every biology textbook is on our side too.

[Father Joseph DeMarzo @Joseph_DeMarzo]

Dear Cardinal McElroy,

Greetings in Christ. We read in Redemptionis Sacramentum,

“In distributing Holy Communion it is to be remembered that ‘sacred ministers may not deny the sacraments to those who seek them at appropriate times, are properly disposed and are not prohibited by law from receiving them.’ Hence any baptized Catholic who is not prohibited by law must be admitted to Holy Communion.

Therefore, it is not licit to deny Holy Communion to any of Christ’s faithful solely on the grounds, for example, that the person wishes to receive the Eucharist kneeling or standing.” (RS, no. 91).

In the Roman Rite, the Church continues to teach that the norm for the reception of Holy Communion is on the tongue (GIRM 160; RS 92). The Latin Church also preserves its longstanding tradition that it is not licit to refuse Holy Communion to those who wish to receive kneeling (RS 91).

The inclusion of altar rails will help us accompany those who wish to receive in this more reverent and traditional fashion. It will also help to ensure a continuous flow, since multiple people can kneel at the same time; thus, there is no issue of halting the Communion line. Furthermore, since the Church permits Holy Communion standing and in the hand (IDM; GIRM 160), those who wish to do so still can.

I think an important pastoral note to bear in mind is the following: Is it truly at the service of the People of God to deprive them of altar rails, which helps facilitate the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue and the chosen devotion of kneeling?

While keeping in mind that the liturgy ought to be respectful in terms of timeliness, I also fear that concern for time can steal away from the most important time we ought to be generous with; the time we give to God.

We devote time to so many things. Can we not devote a little more time to the most important moment of our day: Holy Communion?

In terms of pastoral care for the elderly and the infirm, altar rails will actually help ensure that those behind the communicant do not trip, because communicants will be situated at the altar rail. Furthermore, we should consider that for decades and even centuries the Church distributed Holy Communion to those for whom walking was difficult. It was not an issue then, and it does not have to be now, because the presence of altar rails helps address concerns about someone tripping the person behind the communicant.

Another important question to ask is this: Is it equally reverent to stand before Almighty God for the reception of Holy Communion, or to kneel?

If Jesus stood visibly before you, would your first reaction be to fall to your knees or to remain standing? I think of the woman who fell at Jesus’ feet and washed them with her tears and dried them with her hair (Lk 7:36–50). The Pharisee looked down upon her, but Jesus praised her love.

This is another important point regarding those who might claim that people who kneel are making a “show” or drawing attention away from Jesus. Again, Jesus praised the woman because of how much she went out of her way to show love, but He rebuked the Pharisee for treating the Divine Guest so casually and for his lack of hospitality (Lk 7:44–47).

When I see people kneel for Holy Communion and receive on the tongue, I am edified by their example. It inspires me to climb the heights of holiness, while also rebuking me for my own lack of reverence at times.

This witness of reverent reception of Holy Communion should be praised and promoted, not shunned or canceled. To be a welcoming Church we must also welcome those who wish to live out our Sacred Traction, otherwise we cause marginalization and exclusion. This is my humble opinion, based on the Church’s teaching for centuries regarding reception of Holy Communion on the tongue as a more excellent, theologically appropriate, and reverent manner of receiving Our Lord (STh III, q. 82, a. 13; RS 92).

Let the people show reverence to God!

[Dr. Abby Johnson @AbbyJohnson]

I really hate when people try to justify abortion for financial struggles. No. Murder shouldn’t even be on the table. No one would ever say they were going to have their 6 month old killed just because they’re poor.
A human is a human outside and inside of the womb.

[Terrence K. Williams @w_terrence]

You know what I’ve been thinking about? There are far more racist people in this country than I ever realized.

I have been blown away watching people celebrate the death of a White teenage boy simply because the person who killed him was Black.

This teenager was not on drugs. He was not a troublemaker.

He had never committed a crime.

He played sports, made good grades, respected his parents, and was loved by so many people.

Yet some people have found joy in his death because they care more about race than right and wrong.

That is not justice. That is racism, hatred, and pure evil.

A teenage boy lost his life. Anyone celebrating that should be ashamed.

[Lisa Britton @LisaBritton]

When something harms women, we change society. When something harms men, we tell men to change. That double standard isn’t compassionate or fair… it’s victim-blaming pretending to be progress.

[Sachin Jose @Sachinettiyil]

Matt Freese, the goalkeeper for the U.S. national team at the FIFA World Cup, is a Catholic who participates in Bible study. A graduate of Harvard University, he comes from a family with a strong academic background, as his late father, Dr. Andrew Freese, was both a neurosurgeon and a scientist.

[Brunell Donald-Kyei @brunelldonald]

A huge congratulations is in order! Malik Jordan has officially entered the history books of the American legal system. Having completed his entire high school curriculum by age twelve and a university degree in political science by fifteen, Malik spent eighteen months studying advanced jurisprudence independently at his kitchen table. Yesterday morning, the state supreme court confirmed he achieved a top-tier score on his very first attempt, making him the youngest licensed attorney in the nation. He begins a federal clerkship next month. How inspiring is this young man’s journey?

[Kam @PatsKam]

You're right. Christianity brainwashed me.

I want to spend the rest of my life with one person, pray for those who hate me, forgive easily, raise a beautiful family, stay away from gossip, and find peace in Jesus.

[Bree Solstad @BreeSolstad]

When Protestants removed themselves from the sacrifice of the Mass, they eventually lost all ability to discern what is true worship and what is not.

It is not surprising that they often accuse Catholics of worshipping Mary. They don’t know what worship even means.

[Abby ♱🇻🇦 @CristeraAbigail]

Rejetez la guerre des sexes. Rejetez la guerre contre le mariage. Rejetez la guerre contre les enfants. Les hommes ne sont pas des ennemis pour les femmes. Les femmes ne sont pas des ennemies pour les hommes. Les enfants ne sont pas des fardeaux.

Mariez-vous. Restez mariés. Suivez le Christ.

Vivez la vie comme elle est censée être vécue.