James Martin, S.J.

Today we received a copy of the elegant booklet that includes the programs complete with prayers and readings for the pope s prayer services liturgies and Masses during his American visit There is an especially beautiful prayer for his visit to Ground Zero Also Latinists will be happy that

There are few people who are more excited about the pope s visit than Stephen Colbert who actually has tickets to the Mass at Yankee Stadium as he explains in this clip Mr Colbert as many of our viewers readers know is in fact Catholic James Martin SJ

Besides our special coverage on our blog and later in the pages of the magazine some of America editors will be assisting with the media coverage of Pope Benedict s visit to the United States James Keane S J will be working with Fox News Radio during the Papal Mass at Yankee Stadium Ji

Don t miss Bill McGarvey s terrific interview on the Bustedhalo website with Timothy Radcliffe OP the former master general of the Dominicans and one of the most lucid of all Catholic writers And speakers Radcliffe is consistently one of the biggest draws at the LA Religious Ed Congres

Accompanying the pope s video message released today is this report from Catholic News Service Here is the Vatican text of Pope Benedict XVI s message in English and Spanish to Catholics in the United States The pope will visit the U S April 15-20 Dear brothers and sisters in the Un

That is the nation not the magazine David Van Biema and Jeff Israely two of the most insightful religion journalists working today ask that question in an extremely provocative and counterintuive cover story in Time this week The American Pope Their argument is that the American brand

Over on his blog Benedictions David Gibson has a charming piece about the visit to the Vatican of Charlton Heston who died yesterday after a long and varied career playing saints presidents and other assorted geniuses Gibson was working for Vatican radio at the time Heston at the Vatican

As any sentient Catholic knows there are often internecine battle in American parishes between contemporary and traditional music Those on the contemporary side argue that music should reflect the times A similar argument is advanced by those who favor modern architecture for church bu

The Vatican announced yesterday that Pope Benedict would meet briefly with Jewish leaders during his trip to Washington and New York City this month At the same time perhaps in preparation for the possible opposition from Jewish leaders on the language of the Good Friday prayers that are part

When I was a boy I laughed when my parents would talk about their all-time favorite April Fool s joke the famous BBC spaghetti harvest TV spot which fooled millions of viewers a la The War of the Worlds Even their fading memories of the spot made them laugh Well here it is from 195