To say the Eucharist cannot be Jesus Christ is a denial of several things: the words of Christ, as we hear in today’s Gospel; the tradition of the church; the power of God to become man; and the goodness of the created world itself.

“I think he realized I was troubled as a father. You have to fight for your children,” Don said. “He said, ‘I’m glad you came to me.’ What a fine example of what God calls us to do. He truly was a man of God.”

Change looms on the horizon for the American hierarchy. And the anticipation continues to build as the appointment of Latin Church bishops in the United States has seriously stalled out over the last year or so.

The United States established formal diplomatic relations with the Holy See 40 years ago, and the current ambassador in Rome says its mission has been a wonderful success.

Ashley Hufft is a woman with a mission — and not just as the first woman to become president and chief executive officer of Unbound, an international nonprofit founded by Catholics assisting the poor and marginalized in 17 countries around the globe.