Fr. Nathaniel Dreyer – Catholic Stand

A Pre-Holy Week Pilgrimage

Fr. Nathaniel Dreyer April 6, AD2026 1 Comment

Just before Holy Week I was able to go on pilgrimage with some of the American students I teach in Rome. It was a very

An Asian Adventure

Fr. Nathaniel Dreyer March 7, AD2026 1 Comment

Some priests don’t travel much but some do. I seem to be one of the later. This winter, after spending time in the Middle East,

Praying for Politicians . . . Regardless of How They Govern

Fr. Nathaniel Dreyer January 30, AD2026 4 Comments

As frequent readers of CS may know, I regularly travel to the Middle East. And that’s where I was for this year’s Advent and Christmas

A Jubilee Pilgrimage and Venerable Antonietta Meo

Fr. Nathaniel Dreyer December 27, AD2025 3 Comments

As the Jubilee Year wound down, I was able to make a pilgrimage to Rome with several families from my parish. This is very late

Recognizing the Signs of the Times

Fr. Nathaniel Dreyer November 30, AD2025 7 Comments

As frequent readers of Catholic Stand might recall, after many struggles I finally obtained my Italian driver’s license. (For the not-so-frequent reader, I recounted my

hospice, suffering, death, palliative care, sick, Anointing

The Mystery and the Value of Suffering

Fr. Nathaniel Dreyer November 2, AD2025 1 Comment

One of my various apostolates here in Italy is to teach the joys of medieval philosophy to American college juniors studying abroad here in the

Parallel Parables that Ask How We Measure Up

Fr. Nathaniel Dreyer October 5, AD2025 3 Comments

I like to say that there are parallel parables in the Gospels for the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth Sundays of Ordinary Time in Year C. This

Solemnities and Feasts and Memorials, Oh My!

Fr. Nathaniel Dreyer August 28, AD2025 3 Comments

August 24 is a special day for the universal church. But it is also special, in a particular way, for me. Of course, August 24

Catholic Teaching on Immigration

Fr. Nathaniel Dreyer August 2, AD2025 9 Comments

Earlier this week, a friend asked me about Catholic teaching on immigration. The person simply wanted to know what the Church says about this important

nature, water, fall, holy presence, streams

Fishing as Spiritual Renewal

Fr. Nathaniel Dreyer July 1, AD2025 5 Comments

Since the academic year is about over, and my teaching responsibilities have subsided, I finally found some time to engage in one of my favorite

confess, repent, Confession, forgiveness

A Sickening Experience

Fr. Nathaniel Dreyer May 25, AD2025 2 Comments

After five years of living in Italy, the inevitable finally happened. I got sick. After feeling terrible for a couple days, despite my general avoidance

pope francis, pope, papal, papacy, Synod, humility

Humility, Humility, Humility

Fr. Nathaniel Dreyer April 28, AD2025 4 Comments

As we begin the Easter season and mourn the passing of Pope Francis, a particular virtue repeatedly sprang into my mind: the virtue of humility.

ashes. Lent, memento mori, sins, fasting

When the Lenten Season becomes a Lenten Life

Fr. Nathaniel Dreyer March 2, AD2025 4 Comments

Ash Wednesday, this week (March 5), marks the beginning of the Lenten season. But for some reason, Lent often seems to sneak up on us.

Creatio ex Nihilo, invisible, Divine Providence

Catholic Teaching on Divine Providence

Fr. Nathaniel Dreyer February 1, AD2025 3 Comments

God’s Divine Providence was at work, as it always is everywhere, here in our diocese recently. And, as Anglican poet and hymn writer William Cowper

Reassurance in Un-reassuring Times

Fr. Nathaniel Dreyer December 28, AD2024 1 Comment

To those who frequent Catholic Stand, it should come as no surprise that, once again, I find myself traveling for the Christmas season. This trip

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and Our Lady

Fr. Nathaniel Dreyer December 1, AD2024 2 Comments

As we wind down our Thanksgiving celebrations, and enter into Advent, I am thinking about the considerations of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux regarding Our Lady,

altar, mass, sacrifice, ad orientem,symbols

Incensed About the Incense, Altered by Altars

Fr. Nathaniel Dreyer October 29, AD2024 5 Comments

I frequently take the train here in Italy, and, with the rare exception, the station platforms have lime green markings on them. The markings divide

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, leadership, teacher

Summer Ends and a New Academic Year Begins

Fr. Nathaniel Dreyer September 26, AD2024 3 Comments

Here in Italy, as in many parts of the world, the new scholastic or academic year has begun. And kids everywhere are jumping for joy!

united states, flag, patriot, america, land of the free, Memorial Day, Labor Day, second chances

Labor Day at the Shrine of the North American Martyrs

Fr. Nathaniel Dreyer September 1, AD2024 3 Comments

The following is a lightly edited version of a homily Fr. Dreyer gave on Labor Day a few years ago at the Shrine of the

Working Together

Fr. Nathaniel Dreyer July 29, AD2024 5 Comments

One of my favorite novels is “The Last Battle” by C. S. Lewis. This novel, the seventh and final novel in “The Chronicles of Narnia,”

ethics, things that last, judgmental. judging, mercy and justice, Canon Law, judge

The Ease With Which We Judge

Fr. Nathaniel Dreyer July 3, AD2024 4 Comments

Long and frequent travels – to England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, back to Italy, then off to the Middle East – marked the past week.

boy scouts, masculinity, virtue, scouting

Catholic Scouting in Italy

Fr. Nathaniel Dreyer May 31, AD2024 3 Comments

In addition to L’Azione Cattolica Italiana (Italian Catholic Action, which I wrote about last month) AGESCI is another impressive lay group in Italy. AGESCI stands for