On Oct. 7, 1571, Don Juan of Austria led a coalition of Christians against the Ottoman forces seeking to gain control of the Medi­terranean. The Christian fleet was assembled together by the Republic of Venice and the Spanish Empire, along with the Papacy. In the Gulf of Patras near Corinth, Greece, the Christian and the Muslim forces engaged in the battle of Lepanto, one of the most important battles of history. On its outcome hung the fate of Europe. Would it remain Christian or would it become Muslim?

The “everyone-gets-an-award” syndrome has swept across America. Fifty years ago, a student had to work hard and achieve consistently good grades before receiving recognition for academic excellence. Today, for fear of damaging someone’s self-esteem, some schools will not grade below a “C.” One school even handed out honors awards alphabetically so that no student would feel slighted (cf. Michael Sigman, “When Everyone Gets a Trophy,” Huffington Post, June 18, 2012).

For centuries, the Church has faced the challenge of living up to the teachings of Jesus. As a result, she constantly looks to better the lives of the faithful and her own life as an institution. During the Second Vatican Council, the axiom Ecclesia semper reformanda (The Church must always be reformed) became the byword for Church renewal in the 20th century.