Monday, April 30, 2012
Special report: Eight years after U.S. bishops took action, Catholic college commencement scandals may hit a record low in 2012
Special report: Catholic college commencement scandals in 2012 � Campus Notes: Recent years have seen a marked decline in Catholic college commencement scandals: from 24 colleges in 2006 to 14 last year. Although repeat offenders like Georgetown and DePaul have not yet released names for 2012, dare we hope for another decline?
Why Men Should Read More Fiction
Why Men Should Read More Fiction | The Art of Manliness: While many men have stacks of books accumulating on their “to-read” pile, chances are that pile is composed primarily of non-fiction tomes. For the past 20 years or so, the publishing industry has noted a precipitous decline in the number of men reading fiction. Some reports show that men make up only 20% of fiction readers in America today.
Wisconsin bishop warns dissenters to stop spreading "rumors and gossip" or face canonical penalties...
Bishop Morlino warns dissenters to stop — or else: Madison Catholic Bishop Robert Morlino has moved to quell a backlash against a group of conservative priests in Platteville by warning parishioners they risk formal church censure unless they stop spreading "rumors and gossip."
The action by Morlino, which two Catholic scholars called highly unusual, appears to include the possibility of offenders being prohibited from taking part in church sacraments such as communion, confession and burial.
The action by Morlino, which two Catholic scholars called highly unusual, appears to include the possibility of offenders being prohibited from taking part in church sacraments such as communion, confession and burial.
Pat Buchanan, diversity and Catholic counter-culturalism
OSV Daily Take Blog: Shaw: Buchanan, diversity and Catholic counter-culturalismSHAW: The conservative Buchanan cited "Suicide of a Superpower" as the occasion for his heave-ho by MSNBC. If this book is actually what did him in, I can’t say I’m entirely surprised. It’s hard to imagine anybody agreeing with everything it says, and many will come away from it hopping mad. But a matter for firing? Only in a setting where thinking unpopular thoughts is not allowed.
PepsiCo stops using aborted fetal cell lines to test flavor enhancers...
PepsiCo Stops Using Aborted Fetal Cell Lines to Test Flavor Enhancers | Catholic Lane: Children of God for Life announced today the stunning news that PepsiCo will not use aborted fetal cell line HEK-293 (human embryonic kidney) in their contractual agreement with Senomyx to develop flavor enhancers for their beverages.
Children of God for Life’s Executive Director, Debi Vinnedge, hailed PepsiCo’s decision as a major breakthrough and achievement by thousands of concerned consumers who have been writing and boycotting PepsiCo beverages since last May.
In a letter to Children of God for Life, PepsiCo’s VP of Global Public Policy, Paul Boykas stated that “Senomyx will not use HEK cells or any other tissues or cell lines derived from human embryos or fetuses for research performed on behalf of PepsiCo.”
Children of God for Life’s Executive Director, Debi Vinnedge, hailed PepsiCo’s decision as a major breakthrough and achievement by thousands of concerned consumers who have been writing and boycotting PepsiCo beverages since last May.
In a letter to Children of God for Life, PepsiCo’s VP of Global Public Policy, Paul Boykas stated that “Senomyx will not use HEK cells or any other tissues or cell lines derived from human embryos or fetuses for research performed on behalf of PepsiCo.”
Music for Your Monday: Beatles Epicosity
Reflections of a Paralytic � Music for Your Monday: Beatles EpicosityZIMMERMAN: Oh, internet, you’re such a wonderful thing sometimes. This mashup/medley makes my Beatles loving heart do a hap-hap-happy dance (watch the annotations to see which parts of each song are playing at the same time).
I also love this. I never thought that my favorite song of all time could be improved on, but in this video, George Martin and Dahni Harrison discovered a sweet little guitar solo for Here Comes the Sun that didn’t make it into the final cut of the song.
I also love this. I never thought that my favorite song of all time could be improved on, but in this video, George Martin and Dahni Harrison discovered a sweet little guitar solo for Here Comes the Sun that didn’t make it into the final cut of the song.
Pope Benedict tells German bishops that "pro multis" must be translated literally...
Pontiff tells German bishops that pro multis must be translated literally : News Headlines - Catholic Culture: The new translation of the Roman Missal into German will include a literal translation of the words pro multis during the consecration of the Precious Blood, Pope Benedict said in a letter to the bishops of Germany.
In opting for a literal translation (“for many”), the Church shows “respect for the word of Jesus” (Mk. 14:14; cf. Mt. 26:28), the Pontiff said in his letter, dated April 14 and released by the the German Episcopal Conference on April 24. On the other hand, rendering pro multis as “for all” is “not a pure translation, but an interpretation, which was and remains very reasonable.”
In opting for a literal translation (“for many”), the Church shows “respect for the word of Jesus” (Mk. 14:14; cf. Mt. 26:28), the Pontiff said in his letter, dated April 14 and released by the the German Episcopal Conference on April 24. On the other hand, rendering pro multis as “for all” is “not a pure translation, but an interpretation, which was and remains very reasonable.”
Kristen Walker is fearless, funny, and pro-life...
Kristen Walker: Fearless, Funny, and Pro-Life |Blogs | NCRegister.comFULWILER: I was going to write a post for today, but then one of my children got a mild case of food poisoning. While we were jammed into arena seats at a performance of Disney on Ice. I'll leave it to your imagination as to how that all played out, and will only remark that it's a shame that that $12 souvenir hat had to be put to such an unfortunate use.
Since I am in no position to write anything original today, other than perhaps a post about how to offer profuse apologies to the people seated in front of you at Disney on Ice, I will take the opportunity to introduce you to one of my favorite writers: Kristen Walker.
Since I am in no position to write anything original today, other than perhaps a post about how to offer profuse apologies to the people seated in front of you at Disney on Ice, I will take the opportunity to introduce you to one of my favorite writers: Kristen Walker.
Can we please have our own Church?
Can We Please Have Our Own Church?ROYAL: When I was in junior high school, I went to watch Whitey Ford’s artistry on the mound at Yankee Stadium with a Jewish friend and his father. His mother made us some sandwiches to take along. A couple innings in, we pulled them out – quite lovely roast beef. But it was Friday. I was Catholic. As Jews with their own dietary disciplines, they immediately understood. Back then, people took it for granted that different faiths have particular ways of following God.
My friend’s family was largely assimilated and not especially observant. He went on to become one of Oliver North’s lawyers during the Iran/Contra trial. But I often think back to those days, when America not only honored religious tolerance with its lips. It – meaning we, and the institutions supposed to be by, of, and for the people – honored various faiths in simple practice as well – and mostly in silence, without theatrical gestures in front of TV cameras.
My friend’s family was largely assimilated and not especially observant. He went on to become one of Oliver North’s lawyers during the Iran/Contra trial. But I often think back to those days, when America not only honored religious tolerance with its lips. It – meaning we, and the institutions supposed to be by, of, and for the people – honored various faiths in simple practice as well – and mostly in silence, without theatrical gestures in front of TV cameras.
How to respond to Dan Savage's rant on homosexuality and the Bible?
How to Respond to Dan Savage on Homosexuality and the Bible? |Blogs | NCRegister.comAKIN: Homosexual activist Dan Savage recently was invited to give a keynote address to a group of high school students at a high school journalism conference.
You may make your own inferences regarding what this shows about the national associations in question, given the controversial, foul-mouthed history of Savage.
During the course of the event, Savage began a vulgarity-laced rant against the Bible and its teachings on homosexuality.
A significant portion of his audience, which included students from Christian schools, then walked out on him in protest (or disgust, or outrage, etc.).
In response, he suggested they were “pansy *ssed” for being unable to handle his pushback.
You may make your own inferences regarding what this shows about the national associations in question, given the controversial, foul-mouthed history of Savage.
During the course of the event, Savage began a vulgarity-laced rant against the Bible and its teachings on homosexuality.
A significant portion of his audience, which included students from Christian schools, then walked out on him in protest (or disgust, or outrage, etc.).
In response, he suggested they were “pansy *ssed” for being unable to handle his pushback.
If the Lord is our Shepherd, I guess that makes us sheep. A brief meditation on what it means to be the Sheep of the Lord...
If the Lord is our Shepherd, I guess that makes us sheep. A brief meditation on what it means to be the Sheep of the Lord | Archdiocese of WashingtonPOPE: Yesterday was Good Shepherd Sunday and a chance to meditate on the King of Love, Jesus who is our Shepherd and Lord. But of course there is the clear implication that we then, are compared to sheep.
What is the significance of this? In this meditation I do not propose a deep theological answer to the question of significance, just a pastoral one. A reflection that is, for us both humbling and, I pray, encouraging.
What is the significance of this? In this meditation I do not propose a deep theological answer to the question of significance, just a pastoral one. A reflection that is, for us both humbling and, I pray, encouraging.
On Sunday, Giuseppe Toniolo became the first economist ever beatified by the Catholic Church. His legacy has "great relevance" for five reasons...
First economist saint packs contemporary punch | National Catholic ReporterALLEN: Giuseppe Toniolo, a renowned late 19th and early 20th century lay Italian economist and political theorist, was beatified on Sunday in Rome’s Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, the final step before a formal declaration of sainthood. Among other claims to fame, Toniolo is now the first economist ever beatified by the Catholic church.
During his Regina Coeli remarks on Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI referred to Toniolo as a figure of “great relevance” for today.
For one thing, as Stefano Zamagni, a leading Italian economist who advised Pope Benedict XVI on his 2009 social encyclical Caritas in Veritate, has observed, given the state of the global economy these days, the “dismal science” could undoubtedly use some celestial support.
More broadly, Toniolo’s legacy has a contemporary feel for five reasons.
During his Regina Coeli remarks on Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI referred to Toniolo as a figure of “great relevance” for today.
For one thing, as Stefano Zamagni, a leading Italian economist who advised Pope Benedict XVI on his 2009 social encyclical Caritas in Veritate, has observed, given the state of the global economy these days, the “dismal science” could undoubtedly use some celestial support.
More broadly, Toniolo’s legacy has a contemporary feel for five reasons.
The Holy Office puts the American sisters in the corner
Vatican Diary / The Holy Office puts the American sisters in the cornerMAGISTER: The congregation for the doctrine of the faith has charged the archbishop of Seattle, James Peter Sartain, with bringing back to the straight and narrow the "Leadership Conference of Women Religious," the conference of religious superiors of the United States of America, initials LCWR, the cartel that connects most of the communities of sisters in the country.
He will be assisted in the enterprise by bishops Leonard P. Blair of Toledo, Ohio, and Thomas J. Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois. The former was also in charge of the two-year investigation, from 2009 to 2010, that led to this decision.
He will be assisted in the enterprise by bishops Leonard P. Blair of Toledo, Ohio, and Thomas J. Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois. The former was also in charge of the two-year investigation, from 2009 to 2010, that led to this decision.
Could this man become the first Canadian pope?
Could he be the first Canadian pope? - Vatican Insider: Cardinal Marc Ouellet, 67, is considered both by Vatican observers and cardinals as one of the front runners to succeed Benedict XVI as the next pope. He is ‘papabile’. He could become the first Canadian pope. Asked about this on Canada’s “Salt and Light TV” Catholic television channel last Sunday night, April 22, the cardinal described Benedict XVI as “a great pope” and dismissed his own possibility of being pope saying “obviously I do not see myself at this level.” Last year he responded to a similar question from a journalist saying “the idea of being pope, the responsibilities are crushing.”
Time Capsule: CBS journalist Mike Wallace tells truth about homosexuality in 1967 documentary
Time Capsule: Mike Wallace tells truth about homosexuality in 1967 documentary | LifeSiteNews.com: Beginning with the pseudonymous “Warren Adkins” (in reality, Jack Nichols), a representative of the polished Mattachine Society who advanced many of the arguments still used by homosexual activists today, Wallace moves on to the testimony of a 27-year-old man whose sexual misconduct had ruined his career and landed him in jail several times. He describes his formative years in terms familiar to therapists who treat same-sex attraction.
Forget Mormonism; the real story in the GOP right now is the rise of the Catholic cadre...
The Republican Party’s Catholic cadre. . .coming soon - The Washington Post: The Catholic GOP candidate, until recently, was a rare thing. And Rudy Giuliani, Sam Brownback and Tommy Thompson didn’t exactly take a big step forward in the 2008 GOP presidential race.
Also, it signals an evolution for the party beyond the days of “Values Voters,” when social conservatives and evangelicals seemed to dominate the debate within the party and set the agenda.
Catholics (aside from Santorum) are known for being more moderate and may have had a harder time fitting into that Republican Party.
Today, though, it’s quite possible the party’s leading voices of the future will be distinctly Catholic.
Also, it signals an evolution for the party beyond the days of “Values Voters,” when social conservatives and evangelicals seemed to dominate the debate within the party and set the agenda.
Catholics (aside from Santorum) are known for being more moderate and may have had a harder time fitting into that Republican Party.
Today, though, it’s quite possible the party’s leading voices of the future will be distinctly Catholic.
21 killed in attacks on church services in northern Nigeria
The Associated Press: 21 killed in north Nigeria church service attacks: Gunmen attacked worship services at a university campus and a church in northern Nigeria, killing at least 21 people in coordinated assaults that saw panicked Christians gunned down as they tried to flee, witnesses and officials said.
The deadlier attack targeted an old section of Bayero University's campus in the city of Kano where churches hold Sunday services, with gunmen killing at least 16 people and wounding at least 22 others, according to the Nigerian Red Cross.
A later attack in the northeast city of Maiduguri saw gunmen open fire at a Church of Christ in Nigeria chapel, killing five people, including a pastor preparing for Communion, witnesses said.
The deadlier attack targeted an old section of Bayero University's campus in the city of Kano where churches hold Sunday services, with gunmen killing at least 16 people and wounding at least 22 others, according to the Nigerian Red Cross.
A later attack in the northeast city of Maiduguri saw gunmen open fire at a Church of Christ in Nigeria chapel, killing five people, including a pastor preparing for Communion, witnesses said.
Raw video: Site of the attack on Catholic worshippers at Bayero University in Kano, Nigeria...
RAW VIDEO:BOKO HARAM BOMBING OF BAYERO UNIVERSITY CHURCH SERVICES - YouTube: Attackers armed with bombs and guns opened fire at church services at a university on Sunday, killing around 20 people as worshippers tried to flee, witnesses and officials said.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Prepare to be amazed! The second miracle of St. Gianna Molla gives me shivers...
Prepare to be amazed! The 2nd miracle of St. Gianna Molla | Fr. Z's Blog – What Does The Prayer Really Say?ZUHLSDORF: In mid-November 1999 a Brazilian woman named Elisabete Comparini Arcolino discovered she was pregnant for the fourth time. An echogram on 30 Nov. showed that the developing child was within a small sac only .8 cm in length and 2.3 cm in diameter. The doctor said that it was doubtful that with such a beginning for the gestation that child would come to term. On 9 December a echo showed the embryo a 1.0 cm in length but also a huge increase in coagulation of blood (blood loss), measuring 5.2 x 3.5 cm. On 19 December they found the beating heart of the child, but also a deterioration of the placenta in the lower region of the uterus. A pessimistic prognosis was given. The doctor following the case, Dr. Nadia Bicego Vieitez de Almeida, who had handled Elisabete’s previous pregnancies, said that with the great loss of blood Elisebete would probably spontaneously abort or they would have to do the procedure sooner or later.
What Does “Hallowed Be Thy Name” Mean?
VIDEO: What Does “Hallowed Be Thy Name” Mean?AKIN: The Lord’s Prayer or “Our Father” is the most popular prayer in the world. Millions of us say it every day, because it was given to us by Jesus himself as the model of Christian prayer.
But do we really understand what we’re saying when we pray it?
How about the words “Hallowed be thy name”?
Many don’t understand this mysterious phrase.
But do we really understand what we’re saying when we pray it?
How about the words “Hallowed be thy name”?
Many don’t understand this mysterious phrase.
10 things your commencement speaker won't tell you...
What They Don't Tell You at Graduation - WSJ.com: I became sick of commencement speeches at about your age. My first job out of college was writing speeches for the governor of Maine. Every spring, I would offer extraordinary tidbits of wisdom to 22-year-olds—which was quite a feat given that I was 23 at the time. In the decades since, I've spent most of my career teaching economics and public policy. In particular, I've studied happiness and well-being, about which we now know a great deal. And I've found that the saccharine and over-optimistic words of the typical commencement address hold few of the lessons young people really need to hear about what lies ahead.
Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales praises Pope John XXIII's encyclical 'Pacem in Terris'...
Wikipedia founder praises John XXIII encyclical :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): Wales is in Rome as a guest of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council of Social Sciences. From April 27 to May 1, the council’s 18th plenary session is exploring the legacy of the 1963 encyclical on global peace, which will mark its 50th anniversary next year. Wales, who is not Catholic, read the papal document for the first time last week.
The King of Love My Shepherd Is: A Meditation on the Gospel for Good Shepherd Sunday
The King of Love My Shepherd Is: A Meditation on the Gospel for Good Shepherd Sunday | Archdiocese of WashingtonPOPE: On this fourth Sunday of Easter we turn a corner of sorts. Up till now we have been reading of the resurrection appearances themselves. Today we begin to see how the risen Lord ministers to us as the Good Shepherd. In effect, the Lord gives us four basic pictures or teachings of how, as the King of Love he shepherds us. Here than are four portraits of his love
Has the 'real Ratzinger' come out to play? Five bits of perspective may be helpful...
Has the 'real Ratzinger' come out to play? | National Catholic ReporterALLEN: When Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected to the papacy in April 2005, the popular forecast called for stormy weather ahead. This was, after all, the Vatican enforcer who had been leading a “smack-down on heresy since 1981”, in the words of T-shirts and coffee mugs marketed by a Ratzinger fan club. His rise elicited dread in some quarters and joy in others, but virtually everyone agreed big things were in the works.
Steve Jobs and the New Evangelization
Steve Jobs and the New EvangelizationMCCLOSKEY: As a priest, part of my job description is to be an agent of the New Evangelization that was proclaimed by Blessed John Paul the Great. Only a few years after leading the Church into the third millennium during the Jubilee year of 2000, his mantle fell to Pope Benedict XVI, who also proclaims very seriously the Church’s evangelical mission. I assume that the great majority of my readers are serious Catholics who in these challenging times are as eager as I am to see the vision of Bl. John Paul realized and continued by Pope Benedict XVI: to see the Church recover and flourish in growth and fidelity, in particular in what was once known as the West.
Sebelius, Gowdy, nuance and the HHS Mandate
Sebelius, Gowdy, Nuance and the HHS Mandate – UPDATEDSCALIA: Truly, one need not be a constitutional scholar to understand that Obamacare’s HHS Mandate treads with both feet on the first amendment. Our “constitutional scholar” president probably knew as much from the start — it is inconceivable to think he did not — and should have instructed his secretary to “find some more nuance and balance” as regards religious freedom, before the mandate was publicly released. That he didn’t is actually cause for some concern. It suggests that he allowed advisors and cabinet members to lead him about until he okayed something he knew was not constitutionally sound.
That, of course, flies directly in the face of his presidential oath of office.
That, of course, flies directly in the face of his presidential oath of office.
Pope Benedict's Regina Coeli: "The Lord is always calling, but many times we do not listen"
VATICAN Pope: the Church is like a garden where all the seeds of vocation can germinate - Asia News: Before the Regina Coeli - which replaces the Angelus during this period - the Pope celebrated Mass in the basilica during which he ordained nine deacons priests, drawn from the Roman diocesan seminaries. Eight become priests for the diocese of Rome, one formed at the Almo Capranica College, was ordained for the Diocese of Bui Chu (Vietnam).
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Escaped Chinese anti-abortion activist in U.S. Embassy, friend says...
Escaped Chinese activist in U.S. Embassy, friend says - CNN.com: A prominent human rights activist whose 18-month house arrest in eastern China and dramatic escape attracted worldwide attention is in the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, a close friend said Saturday.
"When Chen Guangcheng first fled to Beijing, we had to keep moving him from place to place to ensure his safety -- and we agreed the U.S. Embassy is the only absolutely secure location in town," said Hu Jia, a fellow activist and one of the few people who've seen him since he arrived in the capital.
"When Chen Guangcheng first fled to Beijing, we had to keep moving him from place to place to ensure his safety -- and we agreed the U.S. Embassy is the only absolutely secure location in town," said Hu Jia, a fellow activist and one of the few people who've seen him since he arrived in the capital.
Some months ago, I was getting ready for bed when I heard a news report that disturbed me enough to keep me awake the rest of the night...
FOCUS Blog: IndifferenceCHERN: It was a disturbing report talking about how the police had discovered, yet another body out on Long Island, making six murder victims who had been identified in just a few days all in this neighborhood. Investigators realized at this point that they were dealing with a serial killer. They started to put together a profile of the victims - all were women, similar in age, and appearance. It also turned out that all of the victims were prostitutes. It was a sad and disturbing story right there.
Before the Green Berets and SEALs, Great Britain had the SAS. Their motto was simply, "Who dares, wins." That would make a good battle cry for the Christian life...
Who Dares, WinsWOOD: As Catholics, we need to think about daring in every age and place. There are intimations and examples of daring throughout the Bible: Abraham strikes out on his adventure, Jacob challenged the Lord to a wrestling match, the Apostles defied authority to speak the truth.
Not all dares work out well, of course: Adam and Eve found that out when they ate the forbidden fruit. There is a vital and all-important distinction between dares informed by love of God and prudence, which entail self-giving, and those inspired by pride and selfishness of one form or another.
Not all dares work out well, of course: Adam and Eve found that out when they ate the forbidden fruit. There is a vital and all-important distinction between dares informed by love of God and prudence, which entail self-giving, and those inspired by pride and selfishness of one form or another.
Congressman Ryan and his Catholic (and media) critics...
On The News : Congressman Ryan and his Catholic (and media) critics - Catholic CultureLAWLER: Congressman Paul Ryan spoke at Georgetown about how his Catholic faith informs his political thinking, and thus his budget plan. The headline on our Catholic World News story read, “Ryan defends compatibility of House budget with Catholic teaching.” But the headline on a report from the Religion News Service on the same talk, appearing in the Washington Post, conveyed exactly the opposite message: “GOP budget chief ducks questions on budget’s Catholic roots.”
Now wait a minute. The Wisconsin lawmaker went to Georgetown to talk about the Catholic roots of his budget. How can RNS possibly claim that he ducked the topic? If you read the text of the Congressman’s talk, if you read our CWN summary, if you read Ryan’s public statement from the day before his talk, if you read George Weigel’s perceptive analysis of the Georgetown appearance, even if you read the snippets from Ryan’s talk that appeared in this grossly skewed RNS report--in short, if you make any effort actually to learn what Ryan said—how can you possibly justify a headline that says he ducked the question? You can’t.
Now wait a minute. The Wisconsin lawmaker went to Georgetown to talk about the Catholic roots of his budget. How can RNS possibly claim that he ducked the topic? If you read the text of the Congressman’s talk, if you read our CWN summary, if you read Ryan’s public statement from the day before his talk, if you read George Weigel’s perceptive analysis of the Georgetown appearance, even if you read the snippets from Ryan’s talk that appeared in this grossly skewed RNS report--in short, if you make any effort actually to learn what Ryan said—how can you possibly justify a headline that says he ducked the question? You can’t.
Can you hear me now? What a TV commercial can teach us about listening for God...
Can You Hear Me Now? What a Commercial has to teach us about listening for God | Archdiocese of WashingtonPOPE: In the hours after 9/11 here in DC, nearby National Airport ceased operations, and most businesses closed here, and most people stayed home, glued to their TVs. Most cell phones fell silent too;� the still new technology overwhelmed by demand, simply shut down. There was an eerie silence outside. Only the strange smell of burning jet fuel from the nearby Pentagon reminded of the horrible mayhem that preceded this eerie peace. No cars, no phones, no planes over head. All in stillness.
“Can you hear me now?” Yes Lord, I can hear you now. I can hear you you in the stillness. A still, small voice, a whisper in the heart, a pause in the action, giving room for God. Yes, Lord, I can hear you now. I can hear you.
In this commercial four men seek for a place where there is “No Signal” from the world. The Ad says, “Chevy runs deep.” Yes, but God runs deeper, in that place where God says, “Be still and know that I am God.”
“Can you hear me now?” Yes Lord, I can hear you now. I can hear you you in the stillness. A still, small voice, a whisper in the heart, a pause in the action, giving room for God. Yes, Lord, I can hear you now. I can hear you.
In this commercial four men seek for a place where there is “No Signal” from the world. The Ad says, “Chevy runs deep.” Yes, but God runs deeper, in that place where God says, “Be still and know that I am God.”
Your Parish Doesn't Need a Technology Strategy
Your Parish Doesn't Need a Technology Strategy |Blogs | NCRegister.comWARNER: The problem with a lot of organizations in the Church right now - who are even making an effort at embracing new communication technologies - is that they have the wrong strategy. We have to do a better job at connecting the use of powerful, new media tools with our mission as the Church.
The main reason so many in Church leadership balk at or don't understand the value of trying something new is that we too often focus them in on the wrong things. We act like the goal is to have a great web presence, or to have an active community on Facebook, or to build a huge email list, etc. Those aren't the goals.
The main reason so many in Church leadership balk at or don't understand the value of trying something new is that we too often focus them in on the wrong things. We act like the goal is to have a great web presence, or to have an active community on Facebook, or to build a huge email list, etc. Those aren't the goals.
The Scandalous Jesus: The Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter
The Sacred Page: The Scandalous Jesus: The Readings for the Fourth Sunday of EasterBERGSMA: Our English word “scandal” comes ultimately from the Greek skandalon, “a stumbling block.” A “scandal” is something that causes people to “stumble,” i.e. that offends or injures them in some way. As we will see, the exclusive claims made for and by Jesus in the readings for this Sunday are scandalous to the pluralistic and relativistic culture we live in today.
Video: The vows of cohabitation
Cohabitor Vows - YouTube: Chad and Amy share their covenant vows of marriage.
Sebelius grilled before house committee; says she sought religious 'balance' for HHS mandate, but ignored key precedents
Sebelius says she sought religious 'balance,' but ignored key precedents :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): HHS secretary Kathleen Sebelius says she was unaware of legal precedents confirming religious freedom, even as she sought a “balance” between believers' rights and the contraception mandate.
“I'm not a lawyer, and I don't pretend to understand the nuances of the constitutional balancing tests,” Sebelius told Representative Trey Gowdy (R–SC) during an April 26 hearing.
“I'm not a lawyer, and I don't pretend to understand the nuances of the constitutional balancing tests,” Sebelius told Representative Trey Gowdy (R–SC) during an April 26 hearing.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Love the shepherd, beware of the wolf, tolerate the hireling...
Love the shepherd, beware of the wolf, tolerate the hireling | The New Theological MovementERLENBUSH: On Good Shepherd Sunday, we do well to consider the qualities of these characters and, even more, how the faithful ought to relate to their priests and bishops. Why is it that the people should tolerate the hireling?
We will rely on St. Augustine’s eighty-seventh sermon on the New Testament, from which the title quotation comes.
We will rely on St. Augustine’s eighty-seventh sermon on the New Testament, from which the title quotation comes.
Then I confessed, I can do no other...
Then I Confessed, I Can Do No OtherBECKWITH: On April 29, 2007, five years ago this Sunday, I was publicly received into the Catholic Church at St. Joseph’s Parish in Bellmead, Texas. My wife, Frankie, stood beside me, as we both faced Fr. Timothy Vaverek, who presided over the brief ceremony between the homily and the recitation of the Creed at Sunday Mass. �Frankie was received as a candidate, since, unlike me, she had not been baptized and confirmed as a youngster.
Reuters profiles George Zimmerman’s Catholic faith...
Reuters Profiles George Zimmerman’s Catholic Faith | CatholicVote.orgTHOMASPETERS: I’m not going to try to render judgements about the George Zimmerman v. Trayvon Martin controversy. But I did find this excellent Reuters article on George Zimmerman’s background fascinating for its presentation of Zimmerman’s Catholic faith.
Now, obviously, Catholic people can commit crimes and sins just like everyone else, but I thought it fascinating to see how Reuters presented his Catholic background as an important part of his personal profile:
Now, obviously, Catholic people can commit crimes and sins just like everyone else, but I thought it fascinating to see how Reuters presented his Catholic background as an important part of his personal profile:
Vatican Confirms Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb
CDWDS Confirms Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb | Fr. Z's Blog – What Does The Prayer Really Say?: The text of the Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb, approved in English and Spanish by the USCCB in November 2008, has been confirmed by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments; the English text was confirmed on December 8, 2011 (Prot. n. 1422/08/L), and the Spanish text followed on March 1, 2012 (Prot. n. 125/12/L). Timothy Cardinal Dolan, USCCB President, authorized its use in the liturgy as of March 26, 2012, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord.
Watch 56 episodes of Star Trek at the same time...
56 Episodes of Star Trek at the same time - With sound - YouTube: If you wanted to re-watch the classics but couldn't find the time, here's your chance. 56 episodes, the full first 2 seasons, simultaneously, and with sound! You'll be finished in no time
Bill Cosby: “Nuns mean business when they come riding into town”
Bill Cosby: “Nuns mean business when they come riding into town”: The comedian and his wife recently made a big donation to a Catholic community center in Baltimore, which was named in their honor. And Bill Cosby had some hilarious things to say about God, money and nuns.
7 things you should know about the Kentucky Derby (which is one week from Saturday)...
7 Things You Should Know About The Kentucky Derby - Mental Floss: I was born and raised in Kentucky, a background that usually doesn’t offer much in the way of conversation fodder. By the first Saturday in May each year, though, the Kentucky Derby has made the rest of the world curious about my home commonwealth, and I find myself fielding all sorts of Derby-related questions. This year, I decided it would just be easier to write down my answers.
The dignity of humanity as observed in a thousand points of light...
The Dignity of Humanity as Observed in a Thousand Points of Light | Archdiocese of WashingtonPOPE: In the video below you will see a visual representation of Worldwide Airline Traffic in a 24 hour period. Each plane is represented by a small dot of yellow light.
As you view the video consider some of the following:
Every dot is a plane that carries hundreds of people.
Each individual has a story.
Some are joyful and flying out to attend a wedding or family event. Some are sad and flying to funerals.
Some are nervously flying to a job interview in a distant city.
As you view the video consider some of the following:
Every dot is a plane that carries hundreds of people.
Each individual has a story.
Some are joyful and flying out to attend a wedding or family event. Some are sad and flying to funerals.
Some are nervously flying to a job interview in a distant city.
Why Do We Call It a "Culture of Death"?
Why Do We Call It a "Culture of Death"? |Blogs | NCRegister.comFULWILER: When I was first exploring Catholicism, I visited a Catholic church that had a poster that was said to contrast the "culture of life" with the "culture of death." It displayed side-by-side pictures of a dandelion and a rose. On the left, the ragged dandelion was said to indicate the contraceptive worldview; the blooming rose on the right was said to symbolize abstinence-based methods of birth control and openness to life. The fruits of this rose bush mentality were said to be secure families, long marriages, and care for the elderly; the fruits of the dandelion mentality included terms like divorce, abortion, and euthanasia.
NFP, Providentialism, and Future-You
NFP, Providentialism, and Future-You |Blogs | NCRegister.comFISHER: Among the small fraction of married Catholics who don't contracept, there are two camps: those who space pregnancies by practicing NFP; and providentialists, who may or may not actively pursue pregnancy, but who do nothing to postpone it. Maybe we have respect for Catholics who are in the other camp, and maybe we don't, but we readily identify ourselves as belonging to one or the other.
Pope Benedict will be remembered for his homilies, and for his audacious and unconventional actions...
After Seven Years, the Secret of Pope RatzingerMAGISTER: No one said it a week ago, during the flood of tributes for Benedict XVI's seventh anniversary as pope. But the element that has most revealed the profound meaning of his pontificate was a storm.
It was a scorching evening in Madrid, in August of 2011. In front of Pope Benedict, on the open ground, a million young people, average age 22, an unknown. All of a sudden a downpour of water, lightning, wind hurled itself on them all, with no shelter anywhere. Clusters of floodlights were tossed into the air, posters flew away, even the pope was drenched. But he stayed where he was in front of the explosive celebration of young men and women over the surprise performance from the heavens.
It was a scorching evening in Madrid, in August of 2011. In front of Pope Benedict, on the open ground, a million young people, average age 22, an unknown. All of a sudden a downpour of water, lightning, wind hurled itself on them all, with no shelter anywhere. Clusters of floodlights were tossed into the air, posters flew away, even the pope was drenched. But he stayed where he was in front of the explosive celebration of young men and women over the surprise performance from the heavens.
Pope Benedict tries to get his own house in order
Pope tries to get his own house in order | National Catholic ReporterALLEN: Fresh off approving a sweeping overhaul of America’s main umbrella group for the leaders of women’s religious orders, Pope Benedict XVI this week turned to getting his own house in order by creating a panel of three veteran cardinals to investigate the tawdry recent Vatican leaks scandal.
The Vatican announced yesterday that Benedict has created a new Commission of Cardinals “to undertake an authoritative investigation” and “to throw light on these episodes,” which it characterized as “recent leaks of reserved and confidential documents on television, in newspapers and in other communications media.”
The Vatican announced yesterday that Benedict has created a new Commission of Cardinals “to undertake an authoritative investigation” and “to throw light on these episodes,” which it characterized as “recent leaks of reserved and confidential documents on television, in newspapers and in other communications media.”
The Vatican's Corrective to Liberal Catholics
Elizabeth Scalia: The Vatican's Corrective to Liberal Catholics - WSJ.comSCALIA: What has happened to Catholic religious life—especially among women—since its heyday five decades ago?
In 1956, membership in Catholic religious orders was soaring to historic heights. The sheer number of young women who felt called to the mission of the American church led to the creation, at the Vatican's behest, of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, an umbrella group answerable to Rome.
Flash forward 56 years, and the landscape for religious vocations is very different. Growth that once seemed unstoppable has gone into reverse. Many women left religious life for a world full of revolution and new ideas. Those who remained within the Leadership Conference also changed—so much so that the church sent them a corrective last week.
In 1956, membership in Catholic religious orders was soaring to historic heights. The sheer number of young women who felt called to the mission of the American church led to the creation, at the Vatican's behest, of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, an umbrella group answerable to Rome.
Flash forward 56 years, and the landscape for religious vocations is very different. Growth that once seemed unstoppable has gone into reverse. Many women left religious life for a world full of revolution and new ideas. Those who remained within the Leadership Conference also changed—so much so that the church sent them a corrective last week.
Seven-year-old girl fulfills dream to hug Pope Benedict
Seven-year-old girl fulfills dream to hug Pope Benedict :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): A 7-year-old Italian girl got her wish granted after this week’s Wednesday General Audience in St. Peter’s Square, when she was able to give a hug to “her friend” Pope Benedict XVI.
Miriam Gentile, who suffers from cerebral palsy, was born in the city of Catanzaro on April 22, 2005, three days after Benedict XVI’s election to the papacy. She has been receiving treatment for her condition at the Gemelli and Bambino Gesu Hospitals in Rome.
Miriam Gentile, who suffers from cerebral palsy, was born in the city of Catanzaro on April 22, 2005, three days after Benedict XVI’s election to the papacy. She has been receiving treatment for her condition at the Gemelli and Bambino Gesu Hospitals in Rome.
As a Catholic archbishop, I am deeply concerned about the human consequences if Arizona's immigration law is upheld...
The Supreme Court’s immigration hearing: Human dignity not up for debate - Guest Voices - The Washington PostGOMEZ: This week the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on Arizona’s controversial immigration law. The case before the court focuses on a few provisions of this law, but the principle at stake is whether the federal government holds full authority to enact and implement immigration law in this country.
The implications are huge. How the court responds could fundamentally alter how our country governs immigration. Instead of one federal law that applies to all the states, a patchwork of 50 state immigration policies could suddenly define our nation’s immigration system.
The implications are huge. How the court responds could fundamentally alter how our country governs immigration. Instead of one federal law that applies to all the states, a patchwork of 50 state immigration policies could suddenly define our nation’s immigration system.
Our Sunday Visitor turns 100, and announces Msgr. Charles Pope as a new columnist...
OSV centennial plans and open house; new columnistNORTON: A hundred years ago this weekend, the first 35,000 copies of Our Sunday Visitor — the first English-language national Catholic newspaper in the United States — rolled off a printing press in a small brick building in a small town in northeast Indiana — surely watched with some pride by its founding editor, 37-year-old Father John Francis Noll.
Augustinian Maxims and Truths
Augustinian Maxims and Truths | Crisis MagazineSCHALL: Again on going through Augustine’s City of God with a class, I am struck by the pithiness of many of his statements. Nietzsche had over five thousand epigrams and maxims in his works. The City of God is something over 1200 pages. Sometimes every sentence seems like a paradox or maxim, when it is not simply a profound, straightforward statement of the truth, to wit: “As it is, however, human nature has refused to keep that peace with God in happiness and so in its unhappiness, it is at war with itself” (21, 15). Man’s inner war with himself is a result of his relation to God.
A primer on credit reports and credit scores
A primer on credit reports, scoresLENAHAN: A single parent recently asked about the wisdom of having a credit repair clinic help clean up her credit report so she could obtain a mortgage on more favorable terms. The expected fee? In excess of $600! Credit repair clinics are notorious for generating consumer complaints to the Federal Trade Commission. They frequently make promises they can’t fulfill, and are unable to accomplish anything you can’t do for free.
Let’s review what you need to know about credit reports and credit scores so you can manage them effectively on your own.
Let’s review what you need to know about credit reports and credit scores so you can manage them effectively on your own.
The Church and the LCWR: What Is Really Happening?
The Church and the Sisters: What Is Really Happening?: Catholic World ReportCAREY: From the moment the United States Bishops announced on April 18 that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) had issued a document ordering a supervised renewal of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), confusion and misinformation about the initiative have run rampant.
Fr. Longenecker says he saw a miracle in Medjugorje. I have no problem believing him. But this doesn't mean that Mary ever appeared there...
Wait! But… you said… how can… what?!SHEA: Mere miracles, signs and wonders, while evidence that God is work are not, as Jesus warns, proof of sanctity. So while Fr. Longenecker’s tale suggests to me that *he* is certainly seeking God with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength, it does nothing, so far as I can see, to establish that the local ordinaries and other skeptics are wrong to conclude that the “apparitions” at Medjugorje are bunk.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the Arizona immigration law. I was there, and here are my impressions...
Cardinal Roger Mahony Blogs L.A.: The official blog of the Archbishop Emeritus of L.A.: IMMIGRATION & U.S. SUPREME COURTMAHONY: The Federal government was suing the State of Arizona because the Federal government reads the U.S. Constitution as giving full authority and competence on immigration issues to the Federal government, not the individual States.
The Justices did not seem to be persuaded that one part of the Arizona law violated Federal law: the inquiry about immigration status after a person has been stopped for another violation of the law, and when there is "reasonable suspicion" that the person might not have legal residency. It would seem that this section could survive.
The Justices did not seem to be persuaded that one part of the Arizona law violated Federal law: the inquiry about immigration status after a person has been stopped for another violation of the law, and when there is "reasonable suspicion" that the person might not have legal residency. It would seem that this section could survive.
Cohabitation, Marriage, and Brangelina
Cohabitation, Marriage, and Brangelina | First Things: While single and working in the Boston area during the 1980s, I observed the cohabitation phenomenon up close. My friends moved in with guys anticipating stability along with the fun and, after a year or so, sought therapy for anxiety and depression. Whatever twinge of jealousy I felt at living my chaste Mormon life turned into gratitude for my congregation and its single young men willing to date and eventually commit to long-term relationships with an engagement ring rather than a U-Haul. I also felt a sense of je ne sais quoi when a friend in New York married via a circle of Catholic singles and a colleague at work found a husband through a Boston Jewish young adult group. Thank you, God, for organized religion! And for rabbis, priests, and other faith leaders who convince young men of marriage’s moral, spiritual, and emotional gifts.
Blind anti-abortion activist makes daring escape from house arrest in China; condition and whereabouts are unknown...
Blind Chinese Lawyer Flees House Arrest - WSJ.com: A blind legal activist who is a key figure in China's rights movement escaped the house arrest he had lived under for a year and a half, fleeing to an undisclosed location and angering captors who then turned on his family, rights campaigners said Friday.
Chen Guangcheng slipped out of his usually well-guarded house in Dongshigu village on Sunday, activists in China and overseas said. He Peirong, who has led a campaign for Chen's freedom, said she picked him up and drove him to "a relatively safe place" she would not further describe.
Chen Guangcheng slipped out of his usually well-guarded house in Dongshigu village on Sunday, activists in China and overseas said. He Peirong, who has led a campaign for Chen's freedom, said she picked him up and drove him to "a relatively safe place" she would not further describe.
Blind anti-abortion activist makes daring escape from house arrest in China; condition and whereabouts are unknown...
China dissident escapes from house arrest - latimes.com: The blind human rights activist Chen Guangcheng escaped from house arrest last weekend during a rescue operation mounted by supporters, but his whereabouts and condition are now unknown, activists said Friday.
The rescue of Chen, whose plight has attracted worldwide attention, was apparently timed to coincide with U.S.-China discussions on human rights taking place this week in Beijing and the visit next week by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The rescue of Chen, whose plight has attracted worldwide attention, was apparently timed to coincide with U.S.-China discussions on human rights taking place this week in Beijing and the visit next week by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
'Bully', boys adrift, and the revenge of the forsaken gods...
"Bully" : A movie review by Fr. Barron - YouTubeBARRON: It's very hard to watch the new documentary 'Bully' without an intense feeling of sadness and also helplessness. The movie opens with heartbreaking ruminations
by a father whose teenage son had killed himself after being ruthlessly, mercilessly
bullied. And then we hear, in the course of the movie, all kinds of stories of
kids who were picked on, attacked, belittled, mocked, and physically assaulted.
by a father whose teenage son had killed himself after being ruthlessly, mercilessly
bullied. And then we hear, in the course of the movie, all kinds of stories of
kids who were picked on, attacked, belittled, mocked, and physically assaulted.
Good Fiction for Young Adults
Good Fiction for Young Adults |Blogs | NCRegister.comFISHER: I haven't read The Hunger Games yet, but I gather that the YA reading list hasn't become especially sunny or optimistic lately.� When I was a YA, everything we read had to be about two or more of the following: the Holocaust, suicide, or bulimia.� Also acceptable were books about racism, provided several lynchings were described in technicolor.� Then, after we finished our assigned reading for the year, the school board would hold a workshop on what could possibly be causing the rampant depression in the student body.
8 reasons Catholics are the worst protesters
8 Reasons Catholics are the Worst Protesters |Blogs | NCRegister.comMATTARCHBOLD: In this upcoming election, the bishops have called on Catholics to protest the Obama administration's efforts to curtail religious liberty.
The days between June 21 and July 4 have been dubbed “A Fortnight for Freedom.”
One of my favorite EWTN hosts Johnette Benkovic wrote glowingly about the upcoming protests. I, of course, will be taking part in any protests. I'm stoked. But there are some major problems facing Catholics, namely that Catholics are the worst protesters in the world.
The days between June 21 and July 4 have been dubbed “A Fortnight for Freedom.”
One of my favorite EWTN hosts Johnette Benkovic wrote glowingly about the upcoming protests. I, of course, will be taking part in any protests. I'm stoked. But there are some major problems facing Catholics, namely that Catholics are the worst protesters in the world.
The Love Atheists Have For Gay Folks
The Love Atheists Have For Gay FolksBARNES: I’ve been spending way too much time chilling with the jolly old atheists. Anyways, they’re pretty fantastic at calling out Christians for their cruelty to the gay community. So I made them all a picture. Also, As Tall as Lions have a sweet song and it sounds pretty atheistic so I thought I’d share.
On Harleys, Christian car shows, and the good life: why Nietzsche was wrong about Christianity...
Catholic PhoenixDISTEFANO: I read a story in the paper not long ago about a pastor of a Protestant church who, in the hopes of drawing more men to his services, organized a car show.� This pastor rides a Harley & wears jeans & Hawaiian shirts, a point of some importance to the writer of the article.� In its fifth year, the car show draws about 10,000 attendees, has big-name sponsors, & is tied into various charitable causes.� This is a nice story, as people are enjoying themselves & helping others.� Whether or not the pastor is meeting his stated goal of getting “dads out of the garage & into the church” was left unsaid, but the dads are at least out of the garage, which meets the first half of the goal.
Irish priests vow to protect seal of confession, defying government threat of 10-year prison sentences...
Priests: We won’t break seal of confession to report sex abuse - National News - Independent.ie: priests will defy a new law that requires them to report sexual abuse disclosed to them in the confession box -- despite the threat of 10-year jail sentences.
It came after Justice Minister Alan Shatter confirmed the mandatory reporting requirement would apply to priests hearing confession.
Fr Sean McDonagh of the Association of Catholic Priests, which represents 800 clergymen, warned last night: "I certainly wouldn't be willing to break the seal of confession for anyone -- Alan Shatter particularly."
It came after Justice Minister Alan Shatter confirmed the mandatory reporting requirement would apply to priests hearing confession.
Fr Sean McDonagh of the Association of Catholic Priests, which represents 800 clergymen, warned last night: "I certainly wouldn't be willing to break the seal of confession for anyone -- Alan Shatter particularly."
About that LCWR Doctrinal Assessment...
Te Deum laudamus!: About that LCWR Doctrinal Assessment...KORZENIEWSKI: Archbishop Peter Sartain of Seattle, Washington, who was appointed Delegate to oversee the renewal of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, echoed what was on the first page of the Doctrinal Assessment. �See his statement at the National Catholic Register in Archbishop Sartain Praises Women Religious as a 'Great Gift' to the Church.
I missed this the other day.
I missed this the other day.
Are tolerance, niceness, and self-esteem the highest virtues?
Truth & CharityMURPHY: What are the most important virtues to acquire in life? Perusing children’s and adolescents’ television programming gives the impression that in the top tier are tolerance, niceness, and self-esteem. I know these affected me. Perhaps they affected you, too.
Questions raised as bishop is ordained with approval of Rome and Beijing
Questions raised as Bishop is ordained with approval of Rome and Beijing - Vatican Insider: After waiting for twelve years, the diocese of Hunan in southern China has a new bishop: Methodius Qu Ailin.� He was ordained on the morning of April 25 with the approval of both Pope Benedict XVI and the Chinese Government.�
�
�
While mainland Catholics rejoiced at this ordination approved by Rome, the participation of two bishops not in good standing with the Holy See – one of whom is “illegitimate” – prevented it being a truly harmonious occasion, caused confusion among the faithful in China and inflicted further damage on the unity of the Catholic Church in the mainland.�
�
�
While mainland Catholics rejoiced at this ordination approved by Rome, the participation of two bishops not in good standing with the Holy See – one of whom is “illegitimate” – prevented it being a truly harmonious occasion, caused confusion among the faithful in China and inflicted further damage on the unity of the Catholic Church in the mainland.�
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Little boy with painful skin disease is ‘here for a purpose’
Little boy with painful skin disease ‘here for a purpose’ | KDVR.com is the website for KDVR Television, FOX 31 News in Denver, Colorado: Ever wonder what’s your purpose in life? Why were you put on this earth?
It’s a question many of us contemplate at some point in our lives, but probably not until we’re a little older.
A very special little boy named William may not be long for this earth. He has a genetic skin disease that makes him live with pain every day.
But his mother says, William is definitely here for a purpose.
It’s a question many of us contemplate at some point in our lives, but probably not until we’re a little older.
A very special little boy named William may not be long for this earth. He has a genetic skin disease that makes him live with pain every day.
But his mother says, William is definitely here for a purpose.
Congressman Paul Ryan and Catholic Social Teaching...
Congressman Ryan on Being Guided by Catholic Social Teaching | Archdiocese of WashingtonPOPE: In yesterday’s National Catholic Register Congressman Paul Ryan, a Catholic, takes up the topic of how Catholic Social teaching can guide our discussion on public policy. Since we have recently discussed this very topic here in the Blog I’d like to present some excerpts of the Congressman’s reflections and add a few of my own.
The grass is brown on both sides...
Fr. Robert Barron's Word On Fire - Theology: The Grass Is Brown On Both SidesFERENCE: My airbrushed version of marriage looked something like this: I thought of how nice it would be to be wrapped up in my imaginary wife’s arms, being protected from the rough and cold world outside. I thought about how great it would be to live with a best friend, and the possibility of creating new life together. I thought about growing old with a woman who promised to love me unconditionally all the days of her life. And then I would sigh and feel sorry for myself.
Walking 3000 miles across the United States to defend life...
Truth & CharityMATTSCIBA: Wherever you live, keep the Crossroads walkers in your prayers. �They rely solely on divine providence for everything (food, water, shelter, clothing). �If you live near one of the routes, please consider meeting them as they pass by, and offering even something as small as a word of encouragement. �Not only will you lift the spirits of the walkers, but you too may be enriched by their love for God.
Bishop Jenky deserves appreciation, not condemnation from the Notre Dame faculty...
Bishop Jenky deserves appreciation, not condemnation from Notre Dame faculty | LifeSiteNews.comRICE: On April 14, Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, C.S.C., of Peoria, Illinois, delivered a courageous homily at Mass during “A Call to Catholic Men of Faith.” Bishop Jenky said, “This fall, every practicing Catholic must vote, and must vote their Catholic consciences, or by the following fall our Catholic schools, our Catholic hospitals, our Catholic Newman Centers, all our public ministries—only excepting our church buildings—could easily be shut down. Because no Catholic institution, under any circumstance, can ever cooperate with the intrinsic evil of killing innocent human life in the womb.”
The University of Notre Dame made two major announcements Monday that put the school at odds with Pope Benedict XVI on the promotion of condoms to prevent AIDS...
Notre Dame Commencement Speaker, AIDS Partnership at Odds with Vatican, Bishops � Campus Notes: Despite some media confusion about a statement made by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010 regarding the use of condoms by male prostitutes, the Holy Father and Vatican officials have strongly opposed condom distribution as immoral and an impractical solution to preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Moreover, the Catholic bishops of Kenya—where Notre Dame will be cooperating with AMPATH—have publicly reiterated Catholic teaching against condoms. They promise that Catholic Church efforts to address HIV/AIDS, “both in partnerships with others and on her own, will always be aimed at a search for human and liberating solutions to the pandemic.”
Moreover, the Catholic bishops of Kenya—where Notre Dame will be cooperating with AMPATH—have publicly reiterated Catholic teaching against condoms. They promise that Catholic Church efforts to address HIV/AIDS, “both in partnerships with others and on her own, will always be aimed at a search for human and liberating solutions to the pandemic.”
Mormons and Modernism
Mormons and ModernismLONGENECKER: The ceaseless smiling Mormon ads on Patheos have generated a fair bit of discussion on these blogs, and I have learned a good deal about this new religion.
One of the details was the authorship of the Book of Abraham–one of the books in the Mormon scriptures. It’s a fascinating story. In 1830 or thereabouts a traveling sideshow entrepreneur turned up at Joseph Smith’s fledgling Mormon community in Ohio and sold Smith some Egyptian mummies and a couple of papyrus manuscripts. Smith proceeded to ‘translate’ the manuscripts and told his people they were none other than the stories of the patriarchs Abraham and Joseph from their sojourn in Egypt, and they were actually written in the very hand of Abraham and Joseph themselves. Smith went on to translate the scrolls and add them to the Mormon scriptures.
One of the details was the authorship of the Book of Abraham–one of the books in the Mormon scriptures. It’s a fascinating story. In 1830 or thereabouts a traveling sideshow entrepreneur turned up at Joseph Smith’s fledgling Mormon community in Ohio and sold Smith some Egyptian mummies and a couple of papyrus manuscripts. Smith proceeded to ‘translate’ the manuscripts and told his people they were none other than the stories of the patriarchs Abraham and Joseph from their sojourn in Egypt, and they were actually written in the very hand of Abraham and Joseph themselves. Smith went on to translate the scrolls and add them to the Mormon scriptures.
The gruesome death of Saint Mark the Evangelist...
The Gruesome Death of Saint Mark the Evangelist ~ Canterbury Tales by Dr. Taylor MarshallMARSHALL: According to tradition, Saint Mark was born in Cyrene in North Africa (modern day Libya). Saint Mark returned to Pentapolis later in life, after being sent by Saint Paul to Colossae (Colossians 4:10; Philemon 24 refer to Mark the Cousin of Barnabas), and serving with him in Rome (2 Tim 4:11); from Pentapolis he made his way to Alexandria where he became the first bishop of Alexandria. To this day, the Patriarch of Alexandria is the "Successor of Saint Mark". When Mark returned to Alexandria, the idolators of the city resented his efforts to turn the Alexandrians away from the worship of their traditional gods. In AD 68 they placed a rope around his neck and dragged him through the streets until he was dead. His relics were kept in Egypt until they were transferred to Venice where they are venerated till this day.
You've probably heard that atoms are small. But how small are they? Really, really small...
Just How Small is an Atom? - YouTube: Just how small are atoms? And what's inside them? The answers turn out to be astounding, even for those who think they know. This fast-paced animation uses spectacular metaphors (imagine a blueberry the size of a football stadium!) to give a visceral sense of the building blocks that make our world.
The Secret Anti-Medjugorje Brotherhood of the Hermetic Golden Order is everywhere...
We are Everywhere!SHEA: A recent Internet commentator, who claims to have some authority on the matter, says that all critics of Medjugorje are male. And, by his same mystic arts, this writer knows all about the travels of the various people who are critical of Medjugorje. If you are a male and wish to join the Conspiracy, or complain about The Phantom Menace, just say something critical about them in the comboxes.
Between the Scylla and Charybdis and Apocalypse Now
Between the Scylla and Charybdis and Apocalypse NowWEATHERS: If you are a Catholic News junkie, coming to the internet everyday for your fix of “inside baseball” goings on, here’s a little tidbit: you will be as misinformed as all news junkies everywhere always are. Bread and Circuses? Welcome to the show.
And if you are riding the Catholic news tide up and down, like some kind of daily check on the status of the your personal faith? Fahgettaboudit! Doing so will strip you of your faith in no time. It’s like taking a cruise between the Scylla and Charybdis daily, in the Kobayashi Maru. It’s a no-win situation, akin to tracking the value of your retirement account daily. Stop the obsession!
And if you are riding the Catholic news tide up and down, like some kind of daily check on the status of the your personal faith? Fahgettaboudit! Doing so will strip you of your faith in no time. It’s like taking a cruise between the Scylla and Charybdis daily, in the Kobayashi Maru. It’s a no-win situation, akin to tracking the value of your retirement account daily. Stop the obsession!
After seeing the video of young Garvan Byrne touchingly discussing his faith, tell me: Do you think the Holy See should consider his cause?
Te Deum laudamus!: Sensus Fidelium: Should Holy See consider cause for Garvan Byrne?KORZENIEWSKI: Since seeing that video clip, especially the part where he talks about receiving his First Holy Communion, I haven't been able to get this kid out of my mind. I found myself praying to him while receiving Communion last night at a daily Mass, asking him to help me to grow in my love for the Eucharist.
Fast forward to this morning and I find myself feeling a strong sense that the Church should investigate the life of the pre-teen boy, trapped in the body of a five-year old, who shows himself to be bigger than the biggest man, and as wise as a most cherished elder.
Fast forward to this morning and I find myself feeling a strong sense that the Church should investigate the life of the pre-teen boy, trapped in the body of a five-year old, who shows himself to be bigger than the biggest man, and as wise as a most cherished elder.
Your prayers are urgently needed for Sudan...
Your Prayers are Urgently Needed for Sudan | Catholic Relief Services Newswire: South Sudan became the world’s newest nation after a referendum that was, against all odds, peaceful and orderly. It is a testimony to the power of prayer and the will of people who insisted that a peaceful future is possible for this war-torn region. You were among them. Your prayer, your advocacy and your support for peacebuilding efforts in Sudan were an essential part of the global effort that worked.
Judging another mom for working or not working? That's sooooo 1990s...
Mommy Wars Are Soooo 1990s |Blogs | NCRegister.comFULWILER: I think that if we could fast forward ten years and ask a young woman what she thinks of working moms, she'd be confused by the question. Is a "working mom" someone like her friend Jane, who has a full-time job but works mostly out of her house? Or is a working mom someone like Jill, who works in an office but has a flexible schedule that allows her to be home a lot? What about Sally, who has an online store that requires that she puts in eighty hours one week, then none for the rest of the month? Or Jessica, who teaches at a homeschool co-op but doesn't receive a paycheck? I think that this woman of the future would find that she ultimately doesn't know how to answer the question, "What do you think of working moms?", because she simply doesn't see that as being a clear, definable category of parenthood in the first place.
5 Ways to Grow Your Home Library
The Thin Veil: 5 Ways to Grow Your Home LibraryVOGT: Even though I can walk to our public library, I rarely check out books. Why? First, I'm a vicious note-taker. I fill my books with notes, underlines, quotes, and thoughts (Adler taught me this). Since libraries chafe when I return dog-eared books splattered with ink, I'm forced to buy my own.
Second, however, I value our home library. I love shelves of books lining the walls of our house. There's something about books in the home--familiar, favorite books--that completely energizes me. I could spend hours browsing them, reviewing old titles and perusing new ones.
Second, however, I value our home library. I love shelves of books lining the walls of our house. There's something about books in the home--familiar, favorite books--that completely energizes me. I could spend hours browsing them, reviewing old titles and perusing new ones.
If you do not grasp that the Resurrection is not only essential to the Christian message, but virtually all the news the Christian message has to give, you simply do not understand the Chrisian message at all...
Conversation with a Good-Natured and Confused Person |Blogs | NCRegister.comSHEA: The gospels are accurately described as “passion narratives with long introductions”. The core of the gospels is not Jesus' miracles (which, yes, are also eyewitness accounts of things which actually happened and not mere morally instructive tales), nor his parables and sayings. All these things are spokes on the wheel. They gain meaning from the hub of the wheel: namely, the fact that Jesus, who is God in human flesh, died for our sins and rose again for our justification, so that we could receive his Holy Spirit and become partakers in the divine life.
Turn down that microphone and preach from your soul! How the excessive use of microphones has hurt preaching...
xPOPE: I tried a couple years ago to float the idea that microphones have had an overall bad effect on preaching. As I recall, I was largely overruled by those who considered the idea. But let me try again.
In my own parish I largely preach without a microphone. That said, I have a large cavernous Church, built of stone and plaster and both music and voice resonate well. Only with with a fairly full church at our principle liturgy do I use a little amplification. Not only do people say they can hear better (less echo), but I also experience an energy that comes from it.
In my own parish I largely preach without a microphone. That said, I have a large cavernous Church, built of stone and plaster and both music and voice resonate well. Only with with a fairly full church at our principle liturgy do I use a little amplification. Not only do people say they can hear better (less echo), but I also experience an energy that comes from it.
A ranking of the Roman Curia's new senators...
Vatican Diary / New senators in the curia. A rankingMAGISTER: On Saturday April 21, a little more than two months after the last consistory, the new cardinals were finally assigned their positions as members of the various dicasteries of the Roman curia, the most important of which are the nine congregations.
This procedure indicates the real and specific influence of each cardinal in assisting Benedict XVI in the governance of the universal Church.
The decision to number a cardinal among the members of a dicastery belongs to the pope, but an important role in this kind of decision is played by the secretariat of state, headed by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, while more secondary and not infrequently nonexistent is the influence of the prefect of the congregation that is receiving the new appointee.
This procedure indicates the real and specific influence of each cardinal in assisting Benedict XVI in the governance of the universal Church.
The decision to number a cardinal among the members of a dicastery belongs to the pope, but an important role in this kind of decision is played by the secretariat of state, headed by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, while more secondary and not infrequently nonexistent is the influence of the prefect of the congregation that is receiving the new appointee.
One does wonder, sometimes, just what goes on at Catholic News Service...
GEORGE WEIGEL: Rosa DeLauro, CNS, and the disoriented Catholic leftWEIGEL: This past April 16, CNS distributed a lengthy interview with Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., giving her a platform to blast the 2013 federal budget proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and to badger Cardinal Timothy Dolan to pay as much attention to “the poor, the hungry, the middle class, the people who are going to be eviscerated by the Ryan budget” as Dolan and the bishops he leads are paying to the defense of religious freedom.
The bells of St. Mary's haven't been ringing for some time now...
The Vatican and the Sisters - George Weigel - National Review OnlineWEIGEL: In Chariots of Fire, two of the elders of Cambridge University invite the young Jewish runner Harold Abrahams to a formal, black-tie luncheon, during which they try to dissuade the upstart undergraduate from using a professional trainer to prepare for the forthcoming Paris Olympics. Abrahams declines to follow Oxbridge athletic orthodoxy and leaves in something of a huff. The Master of Trinity (brilliantly played by John Gielgud) sighs and says to the Master of Caius, “Another God, another mountaintop.”
Sally Quinn of the Washington Post: a lesson in getting it wrong...
Sally Quinn of WaPo: a lesson in getting it wrong. | Fr. Z's Blog – What Does The Prayer Really Say?ZUHLSDORF: Sally Quinn recently offered her stunningly shallow take on the reforming efforts now being applied to the LCWR. This is worthy of special attention not because of the increasingly cliché liberal tactic of throwing out the child abuse issue every single time the Catholic Church acts like the Catholic Church ought to act, but because the very LCWR Quinn is defending has itself cooperated in the cover-up of sexual abuse of children by women religious.
The light and shadow of the heart
Beginning to Pray: The Light and Shadow of the HeartLILLES: The heart is a place of encounter, the innermost sanctuary of the human person. What a mystery this innermost sanctuary! Although we are closest to ourselves, we understand the wilderness of our own hearts least of all. Those who explore this landscape discover endless horizons covered in light and shadows, surrounded by God whether closed against Him or opened to Him.
Can confessions be heard during Mass? Can laymen give homilies?
Questions Answered: On Confession during Mass, and homilies given by non-ordained person – Homiletic & Pastoral ReviewMULLADY: The tendency after Vatican II to describe this practice as reconciliation, but not confession or penance, is not accurate.� All three are involved with the practical use of the sacrament, and so all three terms are fittingly used for it. �Confession is one of the principal, vital experiences of the mystery of divine grace, because perseverance in one’s initial conversion of heart must be constantly strengthened, and often renewed.� Far from being a grim application of divine judgment, the celebration of this sacrament is an invitation to divine renewal.� The judgment aspect is merely the background for the spiritual healing of grace, which forms the remedy for sin, or the support for the avoidance of venial sin.�
For every principled atheist on the Internet there seems to be a thousand with serious personality disorders...
Atheists in the ComboxesMCDONALD: Atheists reserve a special contempt for traditional religion while living off its fruits. For example, there’s nothing in the observable universe to make the statement “all men are created equal” even remotely true. By the standards of materialism, based purely on observation, the very opposite is the truth. We are only able to say “all men are created equal” because of our Christian heritage, and our belief in a transcendent God in Whose image we are created.
Can you be good without God?
Can You Be Good Without God?LONGENECKER: Time and again the middle-aged Catholic mother will ask me, "I can't get my kids to go to Mass. Why don't they go to Mass anymore?"
My answer shocks them: "Your kids don't go to Mass because they don't believe the Catholic faith."
I go on to ask, "They probably think they can be good without going to Mass, right?" Nine times out of ten, they nod knowingly.
My answer shocks them: "Your kids don't go to Mass because they don't believe the Catholic faith."
I go on to ask, "They probably think they can be good without going to Mass, right?" Nine times out of ten, they nod knowingly.
Contraception has corroded society and made women less happy...
BISHOP CONLEY: The contradictions of contraceptionCONLEY: In the early 1970s, American women reported being much happier than American men did.
Since that time, social change has led to gains for women in many spheres of American life.� Women now have better access to education and employment.� Women have risen to more prominent positions of influence and power, both in the business world and in politics.� American women earn degrees at a higher rate than men.�� And, thanks to the sexual revolution, women have access to socially accepted, “risk-free” sexual activity at a higher rate than at any other time in human history.
Since that time, social change has led to gains for women in many spheres of American life.� Women now have better access to education and employment.� Women have risen to more prominent positions of influence and power, both in the business world and in politics.� American women earn degrees at a higher rate than men.�� And, thanks to the sexual revolution, women have access to socially accepted, “risk-free” sexual activity at a higher rate than at any other time in human history.
A Christian outlook on #YOLO
Truth & CharityMURPHY: Recently, students in my class have begun making comments in Twitter slang. You might think this would be annoying – what, with all the mentions of hashtags – but it’s actually fairly humorous and, truth be told, pretty effective at making them condense their thoughts into a small space. Not a bad opportunity for a new approach to gauging their understanding of a topic.
Proposed Kansas rule may force churches to host same-sex ceremonies
Proposed Kansas rule may force churches to host same-sex ceremonies :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): A proposed ordinance in Hutchinson, Kansas could force individuals and institutions – including Catholic churches – to host and participate in events that violate Church teachings on sexuality.
“As far as individuals go, there doesn't seem to be any likelihood that there will be a protection or an exemption for them,” said Kansas Catholic Conference Executive Director Michael Schuttloffel, addressing a proposal to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation in the city of Hutchinson.
“As far as individuals go, there doesn't seem to be any likelihood that there will be a protection or an exemption for them,” said Kansas Catholic Conference Executive Director Michael Schuttloffel, addressing a proposal to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation in the city of Hutchinson.
Video: "Prayer enables us to see things in a new way", says Pope Benedict at Wednesday's General Audience
Pope's General Audience: Prayer enables us to see things in a different way: In our own daily lives and decisions, may we always draw fresh spiritual breath from the two lungs of prayer and the word of God; in this way, we will respond to every challenge and situation with wisdom, understanding and fidelity to God’s will", said the Pope during the general audience.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Oh my goodness, you want to watch this child...
‘He Always Has His Arms Outstreched to Me’: May we all pray with the open heart of a child!
Is Catholicism Pagan?
Is Catholicism Pagan?LONGENECKER: The fact of the matter is, there are some elements of Catholic thought and religious practice that connect with paganism. But that does not necessarily prove a causal relationship. Just because two things are similar does not mean that one influenced the other. Furthermore, Protestants who protest at “paganism” in Catholicism will have to answer to the fact that there are “pagan elements” in the things they believe and do. Shall we equate their baptism by immersion to the “baptism” of the followers of Mithras? Shall we equate their belief in the Virgin Birth with the Virgin Birth of Horus the Egyptian deity? For that matter, is their reliance on their Holy Book make them the same as Muslims?
Denver priest ‘pulls out the big guns’ on Planned Parenthood, offers Mass on the street outside clinic
Denver priest ‘pulls out the big guns’ on Planned Parenthood: says Mass on the street outside clinic | LifeSiteNews.com: Prayerbooks, rosaries, and pro-life pamphlets are a common sight outside Planned Parenthood’s massive facility in downtown Denver, but this year, local organizers of this spring’s Forty Days for Life campaign decided that one last piece was missing to bring the light of Christ to the country’s second largest abortion facility: the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
How Confession and Eucharistic adoration changed the lives of four student-athletes
FOCUS Blog: How the sacraments changed four student-athletesROSSER: As I was walking up the stairs at Loras College on a bright September day, I saw a young man with a diamond stud in each of his ears, baggy plaid shorts, and a yellow t-shirt doing sweet tricks on his Razor scooter. I had seen Chris before. He is on the soccer team. Little did I know that in March, six months later, on a FOCUS retreat in Middle-of-Nowhere, Iowa, Chris’ actions, as well as the actions of three of his teammates, would bring my wife, Dene’, and me to joyful tears in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
Why do we yell "Geronimo" when jumping from things?
Why Do We Scream “Geronimo” When Jumping From Things? - Mental Floss: In the early 1940s, the United States Army was testing the idea of parachuting from planes as a way of deploying troops. The first group to really experiment with it and begin developing paratrooper techniques was a unit of 50 men known the Parachute Test Platoon.These guys were based out of Fort Benning, Georgia, and spent most of their summer working through grueling training sessions in the afternoon heat, wearing parachutes on their backs along with the rest of their standard gear. When training was done for the day, the troops liked to loosen up and cool down a little. Usually, most of the guys went to the air-conditioned Main Post Theatre in the evenings to see whatever movie was playing.
Take a walk through the Bible, starting with Genesis...
A Journey Through the Bible: Part 1ROSSI: A lot of people have questions about different parts of the Bible. For instance, Isn’t Genesis just another creation myth? Why does God seem angry and vengeful in the Old Testament, but loving and merciful in the New Testament? Does Eve being created from Adam’s rib mean the Bible is saying that women are inferior to men? Why does God ask Abraham to sacrifice Isaac?
Which books were included in early Christian Bibles?
Shameless Popery: Which Books Were in Early Christian Bibles?HESCHMEYER: Apparently nobody used the Protestant canon of Scripture, while the acceptance of the Deuterocanon appears to have been widespread long before the time of St. Augustine. I've included links in the accompanying chart. Feel free to double-check my work. I think it's important that we put to definitively rest this question of whether the early Christians used the Protestant Bible.
Some families are Franciscan or Ignatian in their spirituality. Other families are just winging it...
Fisher Spirituality |Blogs | NCRegister.comFISHER: Father of mercies, we ask you to bless these children, which, with some uncharacteristically poor judgement,� you have entrusted to our care.� Make them strong enough to follow your ways, kind enough to spread your love, and smart enough not to repeat what Daddy said about people with Obama bumper stickers on their cars.� Let these children be a beacon in a dark world.� Let them be a shining witness for the culture of life.� And let somebody come by with another few bushels of hand-me-downs, because the boys all grew out of their pants again last night.
Upcoming Catholic 'Fortnight for Freedom' may hamper Obama reelection bid, say observers
Protest by Catholic activists may hamper Obama reelection bid - The Hill's Healthwatch: President Obama has seen his standing among Catholic voters, a crucial segment of the electorate, slip in recent weeks, and a looming confrontation with Catholic activists could make it worse.
Democrats want voters this year to focus on what they have branded a war on women, but the flip side of the debate — the so-called war on religion — is not going away anytime soon.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops called for two weeks of public protest in June and July against what it sees as growing government encroachment on religious freedom.
Democrats want voters this year to focus on what they have branded a war on women, but the flip side of the debate — the so-called war on religion — is not going away anytime soon.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops called for two weeks of public protest in June and July against what it sees as growing government encroachment on religious freedom.
The Saddest Woman On The Internet
The Saddest Woman On The Internet |Blogs | NCRegister.comPATARCHBOLD: It has been noted by many commentators over they years that an oxymoronic singular objective of a movement dubbed "feminist" is to achieve some false notion of parity by behaving like men.
Sure, good men have certain admirable qualities that any person, regardless of gender, would do well to emulate. In the classic musical My Fair Lady, Professor Higgins comically extols these qualities while lamenting their apparent absence in women singing...
Sure, good men have certain admirable qualities that any person, regardless of gender, would do well to emulate. In the classic musical My Fair Lady, Professor Higgins comically extols these qualities while lamenting their apparent absence in women singing...
The Jewish past and the young Catholic priests...
The Jewish Past and the Young PriestsARKES: In the Jewish tradition the sacrificial lamb had to be spotless, and after the blessing and cooking it had to be eaten. Jesus was of course the new sacrificial lamb, and that is the point that makes sense of his otherwise jarring insistence that his body had to be eaten as part of the Eucharist.��
In Jewish practice, the lamb was skewered, with the wood passing “from its mouth to its buttocks.”�As one Jewish scholar observed, “the paschal lamb was offered in a manner which resembled a crucifixion.”�In Jewish ritual, also, the blessing of the bread and wine was taken to mark the real Presence of God.��
In Jewish practice, the lamb was skewered, with the wood passing “from its mouth to its buttocks.”�As one Jewish scholar observed, “the paschal lamb was offered in a manner which resembled a crucifixion.”�In Jewish ritual, also, the blessing of the bread and wine was taken to mark the real Presence of God.��
Life is like an Easter basket. Some of those bunnies are solid, and some are hollow...
Dating: Solid Bunny vs. Hollow Bunny | Catholic LaneBUONO: The highlight of every child’s Easter basket is the chocolate bunny. I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into it. I don’t know about you, but I have always preferred the solid chocolate bunny over the hollow bunny. What an utter disappointment to bite into that ear and have it shatter chocolate crumbs all over. Half the fun is the struggle to work your teeth through that solid mass of chocolate.
When we come to the service of Christ, we come to a rough profession...
St. Mark and Responding to the Rough Profession | Crisis MagazineAKERS: There is no consensus among the Fathers of the Church on whether Mark was a disciple of Christ during the Lord’s public ministry. Evidence from the New Testament and early pious legends discloses that Jesus celebrated the Last Supper in the home of Mark’s mother, Mary. It is, therefore, possible that Mark was present at the institution of the Sacraments of Holy Orders and the Eucharist—Sacraments he would one day himself receive.
A Most Tragikal Hystory of Obama...
A Most Tragikal Hystory of Obama I | Fr. Z's Blog – What Does The Prayer Really Say?ZUHLSDORF: Monday, April 23, was National Talk Like Shakespeare Day.
In honor of this day, I urge you to speak in iambic pentameter and use words like “fleer”, “prithee”, and “guerdon”.
In honor of this banner day, anniversary most auspicious, I have in the past posted some dramatic tidbits.
Here is this year’s offering.
In honor of this day, I urge you to speak in iambic pentameter and use words like “fleer”, “prithee”, and “guerdon”.
In honor of this banner day, anniversary most auspicious, I have in the past posted some dramatic tidbits.
Here is this year’s offering.
Report finds wave of immigration from Mexico to U.S. may have ended permanently
Report finds wave of Mexican immigration to U.S. has ended - latimes.com: Net migration from Mexico to the United States has come to a statistical standstill, stalling one of the most significant demographic trends of the last four decades.
Amid an economic downturn and increased enforcement at the U.S.-Mexico border, the number of Mexicans coming to the United States dropped significantly, while the number of those returning home increased sharply over the last several years, according to a report by the Pew Hispanic Center.
Amid an economic downturn and increased enforcement at the U.S.-Mexico border, the number of Mexicans coming to the United States dropped significantly, while the number of those returning home increased sharply over the last several years, according to a report by the Pew Hispanic Center.
Canadian media criticized for irresponsible 'exorcism' reporting
x: Canadian news outlets are sensationalizing an event that was not treated as demonic possession and did not prompt a search for an exorcist, according to the Diocese of Saskatoon's communications office.
Communications coordinator Kiply Yaworski told CNA that the public had been misled by “headlines that were completely false,” suggesting that an exorcism had been performed by a local priest in March.
Communications coordinator Kiply Yaworski told CNA that the public had been misled by “headlines that were completely false,” suggesting that an exorcism had been performed by a local priest in March.
Mother Maria Inés Teresa beatified in Mexico City
ZENIT - Mother Maria In�s Teresa Beatified in Mexico City: Mother Maria Inés Teresa of the Most Blessed Sacrament was beatified on Saturday in Mexico City by the prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Saints’ Causes, Cardinal Angelo Amato, who represented Pope Benedict XVI.
During the ceremony, held in the Basilica of Guadalupe, the nun, founder of the Claretian Missionaries of the Most Holy Sacrament and of the Missionaries of Christ for the universal Church, was declared blessed, the step that precedes canonization.
During the ceremony, held in the Basilica of Guadalupe, the nun, founder of the Claretian Missionaries of the Most Holy Sacrament and of the Missionaries of Christ for the universal Church, was declared blessed, the step that precedes canonization.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Clarifying certain misunderstandings about Confirmation...
Clarifying Certain Misunderstandings About Confirmation | Archdiocese of WashingtonPOPE: Yesterday we discussed a bit about baptism and some of the pastoral practices surrounding it. Today in a kind of companion piece I’d like to address some of the distortions and confusion that often surround the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Some one once said that Confirmation is the Sacrament in search of a theology. While not true, the statement does capture that there is a lot of incorrect and sometimes silly teaching about this sacrament to young people. And since it is the season for Confirmations, it may be helpful to explore what the Catechism teaches about the sacrament.
Some one once said that Confirmation is the Sacrament in search of a theology. While not true, the statement does capture that there is a lot of incorrect and sometimes silly teaching about this sacrament to young people. And since it is the season for Confirmations, it may be helpful to explore what the Catechism teaches about the sacrament.
No matter what Richard Dawkins says, science will never explain why there's something rather than nothing...
Science Will Never Explain Why There’s Something Rather Than Nothing | Cross-Check, Scientific American Blog Network: When predicting something that science will never do, it’s wise to recall the French philosopher Auguste Comte. In 1835 he asserted that science will never figure out what stars are made of. That seemed like a safe bet, but within decades astronomers started determining the chemical composition of the Sun and other stars by analyzing the spectrum of light they emitted.
Jesus Christ’s teaching for today...
Jesus Christ’s Teaching for TodayLONGENECKER: Does truth of the Catholic faith matter, and what is more important, what you do or what you believe?
This debate has come up in the comboxes on this blog in two different ways: The first is with a reader who is a Catholic but asserts that what is most important are the good works people do. Catholic belief, attendance at Mass, practicing the sacraments–all that is secondary. Better to be a good pagan than a bad Catholic.
This debate has come up in the comboxes on this blog in two different ways: The first is with a reader who is a Catholic but asserts that what is most important are the good works people do. Catholic belief, attendance at Mass, practicing the sacraments–all that is secondary. Better to be a good pagan than a bad Catholic.
Venerable Fulton Sheen?
Venerable Fulton Sheen?KANDRA: I have a confession to make.
Every Sunday, before I preach, I pray for help and guidance from three heavenly intercessors: the Virgin Mary, St. Stephen and…Archbishop Fulton Sheen.
I know people are looking for miracles to have Fulton Sheen declared a saint; the fact that I am able to do what I do every week should count as a miracle, in my book.� God knows, I’m not able to do it on my own.� The good archbishop has to be involved somehow.� I think he has a vested interest in seeing that I don’t screw up.
Every Sunday, before I preach, I pray for help and guidance from three heavenly intercessors: the Virgin Mary, St. Stephen and…Archbishop Fulton Sheen.
I know people are looking for miracles to have Fulton Sheen declared a saint; the fact that I am able to do what I do every week should count as a miracle, in my book.� God knows, I’m not able to do it on my own.� The good archbishop has to be involved somehow.� I think he has a vested interest in seeing that I don’t screw up.
Solicitude: The Second Lively Virtue
Solicitude: The Second Lively Virtue | Crisis MagazineESOLEN: Envy is a kind of small-souled reduction of pride. There is a vain glory in one who strives to be seen as preeminent among his fellows; but there is not even a vain glory in one who wishes that no one were seen to be the least bit greater than he. Envy, as Thomas Aquinas defines it, is the self-indulged sorrow at beholding the good of others, especially if that good is spiritual. My neighbor is affable; I call him a gladhander. My brother considers well before he speaks; I call him sly. My sister weeps when she sees an animal suffering; I call her a sentimentalist. My friend crosses himself and says grace before he eats his lunch in the cafeteria; I call him a religious zealot. Envy does worse than attribute vices to people who are not vicious. It grieves at the sight of their very virtues, and turns those virtues the wrong side out. Nor is there any virtue that cannot be eyed askance by the envious soul. Ask our Lord. He was a wine-tippler who cast out devils in the name of Beelzebub. So said the leering Pharisees.
Facing the dragon: Five lessons from St. George...
Facing the Dragon: Five Lessons From St. George | CatholicVote.orgSTIMPSON: If I had small boys of my own, I would spend the morning telling wild tales to them about the soldier saint—how he slew the dragon, returned from the dead three times after suffering dismemberment and fire, and (my personal favorite) managed to have milk rather than blood flow out of his severed head. Then I’d send the little guys off with tin foil swords of their own to commemorate the day as they saw fit.
Unfortunately, there are no little boys about the place, so I’ll have to content myself with telling tales here, tales about what Catholics today can learn from both the myth and the man as we face down the dragons in our souls, culture, and body politic.
Unfortunately, there are no little boys about the place, so I’ll have to content myself with telling tales here, tales about what Catholics today can learn from both the myth and the man as we face down the dragons in our souls, culture, and body politic.
Is the Rosary just “vain repetition”?
VIDEO: Is the Rosary Just “Vain Repetitions”?AKIN: We’re coming up on May–a month associated with the Virgin Mary–so here’s a new video on one of the most common objections to the rosary: the charge that it amounts to “vain repetitions,” in violation of Jesus’ command.
By the way, I’m also preparing an “interview” with John Paul II on the rosary, so if you’d like to get his wisdom on this special devotion, sign up for the Secret Information Club and on May 1st you’ll get it by email.
By the way, I’m also preparing an “interview” with John Paul II on the rosary, so if you’d like to get his wisdom on this special devotion, sign up for the Secret Information Club and on May 1st you’ll get it by email.
Awesome video: a little girl grows up before our eyes
Awesome video: a little girl grows up before our eyes: Check this out: filmmaker Frans Hofmeester captured the growth of his daughter Lotte from birth to age 12 and put it together in a time-lapse video.
Six stupid things you do in the kitchen (and how to fix them)...
The Stupid Things You Do in the Kitchen (and How to Fix Them): Love cooking or hate it, much of your time in the kitchen is likely wasted by easily correctable mistakes you probably don't even know you're making. You waste time prepping ingredients, use your knives incorrectly, mix and match the wrong utensils, and throw out food that's still good—and those are just a few of the stupid things you do in the kitchen. Here's how to fix them.
Parents: Don't delay baptism for your infants!
Parents: Don’t Delay Baptism for your Infants! | Archdiocese of WashingtonPOPE: There is a trend that has set up for years now, and that is that Catholics are waiting many months to get their children baptized. I suspect that what we have here is a combination of a much lower infant mortality rate and, also, a less fervent practice of the faith by many. Further, there seems little sense among the faithful today that an unbaptized infant would be excluded from heaven.
The Pope moves towards the SSPX and against all those radical feminist nuns. The old ‘reactionary’ back again? No. Those liberal clichés are as silly as ever they were...
The pope moves towards the SSPX and against all those radical feminist nuns. The old ‘reactionary’ back again? No: those liberal clich�s are as silly as ever they were | CatholicHerald.co.ukODDIE: Last week, rather to my surprise, Pope Benedict became, at 85, the oldest pope in the last 110 years. He is, furthermore, one of only six to reign past 85 in the last 500 years. Last week was an interesting week for him: if you had just reported it as though the last seven years hadn’t happened, it might have been taken as a confirmation of what many expected on his election: that he would be, in the words of one commentator, a “ruthless enforcer” of orthodoxy.
There is no better way of keeping our kids Catholic than by putting them in Catholic schools...
Keeping the Faith � The Gospel in the Digital AgeDOLAN: I was not that surprised to read it, were you?
The Wall Street Journal a couple of weeks ago had a fine piece by Peter Beinart, very effectively making the point that, if Jews in the United States are worried about their children and grandchildren keeping the faith – - and are they ever worried! – - well, the best course of action is to support Jewish grade and high schools.
The Wall Street Journal a couple of weeks ago had a fine piece by Peter Beinart, very effectively making the point that, if Jews in the United States are worried about their children and grandchildren keeping the faith – - and are they ever worried! – - well, the best course of action is to support Jewish grade and high schools.
I gave up TV for Lent this year. It turned out to be a remarkably pain-free sacrifice...
The American Spectator : Life After TelevisionORLET: Lent has come and gone, but I have chosen to maintain my self-imposed ban on television -- in perpetuity. True, I was not much of a couch potato to begin with, being one of those rare modern curiosities, a middle-aged man who does not give a rip about sports. As a result of this endearing eccentricity, I never felt the need to subscribe to cable or dish or to plunk down $5,000 for one of those 55-inch HD plasma jobs, which made it all the more easy to walk away from the set and never look back.
“60 Minutes” on Christians in the Holy Land
“60 Minutes” on Christians in the Holy LandKANDRA: The exodus from the Holy Land of Palestinian Christians could eventually leave holy cities like Jerusalem and Bethlehem without a local Christian population. Why are they leaving? “60 Minutes” Sunday night found some compelling answers in a report by Bob Simon that offered a look at a subject that doesn’t get a lot of attention on broadcast television.
It's safe to assume that it ain't what it seems...
Pittsburgh Catholic Newspaper - ColumnistsZUBIK: Here’s one thing you can count on: I promise to try never to use a social communications device in the wrong place at the wrong time. At the same time, I also promise to try to avoid the rush to judgment and to try with every fiber of my faith and being to always “interpret everything in the most favorable light.” Because the one thing I continue to learn as a sinner, when I, when we rush to judgment, all too often “it ain’t what it seems.”
Video: Catholic blogger Jennifer Fulwiler on EWTN's Life on the Rock
Life on the Rock - 4-19-12 - Jennifer Fulwiler - Conversion Diary - YouTube: EWTN's popular show features Jennifer Fulwiler of Conversion Diary and the National Catholic Register.
Chuck Colson's prison ministry was a model for how Christians should engage with political issues...
Charles Colson, R.I.P. - NYTimes.comDOUTHAT: We only have two parties in America, and to be active in politics inevitably requires identifying with one more than the other, and probably becoming directly involved with one or the other as well. But given how unlikely it seems that a political party in a fallen world would have a platform that comports precisely with God’s intentions for human affairs, any serious Christian should assume that there are places where his or her party is getting some important issue wrong, or at the very least giving it insufficient attention.
What Mother Angelica taught me about radical faith...
What Mother Angelica Taught Me About Radical Faith |Blogs | NCRegister.comFULWILER: Last week I visited the EWTN headquarters in Alabama for a taping of Life on the Rock. It was the week of Mother Angelica's birthday, and as I walked around the campus of the international network, I thought a lot about its indefatigable founder. A few months before, I had read Raymond Arroyo's masterpiece biography, Mother Angelica: The Remarkable Story of a Nun, Her Nerve, and a Network of Miracles; the stories from the book floated to mind over and over again during my trip. I would look around at the sprawling campus, which was dotted with satellite dishes that transmit EWTN programming to over 100 million households in 127 countries, and it was almost impossible to believe that this was all started by one nun with no money and no media experience.
Should Confirmation and Communion be given to infants?
Should Confirmation and First Eucharist be given to infants? | The New Theological MovementERLENBUSH: The common practice in the East of giving both Confirmation and Eucharist to infants immediately upon their baptism occasionally causes Catholics of the Latin Rite to question whether such a practice ought to be adopted also in the West.
Especially now that, at least in the USA, a number of dioceses have lowered the age for Confirmation to seven, some individuals would like to see the age for both Confirmation and First Eucharist lowered to infancy.
Especially now that, at least in the USA, a number of dioceses have lowered the age for Confirmation to seven, some individuals would like to see the age for both Confirmation and First Eucharist lowered to infancy.
Whispers in the Loggia is seldom open for comments, but today is an exception. So tell us: how do Catholic blogs, Twitter, and Facebook affect your life?
Whispers in the Loggia: On the MediaPALMO: Much as eight years at the desk has made for its fair share of findings, lessons, pitfalls and memories, the sum total is still only one guy’s experience. Part of the exercise of these days, meanwhile, is to lay out what the tools of our time, many as they are, can and do bring to ministry and church life in the trenches.
Ergo, church of all stripes, pray tell: what does all this stuff -- blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblrs, etc. -- do for you? How do they help on the ground? When are they at their best (and, indeed, their worst)? What more could they do to live up to their highest potential? Or, conversely, what difference would it make if they all just up and vanished?
Ergo, church of all stripes, pray tell: what does all this stuff -- blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblrs, etc. -- do for you? How do they help on the ground? When are they at their best (and, indeed, their worst)? What more could they do to live up to their highest potential? Or, conversely, what difference would it make if they all just up and vanished?
Socialist François Hollande edges closer to French presidency, while far-right candidate Le Pen shows 'unprecedented' surge...
French Elections: Hollande Wins First Round, But Far-Right Le Pen Scores ‘Unprecedented’ Showing - International Business Times: After placing second in the first round of France’s presidential election, the incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy will likely seek to siphon off votes from the extreme right wing, whose candidate, Marine Len Pen, scored an impressive vote tally herself, placing third.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Google Street View launches amazing new imagery of Jerusalem. Explore the Old City, walk the Via Dolorosa, visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Mount of Olives...
Exploring Jerusalem’s Old City streets with Street View | Official Google Blog: To help you explore Israel’s history and present, we’ve launched imagery of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv-Jaffa and Haifa on Street View. You can explore the narrow streets of Jerusalem’s Old City and each of its four quarters, walk along the Via Dolorosa and see the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, visit the Western Wall and the Mount of Olives. You can stop by the Biblical Zoo, then visit the Israel Museum and the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum—and explore more with the Art Project and the Yad Vashem photo archive. Or you can stroll through Tel Aviv’s bohemian Neve Tzedek neighborhood and the ancient port of Jaffa, and take a virtual trip to some of Tel Aviv’s scenic beaches or to Haifa’s Baha’i Gardens.
What I tell my altar servers...
What I Tell My Altar ServersLONGENECKER: You’re not really employed to be useful. You’re employed to help lead the worship. As long as you understand that, everything else that we teach you will follow. You see, all of us work together to lead the people of God in the worship of God — it’s not just the priest and deacons. I rely on you not just to do those particular jobs. Instead, I rely on you for something far greater and nobler and more beautiful and more true.
The 10 best Catholic blog titles...
The Guild of Blessed Titus Brandsma: The ten best Catholic blog titles: The ten that I have chosen are, I underline, all my own selection. The fact that several of them are GOBTB members should not surprise anybody. The Guild does attract membership from some very distinguished bloggers, present company excepted.
So here they are, the plain and the enigmatic, if you wish to produce a list of your own then, please add a post on this site if you are a member, or post your list on your own site if not (or, become a member of the Guild, it's easy).
So here they are, the plain and the enigmatic, if you wish to produce a list of your own then, please add a post on this site if you are a member, or post your list on your own site if not (or, become a member of the Guild, it's easy).
Is this a case of mental illness or demonic possession? The bishop in Saskatoon can't tell, so he's consulting experts in the Diocese of Calgary...
Exorcism claim has church looking for help | Canada | News | London Free Press: Calgary’s Catholic diocese is working in mysterious ways with counterparts in Saskatoon who don’t have the means to investigate claims of demonic possession.
A Catholic priest in Saskatoon attended to one man who had carved the word “Hell” on his chest last month.
According to a CBC report, the man addressed the priest in a strange voice saying, “He belongs to me. Get out of here.”
The priest blessed the man, called police and took the case back to his diocese.
A Catholic priest in Saskatoon attended to one man who had carved the word “Hell” on his chest last month.
According to a CBC report, the man addressed the priest in a strange voice saying, “He belongs to me. Get out of here.”
The priest blessed the man, called police and took the case back to his diocese.
Answering five common Protestant objections to the Sacrament of Confession...
A Catholic Responds – Five Common Protestant Objections to the Sacrament of Confession : The Integrated Catholic LifeBICKERSTAFF: In discussing the Catholic faith with non-Catholics, the doctrine concerning confessing one’s sins to a priest often arises. Indeed, in my experience, the Sacrament of Reconciliation ranks right up there with Marian Dogmas among the Church’s teachings that prompt the most questions from those inquiring about the Catholic Faith. The following objections to the doctrine are those about which I am most often asked to respond.
How to open your heart to the world...
Beginning to Pray: Opening our Hearts to the WordLILLES: How does the mystery of the Risen Lord, the Word of the Father, become part of one's own life? This question reveals the beautiful paradox that lives in God's work in our humanity and in our humanity's grace filled effort in God. Such questions point us to the great mystery - the Word made flesh.
John of the Cross points to this answer in his work Ascent to Mt. Carmel, Book I, Chapter 13. He teaches that if we really want to encounter the Lord, if we really want to find Him, we must resolve first of all to imitate Him in all things. Then, he explains, if we are to be successful in our imitation, we must also carefully study the life of Christ out of devotion to Him.
John of the Cross points to this answer in his work Ascent to Mt. Carmel, Book I, Chapter 13. He teaches that if we really want to encounter the Lord, if we really want to find Him, we must resolve first of all to imitate Him in all things. Then, he explains, if we are to be successful in our imitation, we must also carefully study the life of Christ out of devotion to Him.
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