Jesus movies and anti-Semitism – CRUXGREYDANUS: If Pope John Paul II really said “It is as it was” after a private screening of Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ,” as John Allen and others reported at the time, it wasn’t the first papal accolade of a Jesus movie. Franco Zeffirelli’s “Jesus of Nazareth” was screened for Pope Paul VI — and Paul VI praised the film, not in a private comment, but in a public address on Palm Sunday prior to the miniseries’ Holy Week debut on Italian television.
“Tonight,” the pope declared, “you are going to see an example of the fine use which can be made of the new means of communication that God is offering man.”
Monday, February 29, 2016
St. Oswald is the only saint whose feast is celebrated every four years on Leap Day
What Goes Around Comes Around: The Brigadoon Feast of St. OswaldBECKER: Intervals matter. Like when I return to the hospital every January for clinicals with my nursing students after an eight-month absence. I look forward to the levity and celebratory vibe as the staff and I reconnect. “Haven’t seen you for a while!” the nurses and aides will say, and “Where’ve you been hiding?” Then the catching up begins: who’s new, who’s got a new title, who’s moved on to different floors or facilities, and baby pictures – always new babies to ooh and aah over. Pretty soon, the novelty of my return with new students wears off, and it’s business as usual week after week – until the end of April and the semester’s conclusion, when we disappear again and the whole sequence repeats the following January.
The curious connection between Our Lady of Guadalupe and Christopher Columbus
Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Impossible Providential Connection to Christopher Columbus: Most Catholics are familiar with “Our Lady of Guadalupe” and most know the story of the great miracle of Juan Diego’s cloak often called a”tilma”.
The tilma miraculously transformed into a “painted” image of the Virgin Mary right before the eyes of the astounded Catholic Bishop in Mexico. For those familiar with the story it is �understood that the image was not “painted by human hands” but rather was supernaturally created by God.
This great miracle brings us to either an extraordinarily providential sign from the heavens or�an impossible coincidence. �I like to think it is a great sign from God.
We all learned in elementary school the name of the ships that brought Christopher Columbus and his crew to the “New World”. � Columbus’ fleet was made up of �three ships called “Pinta”, Nina, �and the “Santa Maria”. �Again we all know this but how many of us contemplate on the literal translation of the boat’s names.
The tilma miraculously transformed into a “painted” image of the Virgin Mary right before the eyes of the astounded Catholic Bishop in Mexico. For those familiar with the story it is �understood that the image was not “painted by human hands” but rather was supernaturally created by God.
This great miracle brings us to either an extraordinarily providential sign from the heavens or�an impossible coincidence. �I like to think it is a great sign from God.
We all learned in elementary school the name of the ships that brought Christopher Columbus and his crew to the “New World”. � Columbus’ fleet was made up of �three ships called “Pinta”, Nina, �and the “Santa Maria”. �Again we all know this but how many of us contemplate on the literal translation of the boat’s names.
Only 3 Christians among 651 Syrian refugees admitted to U.S. since Paris attacks
Only 3 Christians Among 651 Syrian Refugees Admitted to U.S. Since Paris Attacks: The government has admitted 651 Syrian refugees into the United States since Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS/ISIL) terrorists attacked Paris last November, three of whom (0.46 percent) are Christians.
The three, all male, are a Greek Orthodox, an Orthodox adherent and one person described in data from the State Department Refugee Processing Center simply as “Christian.”
Muslims make up 647 of the 651 Syrian refugees--or 99 percent of the total.
The three, all male, are a Greek Orthodox, an Orthodox adherent and one person described in data from the State Department Refugee Processing Center simply as “Christian.”
Muslims make up 647 of the 651 Syrian refugees--or 99 percent of the total.
Are only Catholics going to Heaven?
Are Only Catholics Going to Heaven?SAMMONS: Our parish was holding an "inquiry meeting" in which parishioners could come and ask any question about Catholicism that they might have. We had been holding these meetings for a few years, and my experience in leading these sessions told me that the questions could cover a wide range of topics. But I remember one night in particular. The meeting had gone on for some time, and a woman ("Maria") had been sitting near the back, listening but not participating. Near the end, I asked if there were any more questions. Maria hesitated, then slowly raised her hand. She softly asked,
"I was wondering, do only Catholics go to heaven?"
"I was wondering, do only Catholics go to heaven?"
Fr. Augustine Tolton: America’s first black priest
Fr. Augustine Tolton: America’s First Black PriestTURLEY: At night the river looked deeper than ever as the woman rowed across it with her three small children. That was dangerous enough but they were being pursued. They were being shot at. They were fleeing for their lives.
The Civil War had just begun. The woman and her children were slaves. They had fled Missouri and were crossing over into the Northern state of Illinois, and to freedom. That night, the woman evaded her pursuers. When she landed on the northern bank of the river she pulled her children to their knees and prayed: ‘Now, you are free; never forget the goodness of the Lord‘. And, with that, one of her children, Augustine Tolton, later to become the first African-American to be ordained priest, was ‘freed’.
The Civil War had just begun. The woman and her children were slaves. They had fled Missouri and were crossing over into the Northern state of Illinois, and to freedom. That night, the woman evaded her pursuers. When she landed on the northern bank of the river she pulled her children to their knees and prayed: ‘Now, you are free; never forget the goodness of the Lord‘. And, with that, one of her children, Augustine Tolton, later to become the first African-American to be ordained priest, was ‘freed’.
The saint who helped start a war
The Saint Who Helped Start a War | catholicsaintsguyONEEL: Auguste Chapdelaine was born on February 6, 1814, in the tiny northwestern French village of La Rochelle-Normande.
Not much is known of his early life other than that his family were farmers, he was strong, and for this reason his parents were reluctant to “lose” him to the priesthood since they needed able-bodied people to work their land, especially as they grew older.
Ironically, it was the sudden death of two of his brothers that made his parents realize God’s calling for their youngest, and so they submitted to His will. Auguste entered the minor seminary at age 20.
Not much is known of his early life other than that his family were farmers, he was strong, and for this reason his parents were reluctant to “lose” him to the priesthood since they needed able-bodied people to work their land, especially as they grew older.
Ironically, it was the sudden death of two of his brothers that made his parents realize God’s calling for their youngest, and so they submitted to His will. Auguste entered the minor seminary at age 20.
This is the first face astronauts will see after a year in space
This Is The First Face Astronauts Will See After a Year in Space | TIME: In the event you ever find yourself returning to Earth aboard a Soyuz spacecraft, there are surely a lot of faces you’ll want to see when you land. The first one you will see, however, will belong to Sergei Georgievich Malikhov. And you should be very, very glad about that.
Malikhov, 60, is head of search and rescue operations for Energia RSC—the Russian company that builds both the Soyuz spacecraft and the Soyuz rocket—and is the incongruously jolly, incongruously grandfatherly man to whom a SWAT team-like force of helicopter pilots, all-terrain vehicle drivers and rescue workers are answerable on reentry days in the Kazakh steppe. If things go wrong or if things go right, it’s all on Malikhov’s watch—and on Malikhov’s head. That will be the case again on the morning of March 3, when astronaut Scott Kelly and cosmonaut Misha Kornienko return from a year in space, along with Sergey Volkov, who has been up for six months.
Malikhov, 60, is head of search and rescue operations for Energia RSC—the Russian company that builds both the Soyuz spacecraft and the Soyuz rocket—and is the incongruously jolly, incongruously grandfatherly man to whom a SWAT team-like force of helicopter pilots, all-terrain vehicle drivers and rescue workers are answerable on reentry days in the Kazakh steppe. If things go wrong or if things go right, it’s all on Malikhov’s watch—and on Malikhov’s head. That will be the case again on the morning of March 3, when astronaut Scott Kelly and cosmonaut Misha Kornienko return from a year in space, along with Sergey Volkov, who has been up for six months.
The abandoned old Catholic churches sprinkled around Hong Kong
The abandoned churches of Sai Kung: how Italian missionaries established Hakka congregations in Hong Kong | South China Morning Post: Italian priests were once a common sight in what is now Sai Kung Country Park, tramping between Hakka villages, ministering to the spiritual needs of an enthusiastic flock. Few traces remain of the missionaries, however, except for a handful of small churches, some abandoned, concealed in the farthest reaches of the countryside.
For more than a century, devout young men from the Seminary of Foreign Missions of Milan (now the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions) walked for mile upon mile along country paths to administer mass, or conduct a wedding or funeral.
It all started 150 years ago, on Pentecost Sunday 1866, when the first residents of the area were baptised by Father Gaetano Origo in Sai Kung, when what is now the town was a small, remote village on the southern periphery of the Qing empire. The missionaries set up a school and church (which was in use until 1959) in the village, near the Tin Hau Temple, as a base from which to access the small Hakka settlements dotted over the southern part of the Sai Kung Peninsula. To reach Sai Kung in the first place, they would have had to either take a five-hour junk ride from Hong Kong Island or hike across the mountains from Kowloon.
For more than a century, devout young men from the Seminary of Foreign Missions of Milan (now the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions) walked for mile upon mile along country paths to administer mass, or conduct a wedding or funeral.
It all started 150 years ago, on Pentecost Sunday 1866, when the first residents of the area were baptised by Father Gaetano Origo in Sai Kung, when what is now the town was a small, remote village on the southern periphery of the Qing empire. The missionaries set up a school and church (which was in use until 1959) in the village, near the Tin Hau Temple, as a base from which to access the small Hakka settlements dotted over the southern part of the Sai Kung Peninsula. To reach Sai Kung in the first place, they would have had to either take a five-hour junk ride from Hong Kong Island or hike across the mountains from Kowloon.
The new popularity of adult coloring books could be a great opportunity for Catholic artists
New Liturgical Movement: Adult Coloring Books - A Business and An Evangelization Opportunity for Catholic Artists?: My brother sent me a link to this article on the MPR website. This story seems to be getting around - it was on the New Yorker website too! It seems that there is a new trend of adults buying coloring books for themselves. Within a couple of years this has gone from nowhere to sales of millions, yes millions, of books. The top sellers are based upon intricate line drawings of decorative arrangements, with flora and scenes from fantasies that stimulate the imagination.
Spam is nothing new. Here’s how junk mail looked in the 19th century...
Junk mail is nothing new. - Junk mail is nothing new.: The mid- to late-nineteenth century saw the beginnings of advertising agencies (most, at first, simply placing newspaper ads for their clients), of compiled mailing lists and pre-printed labels . . . and of junk mail fishing for fresh, new contacts. For a variety of reasons, the first junk mail (targeted mail, generic mail . . . take your pick) went to and through local postmasters. Small town postmasters knew anybody and everybody in town, knew their businesses, knew their interests, knew their foibles. Much such mail was addressed directly to the postmaster, asking him to pass it along to someone in town likely to be interested in the product. Other mail, addressed to "The Leading (Teacher / Grocer / Doctor / you name it)" in town also bore a side note to the postmaster asking him to re-direct it to somebody else likely to be interested, if appropriate.
Cardinal Pell: I was not a part of Church's 'indefensible' cover-up
Cardinal Pell: I was not a part of Church's 'indefensible' cover up :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): On the first day of his video testimony to Australia's Royal Commission investigating institutional responses to child sex abuse cases, Cardinal George Pell said that while the Church has made “enormous mistakes” in the handling of abuse cases, he had no role in covering them up.
“Let me just say this as an initial clarification: I'm not here to defend the indefensible,” Cardinal Pell said during the hearing.
The Church “has made enormous mistakes and is working to remedy those,” he admitted, adding that in many places, and certainly in Australia, the Church “has mucked things up, has let people down.”
“Let me just say this as an initial clarification: I'm not here to defend the indefensible,” Cardinal Pell said during the hearing.
The Church “has made enormous mistakes and is working to remedy those,” he admitted, adding that in many places, and certainly in Australia, the Church “has mucked things up, has let people down.”
Oscar-winning “Spotlight” producer tells Pope Francis to “protect the children”
Oscar-winning “Spotlight” Producer Tells Pope to “Protect the Children” |Blogs | NCRegister.comDESMOND: At the Oscars last night, “Spotlight”, the critically-acclaimed film about the Boston Globe's investigation of clergy sexual abuse of children, won Best Picture.
“This film gave a voice to survivors and this Oscar amplifies that voice which we hope will become a choir that will resonate all the way to the Vatican,” said producer Michael Sugar, who accepted the award with his co-producers. “Pope Francis, it is time to protect the children and restore the faith.”
That message will resonate with Catholics across the nation. They have been deeply shocked by the cascading series of revelations regarding the problem of clergy sexual abuse and administrative cover-ups that surfaced in the wake of the Globe's exposé.
“This film gave a voice to survivors and this Oscar amplifies that voice which we hope will become a choir that will resonate all the way to the Vatican,” said producer Michael Sugar, who accepted the award with his co-producers. “Pope Francis, it is time to protect the children and restore the faith.”
That message will resonate with Catholics across the nation. They have been deeply shocked by the cascading series of revelations regarding the problem of clergy sexual abuse and administrative cover-ups that surfaced in the wake of the Globe's exposé.
Physical breviary vs. iBreviary: How is a person to pray?
Physical Breviary vs. iBreviary: How is a Person to Pray? | Philip KosloskiKOSLOSKI: When a relative has passed away from this life, I have become the recipient of many old and worn hand missals. Some are more than 100 years old and are breaking at the seams. On occasion I will use them and pray with something that has been prayed with for decades. It gives me a beautiful connection with my relatives and reminds me of their own faith. I hope one day to pass on my breviaries and hand missals to my own children, who I hope will be inspired by them. They will see a prayer book that has been thoroughly used over the years and hopefully will pick-it-up to pray. I simply can not do that with my phone; it only lasts for 3 years at most.
Felix Bissextilis!
Felix Bissextilis! | Fr. Z's BlogZUHLSDORF: In 46 BC, on the advice of the Alexandrian astronomer Sosigenes, G. Iulius Caesar created a calendar system that added one day every four years to make up for the fact that the Earth’s year is slightly more than 365 days. The Earth circle the Sun in slightly more time than it takes for the Earth to rotate 365 times (365.24219). Calendar years with 365 drift from the actual year by about 1 day every 4 years.� After a while the month named after Caesar, July occur during the winter (in the Northern hemisphere).
Caesar’s Julian Calendar was maintained until 1582 when Pope Gregory XIII determined that in his Gregorian Calendar leap days would not occur in years ending in 00, unless the year is divisible by 400.
Caesar’s Julian Calendar was maintained until 1582 when Pope Gregory XIII determined that in his Gregorian Calendar leap days would not occur in years ending in 00, unless the year is divisible by 400.
The stunning beauty of braided rivers
The Stunning Beauty of Braided Rivers | Amusing Planet: Most rivers flow in one broad channel of water, but some rivers split into lots of small channels that continually split and join each other to give a braided appearance. These are called braided rivers.
Braided rivers are usually wide but shallow. They typically form on fairly steep slopes and carry large amount of coarse-grained sediments. When the river’s flow decreases, these sediments get deposited on the river bed leaving behind small temporary islands of sands that cause the river’s channel to split. Aside from a steep gradient and abundance of sediments, a variable water discharge rate is essential to their formation. Consequently, braided rivers exist near mountainous regions, especially those with glaciers. Braided channels are also found in environments that dramatically decrease channel depth, and hence channel velocity, such as river deltas, alluvial fans and peneplains.
Braided rivers are usually wide but shallow. They typically form on fairly steep slopes and carry large amount of coarse-grained sediments. When the river’s flow decreases, these sediments get deposited on the river bed leaving behind small temporary islands of sands that cause the river’s channel to split. Aside from a steep gradient and abundance of sediments, a variable water discharge rate is essential to their formation. Consequently, braided rivers exist near mountainous regions, especially those with glaciers. Braided channels are also found in environments that dramatically decrease channel depth, and hence channel velocity, such as river deltas, alluvial fans and peneplains.
What it's like to freefall from 20 miles above the Earth
What It's Like To Freefall From 20 Miles Above The Earth : NPR: Before NASA had its Mercury 7 astronauts, the Air Force was launching its own team into the stratosphere — in balloons.
Without the glamour or budget of NASA, these early space scientists and test pilots performed extreme experiments that helped pave the way for the Mercury crew. Among them was Captain Joseph Kittinger, who in 1960 stepped from his balloon into free fall from 103,000 feet above the ground — nearly 20 miles.
Without the glamour or budget of NASA, these early space scientists and test pilots performed extreme experiments that helped pave the way for the Mercury crew. Among them was Captain Joseph Kittinger, who in 1960 stepped from his balloon into free fall from 103,000 feet above the ground — nearly 20 miles.
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Did Paul VI approve of Congo nuns using the Pill? Does it matter if he didn’t?
Did Paul VI approve of Congo nuns using the Pill? Does it matter if he didn’t? | Catholic World Report - Global Church news and viewsJANETSMITH: I find the insistence in some quarters that Pope Paul VI never approved the use of contraception by nuns in the Congo in danger of being raped to be curious. It is not a claim I made in my article Contraception, Congo Nuns, Choosing the Lesser Evil, and Conflict of Commandments, but I nonetheless wanted to consult the sources at my disposal to see what if any light they could shed on the matter.
Let me clear the ground first. What is at stake here? Is it important that we establish whether or not Paul VI approved?
What is at stake?
Not much, so far as I can see.
Let me clear the ground first. What is at stake here? Is it important that we establish whether or not Paul VI approved?
What is at stake?
Not much, so far as I can see.
How a few Trappist monks came to brew the world's most exclusive beer
How a Few Trappist Monks Came to Brew the World's Most Exclusive Beer | ChurchPOPMILLEGAN: The place is remote and hard to get to. Public transportation from the nearest major city can take up to 9 hours. Even if you drive yourself, you’re forced to navigate unmarked and unpaved roads. When you arrive, you may find long lines of anxious and tired travelers who are known to sometimes break out into fist fights.
Nonetheless, “once you’re there,” wrote one person who braved the trip, “it’s like arriving at some mythical place.”
What is this special location? It’s none other than the Trappist Abbey of St. Sixtus in Vleteren, Belgium. And most of those who make the difficult pilgrimage aren’t looking for spiritual guidance, but to seek a taste of an elusive drink: Westvleteren 12, the world’s most sought-after beer.
Nonetheless, “once you’re there,” wrote one person who braved the trip, “it’s like arriving at some mythical place.”
What is this special location? It’s none other than the Trappist Abbey of St. Sixtus in Vleteren, Belgium. And most of those who make the difficult pilgrimage aren’t looking for spiritual guidance, but to seek a taste of an elusive drink: Westvleteren 12, the world’s most sought-after beer.
Rare jewel: Earth-like planets may be very rare
Rare Jewel: Earth-like Planets May Be Very Rare - Community in Mission : Community in MissionPOPE: I have written a good bit over the years about what is known as the “Rare Earth” Hypothesis. A recent blog on discovermagazine.com ponders how high the odds are against the existence of another Earth-like planet. More on that in a moment. But first let’s review some of the basics of the Rare Earth Hypothesis.
While most people, including most scientists, believe that there may be billions of inhabitable planets out there a capable of sustaining complex life, the Rare Earth Hypothesis suggests that such a large number is overstated.
While most people, including most scientists, believe that there may be billions of inhabitable planets out there a capable of sustaining complex life, the Rare Earth Hypothesis suggests that such a large number is overstated.
7 reasons this Catholic mom loves homeschooling her children
7 Reasons This Catholic Mom LOVES Homeschooling Her Children | ChurchPOPSPENCER: My husband and I have planned to homeschool our children from very early in our dating relationship. We had both been sent to traditional schools, him all Catholic schools, and me public and then Catholic high school. We felt we could give our children a fuller and more Catholic education than we received by homeschooling them.
With our oldest in first grade, this year is our first year of our self designed curriculum, picking and choosing our own books, filling in the gaps with other resources. Overall, it has been going great and worth the daily challenges of combining teaching my children with mothering the littler children, and home making.
With our oldest in first grade, this year is our first year of our self designed curriculum, picking and choosing our own books, filling in the gaps with other resources. Overall, it has been going great and worth the daily challenges of combining teaching my children with mothering the littler children, and home making.
No, the Apollo 10 astronauts didn't hear ‘Alien music’ behind the Moon
No, the Apollo 10 Astronauts Didn’t Hear ‘Alien Music’ Behind the Moon | TIME: There are two ways to try to get attention on the science blogs and in the space nerd circuit: One, claim that there’s a deep, unexplained secret NASA is keeping about an alien encounter during the Apollo era. Or two, don’t claim that there’s a deep, unexplained secret NASA is keeping about an alien encounter during the Apollo era. Which do you think gets you more attention?
If you didn’t have to puzzle too hard over that one, you probably aren’t surprised at all by the attention being paid to a late-breaking, “newly declassified” story that the Apollo 10 astronauts heard alien music through their headsets when they were on the far side of the moon in 1969 and kept the story buried all these years.
If you didn’t have to puzzle too hard over that one, you probably aren’t surprised at all by the attention being paid to a late-breaking, “newly declassified” story that the Apollo 10 astronauts heard alien music through their headsets when they were on the far side of the moon in 1969 and kept the story buried all these years.
Thank God for the Boston Globe. Thank God for ‘Spotlight’
Spotlight: Film for the Year of MercyLOPEZ: I watched Spotlight, the movie about the Boston Globe’s investigative reporting that uncovered a clerical-abuse scandal in the Catholic Church, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan one Sunday morning after Mass this fall. I went right after a morning Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. I cried watching that movie.
I looked around and saw sorrow. I couldn’t help wondering if someone around me had been hurt by someone who professed to be a man of God. As a member of the body of Christ, which is what the Church is, I wanted to embrace her or him, a son of God, a daughter of God, a brother or sister in Christ. I wanted everyone there to hear the words of Pope Francis during a Mass with people who had been abused by priests in Ireland, Britain, and Germany: “Before God and his people I express my sorrow for the sins and grave crimes of clerical sexual abuse committed against you. And I humbly ask forgiveness.”
I looked around and saw sorrow. I couldn’t help wondering if someone around me had been hurt by someone who professed to be a man of God. As a member of the body of Christ, which is what the Church is, I wanted to embrace her or him, a son of God, a daughter of God, a brother or sister in Christ. I wanted everyone there to hear the words of Pope Francis during a Mass with people who had been abused by priests in Ireland, Britain, and Germany: “Before God and his people I express my sorrow for the sins and grave crimes of clerical sexual abuse committed against you. And I humbly ask forgiveness.”
St. Gregory of Narek, the Armenian mystic
St. Gregory of Narek – The Armenian Mystic | TOM PERNAPERNA: St. Gregory of Narek was born around the year 950 A.D. into an ecclesiastical family of scholars. Khosrov, an archbishop, was his father. At the death of his mother, his cousin, Anania of Narek, who also founded the monastery and the school in Narek, educated him. At a very young age, St. Gregory entered the monastery, which was located on the southeast shore of Lake Van in Vaspurakan in Greater Armenia (now Turkey). He nearly lived his entire life in the monastery. The monastery was destroyed during the Armenian Genocide in 1915.
Glimpsing God’s grace Off Broadway
Glimpsing God’s Grace Off Broadway | Classical Catholic EducationLANGLEY: Last weekend my wife, Stephanie, and I found ourselves sitting in the Manhattan Theater Club on West 55th Street in New York City.
Why?
Well, to watch John Patrick Shanley’s (of Tony, Academy Award, and Pulitzer Prize fame) latest Off-Broadway hit about my wife’s parents! Why else!?!
To tell you the truth, I still haven’t quite assimilated the reality of the experience. You see, it is not often that I go to New York City. (I have been there once before). It is not often that I see a Broadway show, or an Off-Broadway show, or even an Off-Off-Broadway show.
Call me a Philistine, but I will just go ahead and admit that I have never seen a show in New York. Not until last weekend that is!
Why?
Well, to watch John Patrick Shanley’s (of Tony, Academy Award, and Pulitzer Prize fame) latest Off-Broadway hit about my wife’s parents! Why else!?!
To tell you the truth, I still haven’t quite assimilated the reality of the experience. You see, it is not often that I go to New York City. (I have been there once before). It is not often that I see a Broadway show, or an Off-Broadway show, or even an Off-Off-Broadway show.
Call me a Philistine, but I will just go ahead and admit that I have never seen a show in New York. Not until last weekend that is!
Of the people, by the people, for the people—more or less
Of the People, By the People, For the People, More or Less | Francis X. Maier | First ThingsMAIER: In an election year when reality seems as remote as a Pluto flyby; a year already marked by bombastic promises of walls, jobs, “a future to believe in” and free stuff for everybody, maybe we should take a quick break from the narcoleptic snooze imposed on us by the mass media. And maybe we should use the salvaged time to check the estimated wealth of the persons who are vying to be our president. Candidates seeking to serve the American people should (presumably) have some sense of the struggles of ordinary Americans.
We need to understand the limits of science, know the first principles, and embrace wonder and awe
These Thy Atoms : The Integrated Catholic Life™TRASANCOS: True to the late Fr. Jaki’s dictum, I am a thorough materialist. I see nature as a system of interacting matter and forces. My four-year-old son has apparently acquired my enthusiasm. He heard me say that everything is made of atoms, and he took that idea seriously and pervasively. “Mom, are trees atoms? Mom, is my arm atoms? Wait. Am I eating atoms?” Those questions were soon followed with, “Move! I have to pee atoms!” To my knowledge, there is no historical record of the young Leucippus or Democritus asking such questions of their mothers in ancient Greece, but it seems reasonable to assume they may have pondered the implications of particles in their daily lives too. It is only natural that we inquire about the elemental inputs (and outputs) of our physical existence.
Mercy and patience now, but sooner or later judgment must come
Mercy and Patience Now, but Sooner or Later Judgment Must Come – A Homily for the Third Sunday of Lent - Community in Mission : Community in MissionPOPE: Do you see how much God has done for us? He has graced us in every way. He has entrusted to the Church, in answer to her pleas, every necessary grace to bear fruit. And now He patiently awaits. He looks to return again to seek the fruits that are necessary for those who claim to have saving faith, fruits that are necessary to be able to endure the day of His coming, fruits that are necessary for us to have the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. Indeed we cannot see or endure His presence without the fruit of holiness by His grace.
What would happen if you tried to funnel Niagara Falls through a straw?
Niagara Straw: There are limits to how fast you can push fluids through things. If you pump a fluid through a narrow opening, it speeds up. If the fluid is a gas, it becomes "choked" when the speed of the gas flowing through the opening reaches the speed of sound. At that point, the gas flowing through the hole can't move any faster—although you can still get more mass to flow through per second by increasing the pressure, which compresses the gas further.
Pope’s Sunday Angelus: ”It is never too late to convert, but it is urgent”
Pope Francis: It's never too late for conversion :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): God's patience towards sinners is without limit, yet the time for conversion is now, Pope Francis said during his Sunday Angelus address at the Vatican.
“It is never too late to convert, but it is urgent, it is now! Let us begin today,” said the Pope Feb. 28 to the crowds in St. Peter's Square.
Delivering his remarks before leading those present in the Marian prayer, the Pope spoke on Jesus' “invincible patience,” explaining how God's “unyielding concern for sinners” should provoke impatience in ourselves.
“Have you thought of God's patience? Have you even thought of his unyielding concern for sinners, how this should provoke impatience against ourselves?”
“It is never to late to convert! Never! Up until the last moment: The patience of God who waits for us.”
“It is never too late to convert, but it is urgent, it is now! Let us begin today,” said the Pope Feb. 28 to the crowds in St. Peter's Square.
Delivering his remarks before leading those present in the Marian prayer, the Pope spoke on Jesus' “invincible patience,” explaining how God's “unyielding concern for sinners” should provoke impatience in ourselves.
“Have you thought of God's patience? Have you even thought of his unyielding concern for sinners, how this should provoke impatience against ourselves?”
“It is never to late to convert! Never! Up until the last moment: The patience of God who waits for us.”
Saturday, February 27, 2016
The Stational Churches of Rome: A Lenten devotion whose time has come again
The Stational Churches: A Lenten Devotion Whose Time Has Come Again |Blogs | NCRegister.comDICAMILLO: “Have you given up anything for Lent?” Only a true boor, a child, or a living saint can ask this question without irony or sarcasm. But in case you find yourself staring at Lent without an answer besides, “Well, I’m not going to eat meat on Fridays,” perhaps consider the stational churches of Rome as a way to deepen your prayer life for the remaining days of Lent.
This ancient devotion, which got a whole new lease on life with George Weigel and Elizabeth Lev’s 2013 book. The book is gorgeous and packed with color and black-and-white photos of the venerable Roman churches by Weigel’s son, the noted photographer Stephen Weigel.
This ancient devotion, which got a whole new lease on life with George Weigel and Elizabeth Lev’s 2013 book. The book is gorgeous and packed with color and black-and-white photos of the venerable Roman churches by Weigel’s son, the noted photographer Stephen Weigel.
Why are you your own worst proofreader? And how can you fix that?
On Proofreading | The Philology InstituteLEWIS: It happens to everybody. You read and reread and reread your draft, but it’s only after you turn it in, or click send, or publish it, that you notice the typo. Probably somebody else brought it to your attention. Why is it that we can’t spot the typo for ourselves? Why are we our own worst proofreader? The answer is simple, if you understand one crucial difference in how we read our own writing and how we read the writing of others.
Friday, February 26, 2016
NFL star and actor Terry Crews talks about overcoming his porn addiction
Why Did this NFL Star and Actor Go On a 90-day "Sex Fast"?GARRETTJOHNSON: Terry Crews was born in Flint, Michigan, in 1968 and was drafted by the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams in 1991. After several years playing pro football, Crews retired and pursued an acting career, which took flight on the big screen in 2000’s The 6th Day. Many film roles have followed. Also known for appearing in a series of Old Spice commercials, Crews launched The Family Crews, a reality series starring his whole family. Finally, he is also a co-star in the Tv series Brooklyn 99.
Feminist bravado unwittingly reveals the horror of abortion
A Badass Feminist Can’t Hide the Truth About Abortion – Aleteia.orgMILLS: When you have your first abortion, go home and make jokes. Sit down and talk about “how you were ‘killin’ it’ today and laugh with your friends.” That’s the advice of “a waitress in Minneapolis” with the improbable name of Madeleine Roe, who offers “Twenty Tips for Your First Abortion.”
Her advice, given on the “badass feminist” site, Paper Darts, wavers between treating the abortion as “no big deal” (as she says in tip four) and instructions that indicate she knows it is a big deal, like “Drink heavily” and then, “Drink some more” (as she advises in the very next tip). She tries to write in a light and breezy style, but what she has to say undermines her way of saying it. The baby she never mentions haunts the article. He is what scholars call “the presence of an absence.”
Her advice, given on the “badass feminist” site, Paper Darts, wavers between treating the abortion as “no big deal” (as she says in tip four) and instructions that indicate she knows it is a big deal, like “Drink heavily” and then, “Drink some more” (as she advises in the very next tip). She tries to write in a light and breezy style, but what she has to say undermines her way of saying it. The baby she never mentions haunts the article. He is what scholars call “the presence of an absence.”
How to be kind to people you deeply dislike
As Kind as You Don’t Want to Be – Aleteia.orgMILLS: When I met her, she looked at me as if I were the vilest person on earth, even though she’d never heard of me before I walked into the room, and I disliked her in return. We later met from time to time because friends of mine were friends of hers, in the sense of people who had taken up the work of being her friend. She looked at almost everyone as she’d looked at me. She was very, very hard to like. She was known to take a present, open it and then throw it in the trash in front of the person who’d given it to her.
‘Risen’ is a Christian movie for Romans like us
Risen: A Christian Movie for Romans Like Us | The StreamZMIRAK: Risen is a powerful new film about the resurrection of Christ and the first days of the Church. It has suspense, intrigue, tense chase sequences and even some cool combat scenes. The film is accurate, exciting, and truthful, without being preachy or melodramatic. I almost called it “reverent,” but that word isn’t right: It suggests a cautious, tentative slowness more fitting for liturgy than cinema. But Risen moves!
Its strongly-acted characters and well-plotted action will keep you riveted from the opening credits on. I saw it in a theater that serves up margaritas, but didn’t see anyone dash for a bathroom break — they didn’t want to miss a single minute. So go out and see it. And no, it can’t count as a sacrifice for Lent, since you’re going to enjoy it, with or without the margaritas.
Its strongly-acted characters and well-plotted action will keep you riveted from the opening credits on. I saw it in a theater that serves up margaritas, but didn’t see anyone dash for a bathroom break — they didn’t want to miss a single minute. So go out and see it. And no, it can’t count as a sacrifice for Lent, since you’re going to enjoy it, with or without the margaritas.
Training for holiness: The meaning of asceticism
Training for Holiness: The Meaning of AsceticismSENZ: Ash Wednesday is sometimes called “Catholic New Year’s,” partially because the festivities of Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday resemble a New Year’s Eve party, and partially because our Lenten penance observances often resemble New Year’s resolutions. The comparisons are sometimes apt, and often regrettably so. A fabulous feast before a fast is one thing; but engaging in an allegedly-baptized Bacchanalia to get all our sinnin’ in before Lent makes as much sense as eating a box of Jujy Fruits before going to the dentist to get our money’s worth on that cleaning. Likewise, while resolving to take up some positive practice can be beneficial to us, too often our observances miss the point. While it might improve your health to give up sweets or soda or cheeseburgers with donuts for buns for a time, Lenten observances are not meant to be 40-day diet plans; they are training regimens for the spiritual life. Lenten observances are practices in asceticism. What does this word mean?
What is conscience?
What is Conscience?HULL: In the United States it is a presidential election year, which means the word conscience will be thrown around in Catholic circles and in the culture. At times the use will be correct and other times it will be wrong as individuals fall victim to a desire for the subjective and an abandonment of objective truth. Conscience is an ontological reality for human beings, which means that conscience is part of our experience and nature. God has given us an intellect and a will. Our conscience gets information and processes it through the intellect and then decides on a course of action, which is the will. It’s important for us to understand precisely what conscience is and is not, our responsibilities in conscience, and our conscience as it relates to God and the Magisterium. I do not have time to give a thorough account, many books have been written on the subject and the Catechism of the Catholic Church covers the topic, but I want to briefly explain this much maligned word and aspect of our nature.
Watch: Joyful chaos erupts when African kids see a drone for the first time
New Advent: Joyful chaos erupts when African kids see a drone for the first time: “I was in northwestern Uganda filming with a non-profit IMOutreach.org that was teaching about hygiene and personal/community health. The headmaster of a school there asked me to give the kids a show with the drone. I launched the DJI Phantom 3 Professional and flew a short flight. The students loved it and kept asking for more once the drone landed. Though excited and curious, some of the children were also nervous as they had never seen or even heard of drones before. I quickly became a village celebrity; the locals would even make buzzing drone-like noises whenever walking past me on the streets!”
Is the devil winning? No. Not even close...
Is the Devil Winning? No. Not Even Close. - Seton MagazineCLARK: Looking around the world today, it may seem as though the devil is winning. After all, sin seems to be winning.
Indeed, the inverse of the Ten Commandments has become the operator’s manual for many sad souls. And so it is no surprise that the devil, the poster child for sin, is increasingly portrayed in books, movies, television, and music as a winner—a powerful, charismatic, and cool winner.
Many young people want to be just like him.
But it’s worth remembering something.
The devil is not a winner. Yes, he was created to be a winner, but as Jesus said, the devil fell “like lightning.” Now and for eternity, the devil is not only fighting a losing battle; he is fighting a lost battle.
I’ve seen his losses firsthand in just the past few weeks.
Indeed, the inverse of the Ten Commandments has become the operator’s manual for many sad souls. And so it is no surprise that the devil, the poster child for sin, is increasingly portrayed in books, movies, television, and music as a winner—a powerful, charismatic, and cool winner.
Many young people want to be just like him.
But it’s worth remembering something.
The devil is not a winner. Yes, he was created to be a winner, but as Jesus said, the devil fell “like lightning.” Now and for eternity, the devil is not only fighting a losing battle; he is fighting a lost battle.
I’ve seen his losses firsthand in just the past few weeks.
On Kobe Bryant, retired battleships and sin
On Kobe Bryant, Retired Battleships and SinUSHER: I’ll bet no one has ever mentioned those three things in the same sentence. Hopefully, the reason I did will make sense to you as you read on.
As most people know, Kobe Bryant - one of the greatest basketball players of all time - will retire at the end of the current NBA season. During his twenty seasons in the league, he has worn two different jersey numbers: 8 and 24.�
So, now the debate is on as to which of those numbers the Los Angeles Lakers - the team for which he has played his entire professional career - will retire. It’s been said that Kobe wants the team to hang his number 24 from the rafters of Staples Center as a salute to his illustrious career. Others speculate that he will opt for number 8. Still others are making a case for the team to retire both numbers.
As most people know, Kobe Bryant - one of the greatest basketball players of all time - will retire at the end of the current NBA season. During his twenty seasons in the league, he has worn two different jersey numbers: 8 and 24.�
So, now the debate is on as to which of those numbers the Los Angeles Lakers - the team for which he has played his entire professional career - will retire. It’s been said that Kobe wants the team to hang his number 24 from the rafters of Staples Center as a salute to his illustrious career. Others speculate that he will opt for number 8. Still others are making a case for the team to retire both numbers.
How astronomers see the universe through our galaxy
How Astronomers See The Universe Through Our Galaxy — Starts With A Bang! — Medium: When we look out at the Universe, our view is pretty consistently dominated by the stars within our own galaxy. Although we know that many interesting things lie beyond — globular clusters, individual galaxies, and rich clusters and superclusters of galaxies — being in the Milky Way makes it very hard to see a great many of them. This is because our own galaxy, from our vantage point within it, dominates a huge fraction of the sky overhead.
Media just can't seem to grasp what friends (including females) meant to St. John Paul II
Media struggle to grasp what friends (including females) meant to St. John Paul II — GetReligionMATTINGLY: If you know much about the young Polish actor and philosopher Karol Wojtyla, then you know that his path to the Catholic priesthood was quite unusual, surrounded as we was by the horrors of the Nazi occupation and then the chains of a puppet regime marching to a Soviet drummer.
In his massive authorized biography of the St. Pope John Paul II, "Witness to Hope," George Weigel argued that a key to understanding Wojtyla is to grasp the degree to which his faith and spiritual disciplines were shaped by the lives of strong laypeople and his many friends – male and female – who surrounded him in academia, the underground theater and similar settings.
In his massive authorized biography of the St. Pope John Paul II, "Witness to Hope," George Weigel argued that a key to understanding Wojtyla is to grasp the degree to which his faith and spiritual disciplines were shaped by the lives of strong laypeople and his many friends – male and female – who surrounded him in academia, the underground theater and similar settings.
Satan is scary, but God is great: Details on Indiana's possessed house
Satan Is Scary, But God Is Great: Details on Indiana's Possessed House |Blogs | NCRegister.comSCHIFFER: From out of nowhere, swarms of black flies appeared in the middle of winter, attacking the screen porch of LaToya Ammon's Indiana home. She heard footsteps climbing the basement stairs, then heard the door from the basement open into the kitchen; but when she went to check, there was no one there.
There were other, even stranger things:� One of her children was seen to be levitating above her bed, completely unconscious. A doctor reported that her son, during a medical check-up, ran up the wall of the examination room. A case worker from the Department of Child Services, a police officer, health care workers—all saw firsthand the extraordinary attacks on LaToya and her three children.
There were other, even stranger things:� One of her children was seen to be levitating above her bed, completely unconscious. A doctor reported that her son, during a medical check-up, ran up the wall of the examination room. A case worker from the Department of Child Services, a police officer, health care workers—all saw firsthand the extraordinary attacks on LaToya and her three children.
Must sterilized couple seek reversal?
ASK FATHER: Must sterilized couple seek reversal? | Fr. Z's BlogZUHLSDORF: Having repented of their sinful actions and having confessed their sins and having received absolution, they may receive Holy Communion and continue in their vocations to help each other get to heaven.
Now that the sterilization is a fact, they are not obliged to seek a reversal of the procedure. It is praiseworthy that they do and they may, but they are not strictly obliged. �It is now and existing condition and they are not strictly obliged to reverse it.
They may engage in marital relations.
It seems to me that it would be good for that couple to live a continent life and pay close attention to penances and mortifications in an ongoing way.
Now that the sterilization is a fact, they are not obliged to seek a reversal of the procedure. It is praiseworthy that they do and they may, but they are not strictly obliged. �It is now and existing condition and they are not strictly obliged to reverse it.
They may engage in marital relations.
It seems to me that it would be good for that couple to live a continent life and pay close attention to penances and mortifications in an ongoing way.
Is there really a “Sunday exception” during Lent?
Is There Really a “Sunday Exception” During Lent? | ChurchPOPMILLEGAN: A few days ago, my son, who gave up meat for Lent, asked for sausage for breakfast. Why? Because it was a Sunday, and he was allowing himself to enjoy what he was sacrificing for Lent.
But is this a real thing? Is there a so-called “Sunday exception” during Lent? It’s not as clear cut as you may have thought.
But is this a real thing? Is there a so-called “Sunday exception” during Lent? It’s not as clear cut as you may have thought.
The miraculous saint story behind Justice Scalia's “secret” society
The Miraculous Saint Story Behind Justice Scalia's "Secret" Society | ChurchPOPMILLEGAN: You may have read about it already: it’s being reported that Justice Antonin Scalia was surrounded by members of a centuries-old secret society when he suddenly died in the middle of the night. Secret Society? Politically important death? No autopsy? You can imagine the fun conspiracy theorists can have with this.
The truth is far more banal: The “secret society” people are talking about is an old hunting club, of which there is no evidence Scalia was even a member. All we know is that Scalia was at a hunting lodge, and some of the people present were a part of a hunting club. What are the odds, I know.
The truth is far more banal: The “secret society” people are talking about is an old hunting club, of which there is no evidence Scalia was even a member. All we know is that Scalia was at a hunting lodge, and some of the people present were a part of a hunting club. What are the odds, I know.
God's love is the 'beating heart' of the Church, Pope Francis says
God's love is the 'beating heart' of the Church, Pope Francis says :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): Pope Francis marked the 10th anniversary of Benedict XVI’s encyclical “Deus Caritas Est” by telling participants in a conference commemorating the document that not only is love God’s identity, but it’s also the very heart and life of the Church.
“God does not simply have the desire or capacity to love; God is love: charity is his essence, it is his nature,” the Pope said Feb. 26.
He said that while God is unique, he’s “not solitary; he cannot be alone, he cannot be closed in on himself because he is communion, he is charity; and charity by its nature is communicated and shared.”
“God does not simply have the desire or capacity to love; God is love: charity is his essence, it is his nature,” the Pope said Feb. 26.
He said that while God is unique, he’s “not solitary; he cannot be alone, he cannot be closed in on himself because he is communion, he is charity; and charity by its nature is communicated and shared.”
Thursday, February 25, 2016
The Seven Deadly Sins really are deadly
The Seven Deadly Sins Really Are Deadly |Blogs | NCRegister.comLONGENECKER: Somebody observed about the current front runner presidential choices, “It seems to be a choice between six deadly sins on the one hand and half a dozen on the other…”
Certainly the current election cycle is disappointing for anyone who is looking for the candidate of personal virtue.� Usually the investigators dig deep to find the hidden scandal and the skeleton in the closet. These days the investigators dig deep to find some evidence not of vice, but of virtue.
The frightening thing about candidates who are not personally virtuous is that all vice ends in violence. Consider the seven deadly sins and how they are deadly.
�In one way or another, if the vice is continued it ends in violence, and if in violence then in death.
Certainly the current election cycle is disappointing for anyone who is looking for the candidate of personal virtue.� Usually the investigators dig deep to find the hidden scandal and the skeleton in the closet. These days the investigators dig deep to find some evidence not of vice, but of virtue.
The frightening thing about candidates who are not personally virtuous is that all vice ends in violence. Consider the seven deadly sins and how they are deadly.
�In one way or another, if the vice is continued it ends in violence, and if in violence then in death.
Italian Senate passes same-sex civil unions bill
Italian Senate Passes Same-Sex Civil Unions Bill |Blogs | NCRegister.comPENTIN: The Italian Senate this evening passed a bill allowing same-sex civil unions, but the legislation does not include a planned measure to allow adoptions by same-sex couples.
The bill passed a vote of confidence motion with 173 in favor, 71 against and none abstaining.
Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who has long promised to pass a civil unions bill, described Thursday's vote as "historic".
But the bill’s sponsor, Senator Monica Cirinnà of the leftist PD party, said the watered-down version of the bill was a hollow victory. She said it was “a very important measure” but legislators now must take “a second step" as "we're halfway up the ladder", ANSA reported.
The bill passed a vote of confidence motion with 173 in favor, 71 against and none abstaining.
Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who has long promised to pass a civil unions bill, described Thursday's vote as "historic".
But the bill’s sponsor, Senator Monica Cirinnà of the leftist PD party, said the watered-down version of the bill was a hollow victory. She said it was “a very important measure” but legislators now must take “a second step" as "we're halfway up the ladder", ANSA reported.
The devil hates faith and reason alike
The Devil Hates Faith and Reason Alike |Blogs | NCRegister.comKOSLOSKI: Could we have a do-over? When looking at the list of candidates running for president, I wish we could stop everything and start over. Why? Because the people of our nation are too easily led like sheep and we listen more to “experts,” spectacles, and impossible promises than reasonable arguments.
What I see in America is the loss of reason and it has become the devil’s playground.
What I see in America is the loss of reason and it has become the devil’s playground.
Does science prove the existence of God?
Does Science Prove God Exists?TRASANCOS: To answer the question about whether science can prove God exists, it helps to understand the difference between inductive and deductive proofs.
Inductive proofs widen from details to broad, but only probable, conclusions. They reason from particular facts, such as those details of the Big Bang discoveries, the phenomena of the Anthropic Principle, or simply the order found in matter, to general principles, such as the existence of God. Deductive proofs go the other way. They narrow from broad statements (premises) to absolute conclusions. For example, one may argue that past time is either finite or infinite.
Inductive proofs widen from details to broad, but only probable, conclusions. They reason from particular facts, such as those details of the Big Bang discoveries, the phenomena of the Anthropic Principle, or simply the order found in matter, to general principles, such as the existence of God. Deductive proofs go the other way. They narrow from broad statements (premises) to absolute conclusions. For example, one may argue that past time is either finite or infinite.
America’s good servant “because he was God’s first”
Antonin Scalia: America’s Good Servant ‘Because He Was God’s First’ | Daily News | NCRegister.comDESOUZA: The funeral Mass of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in Washington was a great catechetical opportunity, and the graced moment was fully employed to that effect.
After years of prominent Catholic funerals that have been missed opportunities to preach the Gospel — those of Ted Kennedy and Stan Musial, to take but two recent examples — the Scalia funeral was both edifying and evangelizing.
Justice Scalia himself would have been pleased. His son, Father Paul Scalia, quoted from a letter his father had written after the funeral of retired Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell in 1998. The son quoted the father on his distaste for eulogies, but another part of that letter spoke of funerals as evangelical opportunities.
After years of prominent Catholic funerals that have been missed opportunities to preach the Gospel — those of Ted Kennedy and Stan Musial, to take but two recent examples — the Scalia funeral was both edifying and evangelizing.
Justice Scalia himself would have been pleased. His son, Father Paul Scalia, quoted from a letter his father had written after the funeral of retired Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell in 1998. The son quoted the father on his distaste for eulogies, but another part of that letter spoke of funerals as evangelical opportunities.
Super cool new Dominican game lets you convert heretics, collect the Summa
Super Cool New Dominican Game Lets You Convert Heretics, Collect the Summa | ChurchPOPMILLEGAN: Prepare to get distracted from your work for a little while.
A few Dominican friars in priestly formation at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington D.C. have created a browser video game called Passiontide: The Game. In the style of video games from the early 1990s, it’s super cool!
The rules are simple: Maneuver your Domininan friar to collect candles and copies of the Summa, and jump on the scary Albigensians to convert them. But be careful! You have to avoid holes, hot lava, and running into one of the heretics. Keep moving forward until you reach the church at the end.
A few Dominican friars in priestly formation at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington D.C. have created a browser video game called Passiontide: The Game. In the style of video games from the early 1990s, it’s super cool!
The rules are simple: Maneuver your Domininan friar to collect candles and copies of the Summa, and jump on the scary Albigensians to convert them. But be careful! You have to avoid holes, hot lava, and running into one of the heretics. Keep moving forward until you reach the church at the end.
What Archbishop Shevchuk saw in the meeting of the Pope and Moscow Patriarch
What Archbishop Shevchuk Saw in the Meeting of the Pope and Moscow Patriarch | Daily News | NCRegister.comGAGLIARDUCCI: What’s next for ecumenism? After the recent meeting between Pope Francis and the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church has emphasized that “the first thing is to free religion from politics.”
“We cannot reconcile with geopolitics, but we can reconcile with our brothers,” Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kyiv-Halych and the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, told CNA.
He reflected on the joint declaration signed by Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill in Havana Feb. 12. The Pope and the Patriarch stressed that “it is our hope that our meeting may also contribute to reconciliation wherever tensions exist between Greek Catholics and Orthodox.”
“We cannot reconcile with geopolitics, but we can reconcile with our brothers,” Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kyiv-Halych and the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, told CNA.
He reflected on the joint declaration signed by Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill in Havana Feb. 12. The Pope and the Patriarch stressed that “it is our hope that our meeting may also contribute to reconciliation wherever tensions exist between Greek Catholics and Orthodox.”
Please just sell me a shirt...
Please Just Sell Me a Shirt |Blogs | NCRegister.comFISHER: If you blinked, you might have missed the latest tempest in a teapot: Land's End, the venerable clothing company that supplies preppy sweaters to East Coast old money and sturdy uniforms to private school kids, made the ill-advised decision to feature an interview with feminist icon Gloria Steinem in their latest catalogue. The interview was to be the first in a series, presumably spearheaded by the company's relatively new female CEO. The series would be an “ode to individuals who have made a difference in both their respective industries and the world at large." Land's End said, "We honor them and thank them for paving the way for the many who follow.” Land's End also offered the option to monogram its products with the ERA logo, and promised to donate $3 to the Fund for Women's Equality with each order.
The one question to ask when considering the Catholic Church
The one question to ask when considering the Catholic Church — Finding Christ[in]a StoryKLEEHAMMER: When did church shopping become an actual thing, anyway? Certainly, it's a recent cultural phenomenon, and one I am all too familiar with. As millennial Christians, we tend to search for our spiritual home much like the savvy consumers we've been groomed to be. We explore various options in search of what most suits our interests, and makes us most comfortable. We might even come up with a list of qualities we want in a church with questions like, "Do I agree with the mission statement? Do I enjoy the style of music and preaching? Do I fit in? Are the children's programs excellent? Is the atmosphere pleasant? Is the coffee fair-trade?"
7 reasons this mother loves sending her kids to Catholic schools
7 Reasons This Mother LOVES Sending Her Kids to Catholic Schools | ChurchPOPLU: I’ve been a Catholic school mom for all of six months. My son started kindergarten last September, at our parish school. I’m a convert, so Catholic school played no role whatsoever in my childhood. It feels a little like I’ve started school for the first time (and I went to school for more than twenty years).
My feeling so far? Catholic school is awesome!
Here are the things I love most about sending my kid to a school that starts with “Saint.”
My feeling so far? Catholic school is awesome!
Here are the things I love most about sending my kid to a school that starts with “Saint.”
Pope Francis meets with children who wrote letters for new book
Pope Francis meets with children who wrote letters for new book - Vatican Radio: Pope Francis has met with several of the children who wrote him letters for his new book, “Dear Pope Francis,” which was presented to him during the meeting.
The young people were accompanied by the President of Caritas Internationalis, Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, and the editor-in-chief of the Jesuit magazine La Civiltà Cattolica, Fr. Antonio Spadaro, SJ, who helped Pope Francis with the book.
During the encounter – involving children from Italy, the Philippines, India, Kenya, Australia, Argentina, the United States, Canada, Singapore, Ireland, Belgium, and China – the Holy Father said the questions asked for the book were some of the “most difficult” he had ever been asked.
The young people were accompanied by the President of Caritas Internationalis, Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, and the editor-in-chief of the Jesuit magazine La Civiltà Cattolica, Fr. Antonio Spadaro, SJ, who helped Pope Francis with the book.
During the encounter – involving children from Italy, the Philippines, India, Kenya, Australia, Argentina, the United States, Canada, Singapore, Ireland, Belgium, and China – the Holy Father said the questions asked for the book were some of the “most difficult” he had ever been asked.
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
The Jesuit, the monk, and the malaise of the West
The Jesuit, the Monk, and the Malaise of the West | Catholic World Report - Global Church news and viewsGREGG: Twenty-five years ago, one of the 20th century’s greatest Catholic theologians passed away in the Avenue de Breteuil in Paris in the care of the Little Sisters of the Poor. Born in 1896 as the Dreyfus Affair was tearing France apart, and dying while the Soviet Union imploded in 1991, Cardinal Henri de Lubac, SJ, participated in some of the most momentous events that shaped the Catholic Church between the pontificates of Leo XIII and Saint John Paul II.
Though well-known for his work in opening up the Church’s rich intellectual patrimony and his influence upon key documents of Vatican II, de Lubac was far from being a reclusive scholar. Coming from a fervently Catholic French aristocratic family, de Lubac could not help but be conscious of the deep fractures between the Church and the forces unleashed by the French Revolution. Nor was he afraid to immerse himself in many of the epoch-making conflicts of his time. Indeed, de Lubac definitely had a mind for politics—but not of the type you might expect.
Though well-known for his work in opening up the Church’s rich intellectual patrimony and his influence upon key documents of Vatican II, de Lubac was far from being a reclusive scholar. Coming from a fervently Catholic French aristocratic family, de Lubac could not help but be conscious of the deep fractures between the Church and the forces unleashed by the French Revolution. Nor was he afraid to immerse himself in many of the epoch-making conflicts of his time. Indeed, de Lubac definitely had a mind for politics—but not of the type you might expect.
"The most difficult business you can run": Bloomberg says pro-life efforts are saving lives throughout U.S.
Why It’s So Hard to Run an Abortion Clinic: Hoping to publicize her new nonprofit, last fall Julie Burkhart called her local NPR affiliate, KMUW in Wichita, about buying a day of sponsorship for $480. Station manager Debra Fraser decided immediately that KMUW wouldn’t allow it. “I didn’t want to upset the apple cart,” Fraser says.
The response wasn’t new to Burkhart. In April 2013 she had reopened and renamed Women’s Health Care Services, where her former employer and mentor, Dr. George Tiller, provided abortions from the 1970s until 2009, when he was shot in the head and killed while ushering at his church. Today, South Wind Women’s Center offers abortion and OB-GYN services as well as transgender care such as hormone therapy. Burkhart hopes to install a birthing center. In the basement, Trust Women, the center’s umbrella nonprofit, runs a political action committee, continuing the advocacy Tiller began in the 1980s.
The response wasn’t new to Burkhart. In April 2013 she had reopened and renamed Women’s Health Care Services, where her former employer and mentor, Dr. George Tiller, provided abortions from the 1970s until 2009, when he was shot in the head and killed while ushering at his church. Today, South Wind Women’s Center offers abortion and OB-GYN services as well as transgender care such as hormone therapy. Burkhart hopes to install a birthing center. In the basement, Trust Women, the center’s umbrella nonprofit, runs a political action committee, continuing the advocacy Tiller began in the 1980s.
The history and future of the Panama Canal
The History and Future of the Panama Canal: The Panama Canal was a project of biblical proportions when it opened in 1914. At the lower tip of Central America, engineers created the world’s largest man-made lake by building the world’s largest dam. The decades-long construction project claimed tens of thousands of lives, led to the creation of the state of Panama, and cost the equivalent of $14 billion today.
But its opening in August, 1914 elicited little fanfare. The onset of World War I canceled the grand plans for ribbon cutting as battles between French, British, and German troops dominated headlines. Newspapers relegated the opening entirely to back pages.
But its opening in August, 1914 elicited little fanfare. The onset of World War I canceled the grand plans for ribbon cutting as battles between French, British, and German troops dominated headlines. Newspapers relegated the opening entirely to back pages.
Striking images: 2016 Sony World Photography Award winners
The 2016 Sony World Photography Awards - The Atlantic: The Sony World Photography Awards, an annual competition hosted by the World Photography Organisation, just announced its shortlist of winners for 2016. This year's contest attracted 230,103 entries from 186 countries. The organizers have again been kind enough to share some of their shortlisted images with us, gathered below. Overall winners are scheduled to be announced on April 21. All captions below come from the photographers.
Earthshine, nightglow, and other gorgeous forms of celestial light
Earthshine, Nightglow, and Other Gorgeous Forms of Celestial Light | Atlas Obscura: Everybody from painters, to songwriters, to annoying romantics in-between is always going on about the wonder and beauty of sunshine. While the sun’s rays that shine directly to the Earth are nothing short of gorgeous, when sunlight interacts with the rest of our solar system, even more fascinating (and lovely) types of light are created. Here are some of the lesser known varieties.�
More striking images: 2016 Underwater Photographer Of The Year Awards winners
Underwater Photographer Of The Year: "I hope you enjoy this inspiring feast of imagery as much as we did during the judging. It is a pleasure and a privilege to sit down with Peter and Martin and spend two days devouring, digesting and cogitating on the entries. We all have different tastes, which means that UPY will always represent a wide range of underwater photography genres, but we are united by an insatiable enthusiasm for great underwater imagery and respectful of each other’s opinions. Selecting the winners is enjoyable, but also pressured. We’re all well aware that nobody’s work is judged as meticulously as the judges! But I can reassure all entrants that a thorough judging process will always be a central part of UPY’s DNA. Key is bringing all the judges together in one room, all looking at and discussing all the images face to face over two days."
Finding healing through God's mercy
Kathryn Jean Lopez | Catholic PulseLOPEZ: "Wouldn't it be wonderful to 'have the mind of Christ' (1 Cor 2:16)? To be able to look back at the entire life, both the joys and the sufferings, and to see only the love of God?"
Dawn Eden writes this in her new book, Remembering God's Mercy: Redeem the Past and Free Yourself from Painful Memories. She writes about her experience of God's merciful love in healing memories. She describes the "mysterious truth" that "when I unite my own wounded heart with the wounded and glorified heart of Jesus, his wounds heal mine."
We talk more about the book and some of the healing realities of living the mystery of faith.�
Dawn Eden writes this in her new book, Remembering God's Mercy: Redeem the Past and Free Yourself from Painful Memories. She writes about her experience of God's merciful love in healing memories. She describes the "mysterious truth" that "when I unite my own wounded heart with the wounded and glorified heart of Jesus, his wounds heal mine."
We talk more about the book and some of the healing realities of living the mystery of faith.�
Our home was built on purpose: Earth may be a 1-in-700-quintillion kind of place, says astrophysicist
Earth May Be a 1-in-700-Quintillion Kind of Place - D-brief: A new study suggests that there are around 700 quintillion planets in the universe, but only one like Earth. It’s a revelation that’s both beautiful and terrifying at the same time.
Astrophysicist Erik Zackrisson from Uppsala University in Sweden arrived at this staggering figure — a 7 followed by 20 zeros — with the aid of a computer model that simulated the universe’s evolution following the Big Bang. Zackrisson’s model combined information about known exoplanets with our understanding of the early universe and the laws of physics to recreate the past 13.8 billion years.
Zackrisson found that Earth appears to have been dealt a fairly lucky hand. In a galaxy like the Milky Way, for example, most of the planets Zackrisson’s model generated looked very different than Earth — they were larger, older and very unlikely to support life. The study can be found on the preprint server arXiv, and has been submitted to The Astrophysical Journal.
Astrophysicist Erik Zackrisson from Uppsala University in Sweden arrived at this staggering figure — a 7 followed by 20 zeros — with the aid of a computer model that simulated the universe’s evolution following the Big Bang. Zackrisson’s model combined information about known exoplanets with our understanding of the early universe and the laws of physics to recreate the past 13.8 billion years.
Zackrisson found that Earth appears to have been dealt a fairly lucky hand. In a galaxy like the Milky Way, for example, most of the planets Zackrisson’s model generated looked very different than Earth — they were larger, older and very unlikely to support life. The study can be found on the preprint server arXiv, and has been submitted to The Astrophysical Journal.
Father Bill Carmody, outspoken pro-life leader in Colorado, dies at 58
Father Bill Carmody, outspoken Catholic priest in the Colorado Springs area, remembered as champion of youth and faith | Colorado Springs Gazette, News: A devoted sports fan; often the loudest man on the court or the field. A church leader. A shy man who loved working with kids. A great hugger.
When word spread Tuesday that Father Bill Carmody had died, his friends and parishioners remembered him as all of these things. Carmody, 58, died in his sleep late Monday night after a long battle with cancer. The beloved Catholic priest left behind him a legacy that stretches from Widefield schools to the Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood on the westside.
When word spread Tuesday that Father Bill Carmody had died, his friends and parishioners remembered him as all of these things. Carmody, 58, died in his sleep late Monday night after a long battle with cancer. The beloved Catholic priest left behind him a legacy that stretches from Widefield schools to the Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood on the westside.
Lands’ End stores donating proceeds to abortion activist Gloria Steinem's organization
Lands’ End Stores Donating Proceeds to Abortion Activist Gloria Steinem’s Organization | LifeNews.com: The women’s clothing company Land’s End just launched a year-long campaign to honor pro-abortion feminist Gloria Steinem by donating to one of her organizations.
Earlier this month, the company published an interview and photo-shoot with Steinem on its website to announce the campaign, centered around Steinem’s work to pass an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). Steinem is a well-known abortion activist who once said women “need” abortion.
Land’s End highlighted Steinem as one of its “Legends,” individuals who have made a difference in both their respective industries and the world at large and have paved the way for others to follow.
For every buyer who orders an ERA Coalition logo monogram on one of its items, Land’s End will donate $3 to the coalition’s Fund for Women’s Equality, Inc., according to the website. The campaign – “in honor of Gloria’s work” – is running now through Jan. 31, 2017, the website states.
Earlier this month, the company published an interview and photo-shoot with Steinem on its website to announce the campaign, centered around Steinem’s work to pass an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). Steinem is a well-known abortion activist who once said women “need” abortion.
Land’s End highlighted Steinem as one of its “Legends,” individuals who have made a difference in both their respective industries and the world at large and have paved the way for others to follow.
For every buyer who orders an ERA Coalition logo monogram on one of its items, Land’s End will donate $3 to the coalition’s Fund for Women’s Equality, Inc., according to the website. The campaign – “in honor of Gloria’s work” – is running now through Jan. 31, 2017, the website states.
4 powerful habits every Christian needs
4 Powerful Habits Every Christian Needs | Philip KosloskiKOSLOSKI: At about the same time I realized I needed a yearly retreat to rejuvenate my prayer life, I came across an article by Father John McCloskey called The Seven Daily Habits of Holy Apostolic People. It was a game-changer for me and gave me the needed boost and motivation to commit to daily prayer. I knew I needed to incorporate more prayer into my daily life, but I didn’t know how to do it. The Seven Daily Habits of Holy Apostolic People became the key for me to open-up a new world of prayer.
If you want to bring a family to Jesus Christ, first convert the father
Old Lessons for the New Evangelization - Those Catholic Men Inc.CRAIG: I hope you are not completely exhausted from the phrase “the new evangelization”. If you are, I understand. It’s become a phrase that can be just noise or a label slapped on anything. Like a corporation changing its logo to green to join the “green movement”, Catholic initiatives can slap “new evangelization” on basically anything they are doing and jump on the bandwagon, even if it’s not going anywhere.
Here are two facts to understand the term. Firstly, the Church has always been called to evangelize, to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She exists as a missionary reality. Secondly, the reason the current struggle to evangelize is “new” is because we are living in a completely new situation which is distinctly different from the early Church and the Middle Ages as well. Before explaining how it’s different, you have to understand how evangelization was largely done prior to the modern era.
Here are two facts to understand the term. Firstly, the Church has always been called to evangelize, to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She exists as a missionary reality. Secondly, the reason the current struggle to evangelize is “new” is because we are living in a completely new situation which is distinctly different from the early Church and the Middle Ages as well. Before explaining how it’s different, you have to understand how evangelization was largely done prior to the modern era.
Why has the Supreme Court become such a Leviathan? Something is wrong here...
After Justice Scalia | George Weigel | First ThingsWEIGEL: The death of Justice Antonin Scalia on February 13 – unexpected and, for many reasons, tragic – draws a curtain on the life and public service of one of the most important Catholic figures in America over the past half-century. Justice Scalia was regarded, by admirers and detractors alike, as the most consequential jurist of his time. He brought a remarkable intellect, a clear concept of judging, a distinguished literary style, and a biting wit to his work on the U.S. Supreme Court. His utter demolition of the majority opinion in Obergefell vs. Hodges, the decision that invented a constitutional right for people of the same sex to “marry,” is a masterpiece of devastation—as was Scalia’s dissent from Chief Justice John Roberts’s opinion saving Obamacare by reinventing it as a kind-of-tax.
Fr. Ed Thompson (1923-2016): Friend of Fulton Sheen, destroyed by alcoholism, redeemed by Jesus Christ
Fr. Ed Thompson, Prodigal Priest and Father of Mercy�|�Brandon VogtVOGT: Last week, our family grieved the loss of Fr. Ed Thompson, a spiritual giant who had an enormous impact on our community. At age 92, he was the oldest active priest in the Diocese of Orlando.
But more than that, he was our priest. He served for over 20 years at our parish, St. Mary Magdalen in Altamonte Springs, FL, and was extremely close to our family: he married me and Kathleen, baptized our children, and served as my confessor and spiritual guide ever since I became Catholic in 2008. Two months after I entered the Church, he and I began meeting weekly for instruction, prayer, and spiritual conversation. We spent hundreds of hours together over the last eight years.
Fr. Ed’s story is a remarkable one, beginning with great success as a young priest and then spiraling into addiction and suspension from the priesthood. Yet through God’s grace, it’s ultimately a story of redemption.
But more than that, he was our priest. He served for over 20 years at our parish, St. Mary Magdalen in Altamonte Springs, FL, and was extremely close to our family: he married me and Kathleen, baptized our children, and served as my confessor and spiritual guide ever since I became Catholic in 2008. Two months after I entered the Church, he and I began meeting weekly for instruction, prayer, and spiritual conversation. We spent hundreds of hours together over the last eight years.
Fr. Ed’s story is a remarkable one, beginning with great success as a young priest and then spiraling into addiction and suspension from the priesthood. Yet through God’s grace, it’s ultimately a story of redemption.
King Arthur in the lives of the saints
King Arthur in the Lives of the Saints |Blogs | NCRegister.comMCDONALD: The literature of King Arthur is like a vast planet pulling history, lore, legend, fiction, poetry, folktale, art, and even faith into its orbit. The The New Arthurian Encyclopedia, a catalog of all things Arthur, is roughly the size of a phonebook, and until you’ve dug past the first layer—Malory, Tennyson, Chretien de Troyes, Prince Valiant, Hollywood—you don’t begin to grasp just how huge this ever-evolving, loosely connected body of work really is. Within it, in a small forgotten corner, is the place where Arthur meets the Catholic saints.
If a genuine historical figure is at the core of the Arthur legend, that man was likely a warlord or chieftain living in Britain around 500 AD. The traces of him in literature make for an absolutely fascinating detective story, and everyone seems to have a theory of how the scraps of story and history evolved and fit together.
If a genuine historical figure is at the core of the Arthur legend, that man was likely a warlord or chieftain living in Britain around 500 AD. The traces of him in literature make for an absolutely fascinating detective story, and everyone seems to have a theory of how the scraps of story and history evolved and fit together.
Pope’s Wednesday Audience: Sin can make wealth and power “instruments of corruption and death”
Pope: wealth and power are good, but only when used to serve :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): On Wednesday Pope Francis cautioned that unless wealth and power are put at the service of society, especially the poor, they risk becoming instruments of corruption, private interests and various forms of abuse.
“Wealth and power are realities which can be good and useful for the common good, if they are put at the service of the poor and of everyone, with justice and charity,” the Pope said Feb. 24.
However, when they are instead lived “as a privilege with egoism and power, as too often happens, they are transformed into instruments of corruption and death.”
“Wealth and power are realities which can be good and useful for the common good, if they are put at the service of the poor and of everyone, with justice and charity,” the Pope said Feb. 24.
However, when they are instead lived “as a privilege with egoism and power, as too often happens, they are transformed into instruments of corruption and death.”
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Demonic house in Indiana, site of ongoing strange phenomena, demolished
Demonic House in Indiana Demolished | Daily News | NCRegister.comARMSTRONG: The home that was believed to be a site of demonic activity was demolished last month. The story, as reported in the Register, centered on an Indiana family attacked by demons and freed by a Catholic priest through a series of exorcisms.
It had attracted international attention after multiple people from various agencies, including a police officer and hospital and social-service employees, gave eyewitness testimonies of unexplained occurrences involving the family who lived there, including levitation of objects and loud footsteps leaving prints. Two hospital personnel reported seeing one of the boys walking backwards up a wall, flipping into the air and landing on his feet while in a hospital room waiting to be examined. In a separate event, the Department of Child Services report stated that the staff at a doctor’s office witnessed one of the boys getting lifted up and thrown into a wall.
It had attracted international attention after multiple people from various agencies, including a police officer and hospital and social-service employees, gave eyewitness testimonies of unexplained occurrences involving the family who lived there, including levitation of objects and loud footsteps leaving prints. Two hospital personnel reported seeing one of the boys walking backwards up a wall, flipping into the air and landing on his feet while in a hospital room waiting to be examined. In a separate event, the Department of Child Services report stated that the staff at a doctor’s office witnessed one of the boys getting lifted up and thrown into a wall.
How to put out a better parish newsletter
How to Put Out A Better Parish Newsletter – Aleteia.orgSALTZMAN: Parish newsletter editors are an under-appreciated subset of the journalistic inky cohort, those people who try to write informative copy and fit it to available space. It ain’t easy, is it?
Over the course of years, along with parish ministry, I have been a newspaper reporter, newspaper editor, and newsletter editor. What I have here are simple suggestions, including a new idea that occurred to me just last week. It has led me to re-think the parish newsletter, a little bit—the same material but differently focused. I’ll explain as I go along.
Over the course of years, along with parish ministry, I have been a newspaper reporter, newspaper editor, and newsletter editor. What I have here are simple suggestions, including a new idea that occurred to me just last week. It has led me to re-think the parish newsletter, a little bit—the same material but differently focused. I’ll explain as I go along.
The hidden wonder of the U.S. capital: St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral
The Hidden Wonder of the U.S. Capital: St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral | ChurchPOPMILLEGAN: When you think of beautiful buildings in Washington D.C., you might think of the National Mall, the Episcopalian National Cathedral, or even the great Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
But after you read this, you might think of a church you previously didn’t even know existed: St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral. Yes, this really does exist in Washington D.C..
Following WWII, Eastern Orthodox Christians in the U.S. decided to build a grand Orthodox cathedral in Washington D.C. Land was purchased in 1951, the crypt was completed in 1954, and the structure of the main church was completed in 1962.
But that’s when the real work began.
But after you read this, you might think of a church you previously didn’t even know existed: St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral. Yes, this really does exist in Washington D.C..
Following WWII, Eastern Orthodox Christians in the U.S. decided to build a grand Orthodox cathedral in Washington D.C. Land was purchased in 1951, the crypt was completed in 1954, and the structure of the main church was completed in 1962.
But that’s when the real work began.
The myth of optional breastfeeding
The Myth of Optional Breastfeeding & Why You Might Not be Breastfeeding Long EnoughPOPCAK: Dr. Darcia Narvaez is a moral developmental psychologist at the Univ. of Notre Dame. �Moral developmental psychologists study what goes into raising kids who are able to resist negative peer pressure and make good choices throughout their lives. �As I argue in Beyond the Birds and the Bees: �Raising Whole and Holy Kids, my book about what it takes to raise moral, godly kids, �breastfeeding plays a special role in laying the foundation for moral reasoning in the infant and toddler’s brain.
Dr. Narvaez has a tremendous article at her Psychology Today blog, Moral Landscapes, addressing both why breastfeeding shouldn’t be optional in the first place and how long parents might want to nurse to give their children the full psychological, relational and moral benefits nursing can offer.
Dr. Narvaez has a tremendous article at her Psychology Today blog, Moral Landscapes, addressing both why breastfeeding shouldn’t be optional in the first place and how long parents might want to nurse to give their children the full psychological, relational and moral benefits nursing can offer.
14 noteworthy CDs every Catholic should hear
Fourteen Noteworthy CDs Every Catholic Should Hear | Catholic LaneBEATTIE: Have you ever delighted in listening to an album with beautiful renditions of songs such as What Child Is This and Silent Night, only to be abruptly taken out of your delightful state by a tacky track such as Jingle Bell Rock? So many CDs have wildly varying songs, possibly because of a desire to provide variety.
While there may be good motives for them, these “varied” CDs end up encouraging thoughts such as ”Tracks 1-2 should be done away with, 3-12 are simply fantastic, and 13-16 are in the same category as the first two.”
These “mixed monsters” make endorsements difficult because there is a constant need for caveats. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to freely recommend entire albums without qualifications?
While there may be good motives for them, these “varied” CDs end up encouraging thoughts such as ”Tracks 1-2 should be done away with, 3-12 are simply fantastic, and 13-16 are in the same category as the first two.”
These “mixed monsters” make endorsements difficult because there is a constant need for caveats. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to freely recommend entire albums without qualifications?
Myth? What myth? Breastfeeding isn't mandatory, you know...
More than Milk: The Moral Lives of Mothers – Aleteia.orgFISHER: Now, we do care about making moral choices as parents, right? Of course we do. As an expert in nothing but typing, I always give the same advice: for moral teaching, we go to the Church. The Church has the authority to tell us which actions are moral and which are immoral.
The Church gets specific in some things...
The Church gets specific in some things...
New dorm visitation study reveals need for reform
New Dorm Visitation Study Reveals Need for Reform - Crisis MagazineWILSON: In a hyper-sexual society, once-traditional morals have eroded even in our Catholic institutions—and especially on many Catholic college campuses. Research shows that the pervasive “hook up” culture on the typical American campus is found even at many Catholic colleges, a fact that will not surprise most Crisis readers.
Given the documented consequences of the Sexual Revolution, it’s long past time that Catholic colleges take the lead on campus reform, creating cultures that reinforce the expectation of chastity. Solutions are by no means simple, as the casual sex scene has become an accepted norm of college life—even seemingly acceptable to many Catholic parents who would never allow such behavior in their homes. But while there’s no quick fix, Catholic colleges can at least start to address the problem by observing the residence life policies of those few faithful Catholic institutions and their other Christian counterparts that promote a culture of chastity.
Given the documented consequences of the Sexual Revolution, it’s long past time that Catholic colleges take the lead on campus reform, creating cultures that reinforce the expectation of chastity. Solutions are by no means simple, as the casual sex scene has become an accepted norm of college life—even seemingly acceptable to many Catholic parents who would never allow such behavior in their homes. But while there’s no quick fix, Catholic colleges can at least start to address the problem by observing the residence life policies of those few faithful Catholic institutions and their other Christian counterparts that promote a culture of chastity.
Why have so many people been captivated by Fr. Scalia's homily? Because Christ was at its heart...
The Scalia Invitation | RealClearReligionCHECK: While observing the reaction to Fr. Scalia's sermon, I am reminded of an encounter between King Herod and St. John the Baptist. "When Herod heard John the Baptist, he was much perplexed; and yet he heard him gladly" (Mk 6:20). Thus does St. Mark unveil the heart of King Herod, whom no one ranks among the heroes of the Gospel story. Herod was committing adultery with his brother's wife, and St. John the Baptist urged him to repent and change his life. Was John admonishing Herod? Yes, but much more was John pleading with Herod to stop sabotaging the authentic desires of his own heart for truth and goodness.
“Risen” and the reality of the Resurrection
“Risen” and the Reality of the Resurrection | Word On FireBARRON: When I saw the coming attractions for the new film Risen—which deals with a Roman tribune searching for the body of Jesus after reports of the resurrection—I thought that it would leave the audience in suspense, intrigued but unsure whether these reports were justified or not. I was surprised and delighted to discover that the movie is, in fact, robustly Christian and substantially faithful to the Biblical account of what transpired after the death of Jesus.�
Catholic priest interview with Bernie Sanders to air Tuesday night
TODAY: Salt Light TV Airs Fr. Thomas Rosica’s Interview With Bernie Sanders – Seasons of Grace: Can a Catholic vote for Bernie Sanders? That question has been bouncing around on the Internet recently, with no clear answer emerging.
5 ways the devil attacks you during Lent
5 Ways the Devil Attacks During Lent – Aleteia.orgNOBLE: I don’t know about you but ever since I returned to the Church, I tend to feel like Job during Lent. I feel like God lets the devil a bit off his leash and things tend to get chaotic in my spiritual life!
Jesus was tempted in the desert. And Lent is a time of desert. According to the Catechism, during “the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert.” So it makes sense that we might feel more temptation in this time as well. But God does not allow anything that he cannot use for good; he can even use temptation and attacks from the devil for our conversion, transformation and holiness.
Here are some attacks that I have come to recognize and the responses that I have found helpful. Have you experienced any of these temptations this Lent?
Jesus was tempted in the desert. And Lent is a time of desert. According to the Catechism, during “the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert.” So it makes sense that we might feel more temptation in this time as well. But God does not allow anything that he cannot use for good; he can even use temptation and attacks from the devil for our conversion, transformation and holiness.
Here are some attacks that I have come to recognize and the responses that I have found helpful. Have you experienced any of these temptations this Lent?
Monday, February 22, 2016
Today we commemorate Bl. Stefan Wincenty Frelichowski, martyred by the Nazis
Catholic Saints Guy | catholicsaintsguy: Today’s saint is yet another Pole martyred by the Nazis. One could almost say his priestly ministry was carried out in German concentration camps. For three years, he was a free priest. He passed the remaining six years of his life as a prisoner.
Stefan Wincenty Frelichowski was born January 22, 1913, in Chełmży, Poland, a small town in the northern central part of the country. He was one of six children—three boys, three girls—all of whom grew up around the family bakery and pastry shop run by their father Louis Frelichowski.
Stefan Wincenty Frelichowski was born January 22, 1913, in Chełmży, Poland, a small town in the northern central part of the country. He was one of six children—three boys, three girls—all of whom grew up around the family bakery and pastry shop run by their father Louis Frelichowski.
The Chair of St. Peter and the Apollo Moon "hoax"
The Chair of St. Peter and the Apollo Moon "Hoax" - Crisis MagazineTURLEY: We live in the age of conspiracies. What, if anything, do they tell us about the world we live in today? And, what if, behind all these theories, there is indeed one monumental conspiracy?
On December 10, 2015, a video purporting to be film of Stanley Kubrick appeared on the internet. Allegedly the work of a documentary filmmaker from 1999, it was supposedly filmed a mere four days before the death of its subject. In the footage the “director” confesses to faking film of the moon landings. Predictably, and ironically, Kubrick’s family was quick to call it a hoax. It made little difference. Within hours, it had clocked up a quarter of a million views on line, and its appearance was the subject of radio shows and newspaper articles. The fact that the man who was “Kubrick” looked nothing like him, and that the questioning was stage-managed did little to dampen enthusiasm in certain quarters. We see what we want to see, believe what we want to believe. Nowhere more so, it seems, than when it comes to the alternate world of conspiracies.
On December 10, 2015, a video purporting to be film of Stanley Kubrick appeared on the internet. Allegedly the work of a documentary filmmaker from 1999, it was supposedly filmed a mere four days before the death of its subject. In the footage the “director” confesses to faking film of the moon landings. Predictably, and ironically, Kubrick’s family was quick to call it a hoax. It made little difference. Within hours, it had clocked up a quarter of a million views on line, and its appearance was the subject of radio shows and newspaper articles. The fact that the man who was “Kubrick” looked nothing like him, and that the questioning was stage-managed did little to dampen enthusiasm in certain quarters. We see what we want to see, believe what we want to believe. Nowhere more so, it seems, than when it comes to the alternate world of conspiracies.
Covering the funeral of Antonin Scalia, while ignoring what the Mass was really about
Covering the funeral of Antonin Scalia, while ignoring what the Mass was really about — GetReligionMATTINGLY: In the end, here was the question that loomed over the funeral Mass of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia: Was this a political event? The answer is easy to find, simply by glancing at the coverage offered by several elite newsrooms.
That answer: Of course this was a political event. What would the alternative be? Actually covering the words and symbols of the event itself, which in this case would have led to news reports containing the doctrines at the heart of the Christian faith?
That would never do. That wouldn't be "real," since Scalia was clearly a powerful player in the world of law and politics – the "real" world.
That answer: Of course this was a political event. What would the alternative be? Actually covering the words and symbols of the event itself, which in this case would have led to news reports containing the doctrines at the heart of the Christian faith?
That would never do. That wouldn't be "real," since Scalia was clearly a powerful player in the world of law and politics – the "real" world.
Is history repeating itself in a remarkable and disturbing way?
America Wants a TrumperorLONGENECKER: Do you know what happened to the Roman Republic? First, did you know that the Roman Empire was preceded by a Republic? For about five hundred years just before the birth of �Christ Rome was governed by a Republic. It was not exactly like our democratic government in the United States, but similar enough.
Two elected consuls ruled as executives advised by the Senate. The patricians were the wealthy, landed, aristocratic families. The plebeians were the common people. The fall of the Roman Republic is fascinating–especially so for our times since so many of the same cultural conditions are present in our society.
Two elected consuls ruled as executives advised by the Senate. The patricians were the wealthy, landed, aristocratic families. The plebeians were the common people. The fall of the Roman Republic is fascinating–especially so for our times since so many of the same cultural conditions are present in our society.
Why are so many young Evangelicals becoming Catholic?
Why So Many Young Evangelicals Are Becoming Catholic | ChurchPOPBLANSKI: Why do so many millennials become Catholic?
It’s not because they’re hipper than thou, and it’s certainly not because they’re holier. Michelangelo’s writhing, unfinished statues of slaves, struggling in their prisons of stone, are a picture of millennial converts to Catholicism: broken and banished from Eden, stuck in the fallen flesh of Adam, yet baptized and brought back into the family of God.
They are an unfinished product. And they are home.
How did this happen?
It’s not because they’re hipper than thou, and it’s certainly not because they’re holier. Michelangelo’s writhing, unfinished statues of slaves, struggling in their prisons of stone, are a picture of millennial converts to Catholicism: broken and banished from Eden, stuck in the fallen flesh of Adam, yet baptized and brought back into the family of God.
They are an unfinished product. And they are home.
How did this happen?
Hagia Sophia: “It is fortunate you are here now”
Hagia Sophia: “it is fortunate you are here now” | Quartermaster of the BarqueBOWERS: This past New Year’s Eve, I found myself stranded in Istanbul, Turkey. My final destination was Rome and Assisi, but an irresistibly cheap fare (that included what was supposed to be just a two-hour layover at Ataturk Airport) carried me hundreds of miles past the Apennine Peninsula to the threshold of Asia Minor, where a winter storm caused the cancellation of dozens of flights, including my connection.
Due to the weather, thousands of people were stranded at the airport. Islamic pilgrims making Hajj to Mecca assembled at gates for flights to Jeddah who appeared as stranded as I was (perhaps more so, given the limitations of their garb: flowing white linen robes and sandals, little protection from the inches of snow that continued accumulating outside).
Even the airline’s hotel desk in the main terminal was inaccessible. The line to the counter, five or six persons wide, trailed like an interminable serpent through the airport – slow and languid, like a reptile placed in the freezer. So I resolved to strike out on my own. I Kayaked my way to a reservation for the night at a nearby Courtyard by Marriott, and thanks to the hotel’s free shuttle service, easily made it there.
Due to the weather, thousands of people were stranded at the airport. Islamic pilgrims making Hajj to Mecca assembled at gates for flights to Jeddah who appeared as stranded as I was (perhaps more so, given the limitations of their garb: flowing white linen robes and sandals, little protection from the inches of snow that continued accumulating outside).
Even the airline’s hotel desk in the main terminal was inaccessible. The line to the counter, five or six persons wide, trailed like an interminable serpent through the airport – slow and languid, like a reptile placed in the freezer. So I resolved to strike out on my own. I Kayaked my way to a reservation for the night at a nearby Courtyard by Marriott, and thanks to the hotel’s free shuttle service, easily made it there.
At 5000 years old, this is the world's oldest dress
See the World’s Oldest Dress: There’s vintage, and then there’s vintage.
New tests show that a linen dress found in an Egyptian tomb dates back more than 5,000 years, making it the oldest woven garment yet found. Beautifully stitched and pleated, it signals the complexity and wealth of the ancient society that produced it.
The garment, known as the Tarkhan dress, is a find of surpassing rarity. Few pieces of early clothing, which was made from plant fibers or animal skins, escaped disintegration. Textiles recovered from archaeological sites are generally no older than 2,000 years, says Alice Stevenson, curator of London’s Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology and an author of a new study in the journal Antiquity about the dress’s age.
New tests show that a linen dress found in an Egyptian tomb dates back more than 5,000 years, making it the oldest woven garment yet found. Beautifully stitched and pleated, it signals the complexity and wealth of the ancient society that produced it.
The garment, known as the Tarkhan dress, is a find of surpassing rarity. Few pieces of early clothing, which was made from plant fibers or animal skins, escaped disintegration. Textiles recovered from archaeological sites are generally no older than 2,000 years, says Alice Stevenson, curator of London’s Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology and an author of a new study in the journal Antiquity about the dress’s age.
Kalamazoo bishop offers prayers, Mass in wake of shooting spree
Kalamazoo bishop offers prayers, Mass in wake of shooting spree :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): Bishop Paul J. Bradley of the Diocese of Kalamazoo, Mich. offered his prayers and condolences for the victims of a shooting spree in the city that left six dead and at least two seriously injured Saturday evening. �
“We are shocked and saddened by the horrific acts of violence in our beloved Kalamazoo last evening,” Bishop Bradley said in a statement posted to the diocese’s website on Sunday.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of the six innocent people whose lives in this world were so mercilessly ended.� May they live forever with God in the life of the world to come.”
“We are shocked and saddened by the horrific acts of violence in our beloved Kalamazoo last evening,” Bishop Bradley said in a statement posted to the diocese’s website on Sunday.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of the six innocent people whose lives in this world were so mercilessly ended.� May they live forever with God in the life of the world to come.”
Why are the Gospels called “Gospels”?
Why Are the Gospels Called “Gospels”? |Blogs | NCRegister.comAKIN: God may have created man in his image, but there is a well-known tendency among biblical scholars to re-create Jesus in their own image.
The tendency is particularly notable among skeptical scholars, who feel more free than their conservative counterparts to dismiss or discount Gospel passages that don’t fit their theories.
In writing books on the life of Jesus, they can select, filter, and interpret evidence in a way that allows them to find the kind of Jesus they want—often one that is an idealized form of their own self-image.
The tendency is particularly notable among skeptical scholars, who feel more free than their conservative counterparts to dismiss or discount Gospel passages that don’t fit their theories.
In writing books on the life of Jesus, they can select, filter, and interpret evidence in a way that allows them to find the kind of Jesus they want—often one that is an idealized form of their own self-image.
Pope Francis and contraception: A troubling scenario
Pope Francis and Contraception: A Troubling Scenario | Daily News | NCRegister.comBRUGGER: In Pope Francis’ return flight to the Vatican from Mexico last Thursday, a reporter raised the issue of women threatened by the Zika virus, and then presented to the Pope two options for dealing with it: “abortion” and “avoiding pregnancy” (the reporter clearly meant the latter as a reference to the use of contraception). Could either or both be considered “the lesser of two evils?” he was asked.
What Pope Francis said, and the subsequent commentary offered by Father Federico Lombardi, Director of the Vatican Press Office, on Vatican Radio the next day, invited a firestorm of discussion.
What Pope Francis said, and the subsequent commentary offered by Father Federico Lombardi, Director of the Vatican Press Office, on Vatican Radio the next day, invited a firestorm of discussion.
Ecclesia in Africa: New guardians of orthodoxy and tradition emerge in Africa
Ecclesia in Africa: New Guardians of Orthodoxy and Tradition Emerge in Africa | Daily News | NCRegister.com: During last fall’s synod on the family, Cardinal Wilfrid Napier served as one of the five co-presidents of the gathering, which was convened to consider how the Church can better assist Catholic families. And he has a simple yet powerful message for married Catholics wondering how they can follow the Church’s message on marriage in today’s challenging context: Live it!
In a wide-ranging interview last week with Register correspondent Sophia Feingold in Washington, the South-African cardinal touched on a number of hot-button current Church issues, including German Cardinal Walter Kasper’s proposal to allow reception of Communion by some divorced-remarried couples, synodality and collegiality, racial tensions and Pope Francis’ recent comments about the use of the contraception in the context of the Zika virus.
In a wide-ranging interview last week with Register correspondent Sophia Feingold in Washington, the South-African cardinal touched on a number of hot-button current Church issues, including German Cardinal Walter Kasper’s proposal to allow reception of Communion by some divorced-remarried couples, synodality and collegiality, racial tensions and Pope Francis’ recent comments about the use of the contraception in the context of the Zika virus.
If your kids could have dinner with anyone, who would it be? The answer might surprise you...
If Your Kids Could Have Dinner With Anyone, Who Would It Be? |Blogs | NCRegister.comSEGELSTEIN: Eating meals together as a family has been shown to have a number of benefits.� The American College of Pediatricians examined a wide range of research studies on the topic and found so many benefits that they now recommend that their members encourage parents to partake of the family table.� Better family relationships, healthier eating, better grades, and decreased drug and alcohol use by teens are just some of the advantages of frequent (defined as five per week) family meals.� “When families regularly share meals together,” says the ACP, “everyone benefits – the children, parents and even the community.”
Count the stars if you can! A meditation on the glory of the night sky...
Count The Stars If You Can! A Meditation on the Glory of the Night Sky Most Modern People Never See - Community in Mission : Community in MissionPOPE: My first and only real glimpse of the magnificent Milky Way was about 20 years ago. I was visiting a priest friend (recently deceased) in rural North Dakota. It was mid-January, the very heart of winter. The sky was cloudless, the temperature was just below zero, and the humidity was very low (thus, no haze). But the wind was light so we took a nighttime walk. Only the light from an occasional house illuminated the ground. As we away from the town, only about half a mile, I looked up and couldn’t believe my eyes.
How Justice Scalia’s funeral Mass became a triumph of evangelization
Life From Death: How the Scalia Funeral Mass Became a Triumph of Evangelization: The death of Justice Antonin Scalia on Feb. 13 at the age of 79 was a loss on many levels. As a fearless advocate for the Constitution and the rule of law, his absence leaves the balance on the Supreme Court in a precarious position. As a bold public witness for the Faith, the Catholic Church in America will miss him. And, just as important, as a father of nine and a grandfather, he leaves his family without its beloved patriarch.
But, God can bring good out of anything, and today, he brought great good out of the death of Antonin Scalia.
But, God can bring good out of anything, and today, he brought great good out of the death of Antonin Scalia.
Against “Popesplaining”: Why we commemorate the Chair of Peter, not the Celebrity of Peter
Against Popesplaining | Charlotte was BothWELBORN: Guess what.
You don’t have to defend every word the Pope says.
Even if you consider yourself an enthusiastic and faithful Catholic of any stripe you are not obligated to defend every utterance in every papal interview or even every papal homily or declaration.
Popes – all popes – can say things that are wrong, incorrect, ill-informed, narrow, short-sighted and more reflective of their personal biases, interests and limitations than the broader, deeper tradition of Catholicism.
You don’t have to defend every word the Pope says.
Even if you consider yourself an enthusiastic and faithful Catholic of any stripe you are not obligated to defend every utterance in every papal interview or even every papal homily or declaration.
Popes – all popes – can say things that are wrong, incorrect, ill-informed, narrow, short-sighted and more reflective of their personal biases, interests and limitations than the broader, deeper tradition of Catholicism.
EWTN’s Mother Angelica still in ‘delicate’ condition; fellow nuns request prayers
Mother Angelica Still in ‘Delicate’ Condition; Fellow Nuns Request Prayers | Daily News | NCRegister.com: The nuns of Mother Angelica’s monastery have thanked those who have prayed for the EWTN foundress and have asked continued prayers for the 92-year-old nun.
“Mother's condition remains delicate, and she receives devoted care day and night by her sisters and nurses,” the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery said in a Feb. 22 update.
“Although she is most often sleeping, from time to time Mother will give a radiant smile. There is no doubt that her heart must be 'on things above,'” the nuns said, referencing St. Paul’s Letter to the Colossians.
“Mother's condition remains delicate, and she receives devoted care day and night by her sisters and nurses,” the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery said in a Feb. 22 update.
“Although she is most often sleeping, from time to time Mother will give a radiant smile. There is no doubt that her heart must be 'on things above,'” the nuns said, referencing St. Paul’s Letter to the Colossians.
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Must-read: Fr. Paul Scalia's powerful homily at his father's funeral
Fr. Paul Scalia's homily at his father's funeral: We are gathered here because of one man. A man known personally to many of us, known only by reputation to even more, a man loved by many, scorned by others, a man known for great controversy, and for great compassion. That man, of course, is Jesus of Nazareth. It is He whom we proclaim. Jesus Christ, son of the Father, born of the Virgin Mary, crucified, buried, risen, seated at the right hand of the Father. It is because of Him, because of His life, death and resurrection that we do not mourn as those who have no hope, but in confidence we commend Antonin Scalia to the mercy of God.
May God send us another great man like Justice Scalia to carry on his work
Archbishop Chaput’s Column: In Memory of a Great Man – Archdiocese of PhiladelphiaCHAPUT: Death is always a defeat and a liberation: a defeat for human pride; but for the friends of God, a liberation to eternal life. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died on February 13. He was a man of extraordinary legal genius and fidelity to the Constitution. What irritated his critics most about Justice Scalia was the fact that he was invariably smarter than they were — and worse, he had a sense of humor about it. But his intellect and patriotism were the lesser part of the man. The larger part was his enduring Christian character. His life as a husband, father, friend, scholar and judge was shaped profoundly by his Catholic faith. What made him “great” in the only way that finally matters was his moral integrity.
Why Formula One is talking about closing the cockpit (again)
Formula One Is Talking About Closing the Cockpit (Again) | WIRED: The start of the 2016 Formula One season is just a month away, but Red Bull Racing is already looking ahead to 2017. According to Motorsport.com, the team has submitted a new car design to the FIA, the sport’s governing body. The design isn’t about changing the engine or improving the aerodynamics and downforce. It’s about delivering one of the greatest safety advances in the sport’s history, one that would fundamentally alter the look of motorsports’ premier series.
The Pope, the Patriarch and the People
The Pope, the Patriarch and the People: recovering common aspirations | arcoftheuniverse.infoKLEPACKA: Observations on the momentous Pope Francis-Patriarch Kirill meeting – including Daniel Philpott’s helpful posts here and here on ArcU- have offered us much food for thought this week.
To recap: many commentators have focused on the Kremlin’s apparent interests in securing such a meeting, on Patriarch Kirill’s problematic dependency on Putin, or on the Patriarch’s personal motives for agreeing to meet with Pope Francis at this particular time.
Andrea Gagliarducci, on the other hand, offers a cautiously skeptical account of the Vatican’s emerging “Ostpolitik”, contrasting it to the approach of previous Popes, and questioning whether it will be “successful” in theological terms.
To recap: many commentators have focused on the Kremlin’s apparent interests in securing such a meeting, on Patriarch Kirill’s problematic dependency on Putin, or on the Patriarch’s personal motives for agreeing to meet with Pope Francis at this particular time.
Andrea Gagliarducci, on the other hand, offers a cautiously skeptical account of the Vatican’s emerging “Ostpolitik”, contrasting it to the approach of previous Popes, and questioning whether it will be “successful” in theological terms.
5 things to know about Justice Scalia's son, Father Paul Scalia
5 Facts You Need to Know About Justice Scalia's Son, Paul Scalia – EpicPewMCAFEE: Paul Scalia, son of Justice Antonin Scalia, led part of his father’s funeral mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. (See photos of the funeral here.) Scalia is one of Antonin and Maureen Scalia’s nine children. He was also present at the lying in repose service on Friday, helping and saying a prayer for his father. Paul Scalia’s tribute and words about his father were beautiful and many people admired his strength and composure while leading his father’s funeral during what must be a time of intense grief.
How strange: one of the marks of humanity is that none of us is yet fully human
To Be Fully Human | The Philology InstituteMILLERCLARK: I teach courses in humanities. I guide students through reading Homer and Virgil and Augustine and Dante. I ask them questions about life, love, death, loss, journeying, home, peace, war, men, women, family, and God. We talk about what it means to be human, what vision of life we see represented in works of literature and art from the past, and how those visions differ from our own. I try, but usually fail, to get my students to stop assuming that their view is the right one.
Stunning faith: NBA coach boldly preaches Jesus at funeral for his wife
Stunning Faith: NBA Coach Boldly Preaches Jesus at Funeral for His Wife | ChurchPOPMILLEGAN: “Let’s not lose sight of what’s important,” NBA coach Monty Williams said recently at the funeral for his wife. “God is important. What Christ did on the cross is important.”
Williams’ wife was killed in a car accident when another driver crossed the center line and hit her car head-on. They had five children. A Christian funeral was held in Oklahoma, and Williams decided to address the crowd with a message of faith and hope.
“This is hard for my family, but this will work out,” Williams told the crowd at the funeral. “And my wife would punch me if I were to sit up here and whine about what’s going on.
“That doesn’t take away the pain. But it will work out, because God causes all things to work out.”
Williams’ wife was killed in a car accident when another driver crossed the center line and hit her car head-on. They had five children. A Christian funeral was held in Oklahoma, and Williams decided to address the crowd with a message of faith and hope.
“This is hard for my family, but this will work out,” Williams told the crowd at the funeral. “And my wife would punch me if I were to sit up here and whine about what’s going on.
“That doesn’t take away the pain. But it will work out, because God causes all things to work out.”
Should Catholics apologize for the Crusades?
Should We Apologize for the Crusades? - The Imaginative ConservativeFROHNEN: One of the more ignorant bits of political correctness subverting our cultural memory is the movement to ban the Crusader mascot from schools. A number of schools already have caved in to the pressure to eliminate such a “divisive” or even “racist” mascot, and some, I am quite sure, were happy to lead the way toward cultural surrender. The argument, of course, is that the Crusader is an emblem and representative of oppression and intolerance. By keeping the mascot, we are told, schools are perpetuating the aggression of Christian Europe against Muslims.
Shortage of priestly vocations? Not at this Midwestern parish...
Shortage of Priestly Vocations? Not at This Midwestern Parish – Aleteia.orgBURGER: The Second Vatican Council described the Eucharist as “the source and summit of the Christian life.” A parish in the Midwest seems to be demonstrating how the sacrament instituted by the Lord on Holy Thursday is also the source of vocations to the priesthood.
When asked why they thought so many young men from Saints Peter and Paul parish in Naperville, Ill., were priests or seminarians, one person after another affiliated with the parish pointed to the parish’s focus on the Eucharist, including the presence of a perpetual adoration chapel.
When asked why they thought so many young men from Saints Peter and Paul parish in Naperville, Ill., were priests or seminarians, one person after another affiliated with the parish pointed to the parish’s focus on the Eucharist, including the presence of a perpetual adoration chapel.
7 quick thoughts on the most recent papal presser
Seven quick thoughts on the most recent papal presser | In the Light of the LawEDPETERS: Pope Paul VI, as I understand it, did approve of religious women threatened by rape using contraceptives. It is obvious, though, that such measures were taken in self-defense against criminal acts and, more importantly, would have occurred outside the context of conjugal relations. Avoiding pregnancy under outlaw circumstances is not only ‘not an absolute evil’, it’s not an evil act at all. I hope that mentioning this unusual episode in a press chat will not contribute unduly to the world’s misunderstanding of the limitations of Paul VI’s position in this case and of the episode’s non-applicability to firm Church teaching on contraception within marriage.
Did Francis change Church teaching on contraception?
Did Francis change Church teaching on contraception?KACZOR: During Pope Francis’ flight from Mexico to Rome, a Spanish reporter posed this question: “Holy Father, for several weeks there’s been a lot of concern in many Latin American countries but also in Europe regarding the Zika virus. The greatest risk would be for pregnant women. There is anguish. Some authorities have proposed abortion, or else to avoiding pregnancy. As regards avoiding pregnancy, on this issue, can the Church take into consideration the concept of ‘the lesser of two evils?’”
The Mass should be our refuge from these loud, proud and flashy times
The Mass Should Be Our Refuge From These Loud, Proud and Flashy Times |Blogs | NCRegister.comPOPE: We live in loud, proud, and flashy times. The “noise” of our cultural landscape is so pervasive that many people are downright unnerved by silence. Some actually have difficulty falling asleep unless a television or radio is playing in the background. Visually, we are awash in light and imagery from computers, cell phones, televisions, advertisements, Jumbotrons, and any number of eye-catching displays. In restaurants, bars, and airports, televisions play mindlessly in the background. It is becoming more and more common for this to be true even at the gas pump, in the elevator, and in the backseat of a taxi! The advent of inexpensive digital photography has meant that people take thousands of pictures each year, but are often so busy capturing images that they miss reality itself.
Sinners are called to sanctity, and cowards are called to the Cross
Sinners Are Called to Sanctity, and Cowards Are Called to the Cross |Blogs | NCRegister.comBECKER: The lights were dimming and Lady Lamb was taking the sanctuary-stage. We were sitting about halfway back in Hope College’s chapel, and my daughter Joan threw out a question: “Should we move up front?” Her brother, Cris, and Lydia, her friend, barely even nodded before all three leaped up to press forward as close to the stage as possible.
Me? I stayed seated. In fact, when the music started and everyone around me stood up, I actually retreated further back – with the other old-timers.
Me? I stayed seated. In fact, when the music started and everyone around me stood up, I actually retreated further back – with the other old-timers.
In Antarctica, Mass is never canceled on account of cold weather
NCRegister | Antarctica: Faith in the Land of Eternal Snows: It’s hard to imagine that, 60 million years ago, Antarctica was teeming with dinosaurs languishing in the sweltering, subtropical heat typical of the “White Continent” at the time. Now, it’s home only to seals, penguins, walruses and humans who insist they don’t mind the frigid temperatures.
The first official nod to Christianity on Antarctica came from Capt. Aeneas Mackintosh, who erected a large memorial cross on Wind Vane Hill on Cape Evans in honor of three members of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s 1914-1917 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition party who died in 1916.
The first official nod to Christianity on Antarctica came from Capt. Aeneas Mackintosh, who erected a large memorial cross on Wind Vane Hill on Cape Evans in honor of three members of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s 1914-1917 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition party who died in 1916.
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