Sing to the Lord a New Song – in an Old Way? – Christian Renaissance MovementGRUBER: “I heard there was a secret chord, that David played and it pleased the Lord.” But if you can’t figure out what that chord was, maybe just try singing. God made your voice, after all.
With roots going back to ancient Judaism, singing is an integral part of Christian worship. St. Paul tells us to “be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart” (Eph 5:17-19). One would guess that musical instruments would be helping to make this melody, adding another musical layer and aiding proper pitch, tempo, and rhythm.
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Church desecrated with human waste in horrific vandal attack; Jefferson City bishop leads purification rite...
Church Desecrated with Feces in Horrific Vandal Attack, Bishop Leads Purification | ChurchPOP: A Catholic church in a small Missouri town suffered a terrible act of vandalism last weekend, in which human feces were spread throughout the church interior, including on the Blessed Sacrament within the tabernacle, sacred vessels, and the Bible. Sacred oils were also poured out on the floor, and wine was poured on sacred linens and vestments.
The woman who confessed to police to having perpetuated the crime said she was both a practitioner of Wicca and a parishioner of the Catholic church she vandalized. This weekend, the local bishop led a special ritual of purification for the church.
The woman who confessed to police to having perpetuated the crime said she was both a practitioner of Wicca and a parishioner of the Catholic church she vandalized. This weekend, the local bishop led a special ritual of purification for the church.
Jihadists killed this girl's friend. Now she prays for their conversion...
Jihadists killed her friend, now she prays for their conversion - CruxLOPEZ: Christina Shabo wanted to go to Iraq this summer, but her father would have none of it. Instead she’s here, at World Youth Day, giving her testimony to 20,000 young people and the world.
Krakow is described as the “capital of Divine Mercy,” home to the Divine Mercy shrine where St. Faustina, known as the “secretary of Divine Mercy,” received revelations from Jesus in her prayer about the depths of his mercy.
Shabo, a 25-year-old who was born under a tree in a Turkish refugee camp, switched out “us” for “ISIS” in the Divine Mercy chaplet, the devotion that developed around the Divine Mercy image that was revealed to Sr. Faustina.
Krakow is described as the “capital of Divine Mercy,” home to the Divine Mercy shrine where St. Faustina, known as the “secretary of Divine Mercy,” received revelations from Jesus in her prayer about the depths of his mercy.
Shabo, a 25-year-old who was born under a tree in a Turkish refugee camp, switched out “us” for “ISIS” in the Divine Mercy chaplet, the devotion that developed around the Divine Mercy image that was revealed to Sr. Faustina.
After priest's murder, Muslims attend Mass around France to show solidarity with Catholics
Muslims pray with Catholics over French priest's murder - News from Al Jazeera: Muslims have attended Catholic mass in churches around France in solidarity and sorrow following the brutal murder of a priest in an ISIL-linked attack.
More than 100 Muslims were among the 2,000 who gathered at the cathedral of Rouen near the Normandy town where two teenagers slit the throat of 85-year-old Father Jacques Hamel.
"I thank you in the name of all Christians," Rouen Archbishop Dominique Lebrun told them. "In this way you are affirming that you reject death and violence in the name of God."
Nice's top imam Otaman Aissaoui led a delegation to a Catholic mass in the southern city where Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel carried out a rampage in a truck on Bastille Day, claiming 84 lives and injuring 435, including many Muslims.
More than 100 Muslims were among the 2,000 who gathered at the cathedral of Rouen near the Normandy town where two teenagers slit the throat of 85-year-old Father Jacques Hamel.
"I thank you in the name of all Christians," Rouen Archbishop Dominique Lebrun told them. "In this way you are affirming that you reject death and violence in the name of God."
Nice's top imam Otaman Aissaoui led a delegation to a Catholic mass in the southern city where Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel carried out a rampage in a truck on Bastille Day, claiming 84 lives and injuring 435, including many Muslims.
Be rich in what matters: 18th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Be Rich In What Matters — 18th Sunday of Ordinary Time—Year C | Parishable ItemsFELTES: A large crowd surrounds Jesus as he preaches and teaches. During a brief pause, a man in the crowd says to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me!” Presumably, his brother is there amongst them as well (otherwise how could Jesus reprove him?) Yet the Lord replies to the man, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” That seems like an odd response from Jesus. Is Jesus denying his own authority? On a different occasion, Jesus stated, “If I should judge, my judgment is valid, because I am not alone, but it is I and the Father who sent me.” Imagine if the man in the crowd had answered Jesus’ rhetorical question, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” The man might say, “Well Jesus, we think you’re God’s prophet, so you speak for God.”
5 teachings on wealth: You can't take it with you, but you can send it on ahead!
You Can’t Take It with You, But You Can Send it on Ahead! Five Teachings on Wealth - Community in Mission : Community in MissionPOPE: The Gospel today is not merely a warning against greed; it is an instruction on income and wealth given by Jesus to help us root out greed. As the Gospel opens, the problem of greed is presented. Following that, a prescribed perspective on wealth is offered. Let’s take a look at both parts of this Gospel.
From Krakow, “World Youth Day continues tomorrow at home”
Whispers in the Loggia: "For Him, You Are Important!" – From Krakow, "World Youth Day Continues Tomorrow At Home"PALMO: And so, for the 14th time since John Paul II called young people to Rome in 1986, World Youth Day drew to a close this Sunday morning with the climactic "field Mass" the Polish Pope took with him onto the global stage... only this time, the custom had returned to the land of its birth.
The finale of an emotional five-day trek, while the crowd fell short of initial estimates of 3 million – despite the largest-ever US delegation for an overseas edition of the "Olympic event" – this WYD nonetheless marks a crossroads on several fronts. Having marked his swan song as archbishop of Krakow over this week after four decades as Papa Wojtyla's omnipresent first aide, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz is soon to retire at 77, possibly to be succeeded by the last hometown cleric from John Paul's inner circle: Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, now 71, whose tenure at the helm of the Pontifical Council for the Laity – the Vatican office which oversees WYD planning – ends on September 1st with the opening of the new consolidated arm for Laity, Family, and Life, its own leadership still to be announced.
The finale of an emotional five-day trek, while the crowd fell short of initial estimates of 3 million – despite the largest-ever US delegation for an overseas edition of the "Olympic event" – this WYD nonetheless marks a crossroads on several fronts. Having marked his swan song as archbishop of Krakow over this week after four decades as Papa Wojtyla's omnipresent first aide, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz is soon to retire at 77, possibly to be succeeded by the last hometown cleric from John Paul's inner circle: Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, now 71, whose tenure at the helm of the Pontifical Council for the Laity – the Vatican office which oversees WYD planning – ends on September 1st with the opening of the new consolidated arm for Laity, Family, and Life, its own leadership still to be announced.
Pope Francis to WYD pilgrims at closing Mass: ‘Jesus calls you by name!’
Pope Francis to WYD Pilgrims at Closing Mass: ‘Jesus Calls You by Name!’ | Daily News | NCRegister.com: Our true identity cannot be lived out in glum negativity, but only in the knowledge that, in God’s eyes, our value cannot be measured; no one is insignificant. Pope Francis made these remarks on Sunday to at least 1.5 million young people gathered in Krakow for the final Mass of World Youth Day (WYD).
“God loves us the way we are, and no sin, fault or mistake of ours makes him change his mind,” the Pope said in his homily to the crowds of young people who filled the Polish city’s “Campus Misericordiae” (Field of Mercy).
“No one is insignificant,” the Pope said. “He loves all of us with a special love; for him, all of us are important: You are important!”
“God loves us the way we are, and no sin, fault or mistake of ours makes him change his mind,” the Pope said in his homily to the crowds of young people who filled the Polish city’s “Campus Misericordiae” (Field of Mercy).
“No one is insignificant,” the Pope said. “He loves all of us with a special love; for him, all of us are important: You are important!”
Saturday, July 30, 2016
Matt Damon is back as Jason Bourne, but the thrill is gone...
SDG Reviews ‘Jason Bourne’ | Daily News | NCRegister.comGREYDANUS: “I’m just trying to do the right thing here,” Jason Bourne told Franka Potente’s Marie Kreutz 14 years ago in The Bourne Identity.
“Nobody does the right thing” was her doubtful response.
Those two lines perfectly encapsulated the moral and existential tension not only of that film, but of the Bourne trilogy as a whole: the fundamental untenability of the hero’s position, the extremely unforgiving nature of his world, his quixotic determination to take moral responsibility for a life that he couldn’t remember — a life as a person who seemed not to have placed a high priority on moral responsibility.
It was impossible not to empathize with Bourne’s plight; he could be anyone. But, of course, he wasn’t just anyone, because very dangerous people were trying hard to kill him, and it turned out that he was very good at staying alive.
“Nobody does the right thing” was her doubtful response.
Those two lines perfectly encapsulated the moral and existential tension not only of that film, but of the Bourne trilogy as a whole: the fundamental untenability of the hero’s position, the extremely unforgiving nature of his world, his quixotic determination to take moral responsibility for a life that he couldn’t remember — a life as a person who seemed not to have placed a high priority on moral responsibility.
It was impossible not to empathize with Bourne’s plight; he could be anyone. But, of course, he wasn’t just anyone, because very dangerous people were trying hard to kill him, and it turned out that he was very good at staying alive.
9 ways every Catholic can enjoy the Olympics in the Year of Mercy
9 Ways Every Catholic Can Enjoy the Olympics in the Year of Mercy – EpicPewMCAFEE: The time for the olympics is close and there’s plenty for a Christian to do. Here’s a handful of suggestions for ways you can enjoy the Olympics and contribute your works of mercy. First, admire athletes who pray. We should admire those who are not afraid to display their faith in public. And teach your kids about hard work and discipline...
Why is “happiness” all you Catholics talk about?
Why Is 'Happiness' all You Catholics Talk About?CLARK: All my life, I have heard people make the claim that the Catholic Church does not let its members “have any fun.”
They seem to view—or at least claim to view—the Catholic Church as an institution that exists for the purpose of making sure that no one is happy. Hearing this nonsense, even our own children may begin listening to it. However, for a serious student of the Catholic
Faith, the irony of this “no fun” position is immediately obvious; the truth is that we Catholics are unapologetically focused on happiness.
Begging the question with a phony interrogative, they ask, “Why is it that all you Catholics talk about is the sixth and ninth commandments?”
They seem to view—or at least claim to view—the Catholic Church as an institution that exists for the purpose of making sure that no one is happy. Hearing this nonsense, even our own children may begin listening to it. However, for a serious student of the Catholic
Faith, the irony of this “no fun” position is immediately obvious; the truth is that we Catholics are unapologetically focused on happiness.
Begging the question with a phony interrogative, they ask, “Why is it that all you Catholics talk about is the sixth and ninth commandments?”
The week I left the Democratic Party
The week I left the Democratic Party - Top Stories - Aleteia.org – Worldwide Catholic Network Sharing Faith Resources for those seeking Truth – Aleteia.orgO'MALLEY: Party conventions remind us that the art of politics are fundamentally about stories. If I listened to only the prime time speeches this week in Philadelphia, I would have been reminded why I’ve remained a Democrat (just like my grandfather and his grandfather before him) over the years despite increasing evidence that we pro-life citizens are an unwelcome group among the Dems.
In these prime time addresses, I’ve heard something of my own story. As a lower class kid growing up in East Tennessee, I know that sometimes we need government and Church assistance alike to pay the bills for a month or to have presents on Christmas morning. I know what it’s like to take free lunches at school. I know what it’s like to see my mother finally graduate from college with the assistance of federal funding. I know what it’s like to be the first graduate of a four-year college in my family, something that was only possible through governmental aid. I’m grateful for the ways that the government has intervened over the first thirty years of my life, making it possible for a low-income elementary school student to eventually get a doctorate and to teach at the University of Notre Dame.
In these prime time addresses, I’ve heard something of my own story. As a lower class kid growing up in East Tennessee, I know that sometimes we need government and Church assistance alike to pay the bills for a month or to have presents on Christmas morning. I know what it’s like to take free lunches at school. I know what it’s like to see my mother finally graduate from college with the assistance of federal funding. I know what it’s like to be the first graduate of a four-year college in my family, something that was only possible through governmental aid. I’m grateful for the ways that the government has intervened over the first thirty years of my life, making it possible for a low-income elementary school student to eventually get a doctorate and to teach at the University of Notre Dame.
A bishop challenged a young guy to a push-up contest at WYD in Poland
A Bishop Challenged a Young Guy to a Push-Up Contest at WYD in Poland | ChurchPOP: Here’s something you don’t see everyday!
Bishop Joseph Strickland of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas is in Poland with a group of young people for World Youth Day. Somehow the 57-year-old bishop got himself into a push-up contest with a young guy from his diocese, and they recorded a video of the whole thing!
With people gathered around, Bishop Strickland and Joseph Mahmoud got on the ground and started doing push-ups, with the winner being whoever could do the most.
Bishop Joseph Strickland of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas is in Poland with a group of young people for World Youth Day. Somehow the 57-year-old bishop got himself into a push-up contest with a young guy from his diocese, and they recorded a video of the whole thing!
With people gathered around, Bishop Strickland and Joseph Mahmoud got on the ground and started doing push-ups, with the winner being whoever could do the most.
Caesar vs. Islam: Whose side should Christians take?
Caesar vs. Islam: Whose Side Should Christians Take? - The Imaginative ConservativePEARCE: In The Great Heresies (1938), Hilaire Belloc wrote of the lifting of the Muslim siege of Vienna “on a date that ought to be among the most famous in history—September 11, 1683.” The date of September 11, if not the year of 1683, would become branded on everyone’s memory after the 9/11 attacks. One wonders, indeed, whether this date had been selected by the Islamic terrorists as revenge for the earlier defeat inflicted upon the forces of Islam more than three hundred years earlier. Whether this is so, or whether it was mere coincidence, there is no doubt that the two events happening on the same date conveys great and portentous significance, symbolically connecting the one clash of civilizations with the other. In light of both events, Belloc’s prophecy in the same book about the future return of the threat of Islam echoes today with seismic resonance. “It has always seemed to me possible, and even probable,” wrote Belloc, “that there would be a resurrection of Islam and that our sons or our grandsons would see the renewal of that tremendous struggle between the Christian culture and what has been for more than a thousand years its greatest opponent.”
Friday, July 29, 2016
There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal...
There Are No Ordinary People; You Have Never Talked to a Mere Mortal |Blogs | NCRegister.comBECKER: My family has never met a Jane Austen story we didn’t like, and that goes for screen adaptations as well. It’ll come as no surprise, then, that we were all grins when we stumbled across a film version of Northanger Abbey we’d never seen while perusing our public library’s streaming Hoopla offerings.
“What’s it rated?” I asked my wife.
“Looks good – 79% on the Tomatometer,” Nancy replied. “It’s a BBC production from 2007.”
“How’d we miss it?” I marveled. “Let’s give it a go.”
The story itself was Austen’s first completed novel, and it includes many of her characteristic plot elements: class struggle, wealth and penury, single women yearning for marriage, marriageable women yearning for love. And, of course, a young, single, female protagonist – in this case, Catherine Moreland.
Catherine, the daughter of a rural clergyman, accepts an invitation to visit Bath from the wealthier (and childless) family friends, the Allens. Just before her first night out in the “big” city, Catherine gazes from a window and wonders aloud at the hustle and bustle in the streets below. “So many people!” she says. “I wonder who they can be, and what their stories are.”
“What’s it rated?” I asked my wife.
“Looks good – 79% on the Tomatometer,” Nancy replied. “It’s a BBC production from 2007.”
“How’d we miss it?” I marveled. “Let’s give it a go.”
The story itself was Austen’s first completed novel, and it includes many of her characteristic plot elements: class struggle, wealth and penury, single women yearning for marriage, marriageable women yearning for love. And, of course, a young, single, female protagonist – in this case, Catherine Moreland.
Catherine, the daughter of a rural clergyman, accepts an invitation to visit Bath from the wealthier (and childless) family friends, the Allens. Just before her first night out in the “big” city, Catherine gazes from a window and wonders aloud at the hustle and bustle in the streets below. “So many people!” she says. “I wonder who they can be, and what their stories are.”
Polish bishops say No to Pope's “possibility” of communion for divorced and remarried
Polish Bishops Say No to Pope’s “Possibility” of Communion for Divorced and Remarried – Seasons of GraceSCHIFFER: The Polish Bishops’ Conference says “No” to communion for divorced and remarried Catholics, despite Pope Francis’ family document “Amoris Laetitia” which purportedly opens the door to discussion on that topic.
Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki, the President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, issued a statement following a closed door, “no speeches” meeting of the Polish bishops with Pope Francis, who had just arrived in Krakow for World Youth Day. In the statement, Archbishop Gadecki said that giving communion could not be allowed even after a period of pastoral discernment, as Pope Francis seems to support. He reconfirmed constant Church teaching that if remarried divorcees had entered into a valid first marriage, they cannot receive the Eucharist unless they choose not to express their love for one another in conjugal union. “This [communion for divorced and remarried] cannot be solved in a confessional box in two minutes or even a couple of years.” the archbishop told reporters in a press briefing.
Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki, the President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, issued a statement following a closed door, “no speeches” meeting of the Polish bishops with Pope Francis, who had just arrived in Krakow for World Youth Day. In the statement, Archbishop Gadecki said that giving communion could not be allowed even after a period of pastoral discernment, as Pope Francis seems to support. He reconfirmed constant Church teaching that if remarried divorcees had entered into a valid first marriage, they cannot receive the Eucharist unless they choose not to express their love for one another in conjugal union. “This [communion for divorced and remarried] cannot be solved in a confessional box in two minutes or even a couple of years.” the archbishop told reporters in a press briefing.
Priest witnesses miracle in ER after he touches scapular, brings dead man back to life
Priest Witnesses Miracle in ER as Dead Man Comes Back to Life |Blogs | NCRegister.comPRONECHEN: How would you react if you saw a dead man suddenly come back to life? Father John Higgins can tell you about his reaction. He was a main part of the story.
Father Higgins is the pastor of St. Raymond Nonatus Church in Downey, Calif., a city in southeast Los Angeles County. He’s a genial, good-natured, friendly and cheerful, a priest who is obviously very concerned about all those in his care, whether they are parishioners or not.
As we were having a long phone conversation, he told me about a miraculous turn of events that happened some years ago when he was an associate miles away at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Goleta, a suburb of Santa Barbara.
Shortly after he had arrived at his destination to have a Mass with a group of young adults then enjoy a barbeque following it, he got an emergency call from the hospital. Paramedics had brought in an older gentleman who had suffered a heart attack.
Father Higgins rushed to Goleta Valley Community Hospital. “I remember walking into the Emergency Room. I knew the nurse in charge there,” he told me. At first he didn’t know who was on the gurney because the curtain was pulled. But he well knew that head nurse of the ER whose name was Anne. She and her husband and their family were members of his parish, and she would call him whenever emergencies arrived at the hospital.
Father Higgins is the pastor of St. Raymond Nonatus Church in Downey, Calif., a city in southeast Los Angeles County. He’s a genial, good-natured, friendly and cheerful, a priest who is obviously very concerned about all those in his care, whether they are parishioners or not.
As we were having a long phone conversation, he told me about a miraculous turn of events that happened some years ago when he was an associate miles away at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Goleta, a suburb of Santa Barbara.
Shortly after he had arrived at his destination to have a Mass with a group of young adults then enjoy a barbeque following it, he got an emergency call from the hospital. Paramedics had brought in an older gentleman who had suffered a heart attack.
Father Higgins rushed to Goleta Valley Community Hospital. “I remember walking into the Emergency Room. I knew the nurse in charge there,” he told me. At first he didn’t know who was on the gurney because the curtain was pulled. But he well knew that head nurse of the ER whose name was Anne. She and her husband and their family were members of his parish, and she would call him whenever emergencies arrived at the hospital.
American Jesuits are in a free fall, and the crisis is getting worse
American Jesuits Are in a Free Fall, and the Crisis is Getting Worse |Blogs | NCRegister.comREILLY: Excitement is building for Jesuits worldwide as their general congregation to elect a new superior general is quickly approaching this fall. The election presents an important opportunity for them to reflect on the future of the Society of Jesus—and to address serious concerns. Even under a Jesuit Pope, the order suffers from a steady decline in membership, dissent and moral confusion within its ranks, and a widening gulf between many Jesuit universities and the Church.
Perhaps that’s why there has been so much attention lately to the announcement that 20 new Jesuit priests were ordained this year in the United States, Canada and Haiti. That’s good news, with the hope that these new priests will be true Soldiers of Christ and embrace the fullness of Church teaching, like their predecessors of old and some notable giants today.
Perhaps that’s why there has been so much attention lately to the announcement that 20 new Jesuit priests were ordained this year in the United States, Canada and Haiti. That’s good news, with the hope that these new priests will be true Soldiers of Christ and embrace the fullness of Church teaching, like their predecessors of old and some notable giants today.
Despite what you might have heard, St. Christopher is still a saint
Despite What You Might Have Heard, St. Christopher is Still a Saint |Blogs | NCRegister.comSTAGNARO: A few years ago, I was at a Broadway performance of Nunsense―the only slightly-offensive but fantastically humorous comedy.
I recall one point in the interactive play when the "Mother Superior" of the Little Sisters of Hoboken asked a question of the audience but warned us that she would only call upon boys and girls who raised their hands.
Shades of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Elementary School!
All I could do was smile as I dutifully raised my hand without yelling out the correct answer like some of the naughtier boys and girls in the audience! No doubt their parents would get a call from Sister later that evening.
I recall one point in the interactive play when the "Mother Superior" of the Little Sisters of Hoboken asked a question of the audience but warned us that she would only call upon boys and girls who raised their hands.
Shades of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Elementary School!
All I could do was smile as I dutifully raised my hand without yelling out the correct answer like some of the naughtier boys and girls in the audience! No doubt their parents would get a call from Sister later that evening.
Roe v. Wade was a form of tyranny that deserves eternal hostility
Roe v. Wade Was a Form of Tyranny That Deserves Eternal Hostility |Blogs | NCRegister.comPOPE: In a radio interview earlier this week, we discussed how some see the tables turned when it comes to abortion—that those who favor limited government “suddenly” want government intervention to forbid abortion, and those who favor expansive government “suddenly” want government to stay out of this “personal” decision. (Of course, how can it be personal since it involves another human being in her womb?)
The mystery of why you can't remember being a baby
BBC - Future - The mystery of why you can't remember being a baby: You’re out to lunch with someone you’ve known for a few years. Together you’ve held parties, celebrated birthdays, visited parks and bonded over your mutual love of ice cream. You’ve even been on holiday together. In all, they’ve spent quite a lot of money on you – roughly 63,224. The thing is: you can’t remember any of it.
From the most dramatic moment in life – the day of your birth – to first steps, first words, first food, right up to nursery school, most of us can’t remember anything of our first few years. Even after our precious first memory, the recollections tend to be few and far between until well into our childhood. How come?
From the most dramatic moment in life – the day of your birth – to first steps, first words, first food, right up to nursery school, most of us can’t remember anything of our first few years. Even after our precious first memory, the recollections tend to be few and far between until well into our childhood. How come?
Confessions of a World Youth Day convert
Confessions of a World Youth Day convert - CruxLOPEZ: I don’t typically cry in arenas. But at the WYD Mercy Center sponsored by the Knights of Columbus here Tuesday night, I did. And I was far from alone.
The Knights of Columbus are hosting the arena for the week for English-speaking pilgrims for Mass, adoration, and other programming.
It was long past the point where the Holy Spirit had taken over the place when the popular Christian artist Matt Maher led 20,000 young people in inviting Him in song.
The Mercy Center is the largest venue in Krakow, a city where not all that long ago it was illegal to pray in public. And yet, in this city of Saint John Paul II, our contemporary exemplar of heroic virtue, the young people (and adults accompanying them) believe prayer is the solution to just about every problem you can think of seems present.
The Knights of Columbus are hosting the arena for the week for English-speaking pilgrims for Mass, adoration, and other programming.
It was long past the point where the Holy Spirit had taken over the place when the popular Christian artist Matt Maher led 20,000 young people in inviting Him in song.
The Mercy Center is the largest venue in Krakow, a city where not all that long ago it was illegal to pray in public. And yet, in this city of Saint John Paul II, our contemporary exemplar of heroic virtue, the young people (and adults accompanying them) believe prayer is the solution to just about every problem you can think of seems present.
Thursday, July 28, 2016
The DNC's odd nod to religion in Philly's cathedral
The DNC's Odd Nod to Religion in Philly's Cathedral |Blogs | NCRegister.comONEEL: Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s resignation and being booed down at a breakfast of her state’s delegation was not an official event at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia this week, although given the coverage of the latest Hillary-related e-mail scandal, you could be forgiven for thinking it was.
What was one of the Dem confab’s first official events got little or no coverage. And it symbolized all that is bewildering about the Party’s approach to religion vis-à-vis the public square.
The event in question was the “Interfaith Service of Prayer for the Nation” held at Philly’s cathedral, the Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul. Planning for the event began in February by the Philadelphia Liturgical Institute, at the request and on behalf of the DNC.
What was one of the Dem confab’s first official events got little or no coverage. And it symbolized all that is bewildering about the Party’s approach to religion vis-à-vis the public square.
The event in question was the “Interfaith Service of Prayer for the Nation” held at Philly’s cathedral, the Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul. Planning for the event began in February by the Philadelphia Liturgical Institute, at the request and on behalf of the DNC.
Inside sources leak possible location of the next World Youth Day
Inside Sources Leak Possible Location of the Next World Youth Day | ChurchPOP: It’s a tradition that the pope announces at the end of World Youth Day where the next one will be taking place.
Though Pope Francis isn’t set to the make the official announcement until Sunday, rumors have already been spreading about the possible location.
You ready for it?
Panama!
“Sources point to Panama as the likely next destination,” Inés San Martín writes on Crux. “Its president, Juan Carlos Varela, a practicing Catholic who will attend the event in Krakow this week, is said to have worked to convince the bishops to host the next WYD, rather than the other way round.”
Though Pope Francis isn’t set to the make the official announcement until Sunday, rumors have already been spreading about the possible location.
You ready for it?
Panama!
“Sources point to Panama as the likely next destination,” Inés San Martín writes on Crux. “Its president, Juan Carlos Varela, a practicing Catholic who will attend the event in Krakow this week, is said to have worked to convince the bishops to host the next WYD, rather than the other way round.”
World Youth Day marriage proposal goes viral
Love, Prayer, Commitment at World Youth Day | LifeZette: It was a regular “boy meets girl” love story, with a few million Christian pilgrims thrown in.
Jonathan Eric Defante and his girlfriend, Apple, are both from Dubai — but it took a special World Youth Day trip back in 2013 for them to meet.
“We are grateful to God to be one of the many World Youth Day love stories.”
“Apple and I met in our parish’s delegation for the World Youth Day 2013,” Defante wrote in a short testimony about their relationship for the World Youth Day Facebook page. “She wanted to discern God’s vocation for her. I wanted to see how big my church was. We ended up becoming friends.”
Jonathan Eric Defante and his girlfriend, Apple, are both from Dubai — but it took a special World Youth Day trip back in 2013 for them to meet.
“We are grateful to God to be one of the many World Youth Day love stories.”
“Apple and I met in our parish’s delegation for the World Youth Day 2013,” Defante wrote in a short testimony about their relationship for the World Youth Day Facebook page. “She wanted to discern God’s vocation for her. I wanted to see how big my church was. We ended up becoming friends.”
Wanted: A new model for Catholic leadership
Wanted: A new model for Catholic leadership | University of St. Michael's CollegeMULRONEY: Hillary Clinton’s choice of Virginia Senator Tim Kaine as her running mate is, if nothing else, smart politics.� He is a progressive and credible figure from an important state, and, like current Vice President Joe Biden, a Catholic.
That last part matters a great deal because US Catholics represent a sizable voting bloc whose allegiance Democrats can no longer take for granted. That’s due in part to the fact that the party’s policies on a range of issues related to life, the family and gender run directly counter to Catholic teaching.
That last part matters a great deal because US Catholics represent a sizable voting bloc whose allegiance Democrats can no longer take for granted. That’s due in part to the fact that the party’s policies on a range of issues related to life, the family and gender run directly counter to Catholic teaching.
If NFP works, why does she have ten kids?
If NFP works, why does she have ten kids? – Aleteia.org – Worldwide Catholic Network Sharing Faith Resources for those seeking Truth – Aleteia.orgFISHER: Hello, elephant in the room! I see you, and I’m ready to talk about you.
The NFP community is full of large families like mine. What the heck? How can we say that NFP is effective, and then show up with ten kids in tow? If a told you I had a really great system for losing weight, but I weighed 400 pounds, wouldn’t you snicker and look elsewhere for advice?
It’s a fair question! Here’s my answer...
The NFP community is full of large families like mine. What the heck? How can we say that NFP is effective, and then show up with ten kids in tow? If a told you I had a really great system for losing weight, but I weighed 400 pounds, wouldn’t you snicker and look elsewhere for advice?
It’s a fair question! Here’s my answer...
Even the small struggles serve the Kingdom of God
Even the small struggles serve the Kingdom of God ~ The MotherlandsRENNER: As a child I remember being told, “You're just going through a phase,” about some tragedy that was happening in my life. Probably some elementary-school drama that involved passing notes, or the embarrassment of being six inches taller than everyone in my class. I’m not sure what the issue was, but the response stuck with me.
At the time, I was struggling to cope, and dismissing the event as “just a phase” didn’t help settle my swirling emotions. Instead, it made me feel like my struggle wasn’t valid, that it didn’t actually matter in the big picture. But it did—and they all do—because in each phase we are shaped by God through events occurring at a particular point in our lives.
At the time, I was struggling to cope, and dismissing the event as “just a phase” didn’t help settle my swirling emotions. Instead, it made me feel like my struggle wasn’t valid, that it didn’t actually matter in the big picture. But it did—and they all do—because in each phase we are shaped by God through events occurring at a particular point in our lives.
Symbolic details in a priest's death in parish named for St. Stephen
What. It. All. Means. Symbolic details in a priest's death in parish named for St. Stephen — GetReligionMATTINGLY: In the aftermath of the murder of Father Jacques Hamel, there are two stories unfolding in France and, to a lesser degree, the rest of postmodern and post-Christian Europe. Let me stress that both stories are valid and deserve coverage.
One story is about the crime itself and the investigation into how it happened. At the heart of this story is the official dilemma facing the powers that be in government, which is how to stop as many terrorist acts as possible before they happen. The symbolic detail: One of the attackers – 19-year-old Adel Kermiche – was a known ISIS ally who was already wearing a monitoring device around his ankle.
One story is about the crime itself and the investigation into how it happened. At the heart of this story is the official dilemma facing the powers that be in government, which is how to stop as many terrorist acts as possible before they happen. The symbolic detail: One of the attackers – 19-year-old Adel Kermiche – was a known ISIS ally who was already wearing a monitoring device around his ankle.
Regardless of the political upheavals we face now, our true home will always be Jesus himself...
At the Movies with Campaign 2016 - Crisis MagazineBECKER: By all accounts, this has been a strange campaign season, and it’s only going to get stranger, so I’m turning to the movies. I’ve always found it both instructive and diverting to relate the news of the day to big (and little) screen spectacles—to help make sense of it all and then get my mind off of it.
Apparently I’m not the only one who feels that way in these odd times.
Take film historian Richard Blake’s recent essay in America that takes a look back at Orson Welles’ cinematic masterpiece, Citizen Kane. “On its 75th anniversary, coming in the light of this election cycle, it is eerily relevant, even timeless,” Blake wrote of the film. “In short, it is the story of a media manipulator who strives to turn his celebrity into elective office.” Blake then offers this charge to his readers: “Draw what parallels you may.”
Apparently I’m not the only one who feels that way in these odd times.
Take film historian Richard Blake’s recent essay in America that takes a look back at Orson Welles’ cinematic masterpiece, Citizen Kane. “On its 75th anniversary, coming in the light of this election cycle, it is eerily relevant, even timeless,” Blake wrote of the film. “In short, it is the story of a media manipulator who strives to turn his celebrity into elective office.” Blake then offers this charge to his readers: “Draw what parallels you may.”
Say an extra prayer for the Pope. He fell at Mass on Thursday morning (but he's OK)...
Our 79-Year-Old Holy Father Fell During Mass This Morning! | ChurchPOP: Pope Francis, who’s 79-years-old, fell during Mass in Poland this morning. But he appears to be okay...
We must win hearts for Jesus Christ. The urgency of the moment is clear...
Proclaim the Prince of PeaceCONLEY: I spent July 18th in Rouen, the city along the River Seine where St. Joan of Arc was tried and put to death in 1431.� She was a defender of the faith, and a fierce defender of the freedom of France.� She was also an evangelist. She called her fellow soldiers to faith, to virtue, to earnest discipleship of Jesus Christ.� She died for the cause of justice, in defense of her people, and she died with the name of Jesus on her lips.
A few days before I went to Rouen, a terrorist drove a truck through a crowd in Nice, killing 84 people. �A month before, a terrorist killed 49 people in a nightclub in Orlando. On the day I spent in Rouen, a terrorist attacked German train passengers with an ax.� A few days later, a suicide bomber attacked a music festival in Ansbach.� In the same week, suicide bombers killed more than a hundred in attacks in Baghdad and Kabul.
A few days before I went to Rouen, a terrorist drove a truck through a crowd in Nice, killing 84 people. �A month before, a terrorist killed 49 people in a nightclub in Orlando. On the day I spent in Rouen, a terrorist attacked German train passengers with an ax.� A few days later, a suicide bomber attacked a music festival in Ansbach.� In the same week, suicide bombers killed more than a hundred in attacks in Baghdad and Kabul.
Have the major parties left you politically homeless? Catholic social teaching is solid ground...
Homelessness, party-style - Denver CatholicWEIGEL: I grew up in what you might call a genetically-Democratic family, but one in which partisan heterodoxy was not uncommon. My parents voted for Dwight D. Eisenhower twice, for Richard M. Nixon in 1960, and for the occasional Republican candidate for U.S. Senate from Maryland. But they were registered Democrats and, when I gained the franchise, it would have seemed somehow unnatural for me to register as a Republican. It would also have been stupid, in that Maryland was already en route to becoming one of the most reliably blue states on the map; and if one wanted a say in anything, it was going to be through the medium of the Democratic primaries.
The humble speak for God, Pope says at Czestochowa
The humble speak for God, Pope says at Czestochowa :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): Those who embrace their own littleness become the “spokespersons” of God, Pope Francis said during Mass at the shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, celebrating the 1050 anniversary of Poland becoming a Christian nation. It was the first major event of the Pope's trip to the country for the 31st World Youth Day.
“To be attracted by power, by grandeur, by appearances, is tragically human,” the pontiff said in his homily. “But to give oneself to others, eliminating distances, dwelling in littleness and living the reality of one’s everyday life: this is exquisitely divine.”
“To be attracted by power, by grandeur, by appearances, is tragically human,” the pontiff said in his homily. “But to give oneself to others, eliminating distances, dwelling in littleness and living the reality of one’s everyday life: this is exquisitely divine.”
Mike Pence's spiritual wanderings should be a wake-up call to Catholics
Mike Pence's Spiritual Wanderings Should Be a Wake-Up Call to Catholics | Daily News | NCRegister.comWEDDELL: In my early days as a Catholic, I remember lively conversations with my first pastor, who just couldn’t take in what I was telling him: that many Catholics were leaving the Church for the evangelical world. He was incredulous. How could they leave the Eucharist? Father demanded that I “tell them to stop it!” I’ve been working on that ever since.
We must grasp that Mike Pence is the 21st-century norm, not the exception. We live in an era in which the majority of Americans raised as Catholics have left the Church at some point in their lives. According to Pew Research in a Sept. 2, 2015, study, 52% of Catholic adults have left the Church; and so far, 11% have come back. The same survey indicates 41% have not yet returned. It is essential that we understand that many think about leaving for months or years before they exit stage right — and that many leave not because their faith in God is declining, but because it is growing; and they honestly believe, based upon what they have experienced, that there is little or no help to be found in the Catholic community.
We must grasp that Mike Pence is the 21st-century norm, not the exception. We live in an era in which the majority of Americans raised as Catholics have left the Church at some point in their lives. According to Pew Research in a Sept. 2, 2015, study, 52% of Catholic adults have left the Church; and so far, 11% have come back. The same survey indicates 41% have not yet returned. It is essential that we understand that many think about leaving for months or years before they exit stage right — and that many leave not because their faith in God is declining, but because it is growing; and they honestly believe, based upon what they have experienced, that there is little or no help to be found in the Catholic community.
The Democratic Party bears the Mark of Kaine
DNC Day Three: The Mark of Kaine |Blogs | NCRegister.comBUNSON: Day 3 at the Democratic National Convention was highlighted by the appearance of party heavyweights, including President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. They both defended their record of the past eight years and spoke on behalf of the party's newly christened presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton.
The other big speaker for the night was, of course, was Vice Presidential nominee, Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia.
Of particular significance for Catholics, two self-professed Catholic leaders, Biden and Kaine, addressed the DNC tonight. The two are not only among the most prominent Catholics in government—they are exemplars of the self-contradictory “pro-abortion Catholic” political posture.
The other big speaker for the night was, of course, was Vice Presidential nominee, Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia.
Of particular significance for Catholics, two self-professed Catholic leaders, Biden and Kaine, addressed the DNC tonight. The two are not only among the most prominent Catholics in government—they are exemplars of the self-contradictory “pro-abortion Catholic” political posture.
The best player in the NFL is also the weirdest
The NFL’s Best Player Is Also the Weirdest — The Ringer: Chicken farming, roller coasters, and the truth about evolution: Welcome to Von Miller’s wonderfully wacky world...
Trump is driving Mass-going Catholic voters toward Clinton, Pew study shows
Trump Is Driving Catholic Voters Toward Clinton | FiveThirtyEightLIBRESCO: Donald Trump has held onto the support of evangelical Christians even as he has screwed up the name of a book of the Bible, said he doesn’t feel he needs forgiveness for anything, and struggled to answer the question that Jesus posed to Peter: “Who do you say that I am?” But, according to a recent report by Pew, Trump’s doing terribly with Catholic voters, particularly those who are regular churchgoers.
The legal term “time immemorial” originally referred to any event occurring before July 6, 1189
HaggardHawks: Immemorial: But, in fact, this bizarre quirk of legal terminology is entirely true.
The word immemorial literally means “unrememberable”, or “beyond memory”. Although it’s occasionally found on its own (Alfred Lord Tennyson’s The Princess, for one), by and large it’s now considered an example of a “fossil” word—an archaism that only survives in the language in one solitary fixed expression or cliché, like the beck of “beck and call”, the kith of “kith and kin”, or the riddance of “good riddance”. (Shameless plug: there’s more on that in the book.)
The word immemorial literally means “unrememberable”, or “beyond memory”. Although it’s occasionally found on its own (Alfred Lord Tennyson’s The Princess, for one), by and large it’s now considered an example of a “fossil” word—an archaism that only survives in the language in one solitary fixed expression or cliché, like the beck of “beck and call”, the kith of “kith and kin”, or the riddance of “good riddance”. (Shameless plug: there’s more on that in the book.)
Remembering my World Youth Day experiences in Denver and Rome
Remembering My World Youth Day Experiences | TOM PERNAPERNA: As I have been seeing all the posts from my friends on social media as well as some of the videos posted by priests and figures such as Bishop Robert Barron, about World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland, I can’t help to remember the fond memories that I have from the two World Youth Day events I was blessed to attend years ago.
When I was nineteen years old, I attended my first World Youth Day, which was held in Denver, Colorado in 1993. Our young adult group from St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church sponsored a pilgrimage for us to attend. Father Pete Rossa, Pastor of St. Bernadette Catholic Church here in the Diocese of Phoenix was on that trip before he discerned Holy Orders. Our young adult leader at the time, Bobby Kloska, got us so fired up about attending and seeing the great Pope John Paul II.
When I was nineteen years old, I attended my first World Youth Day, which was held in Denver, Colorado in 1993. Our young adult group from St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church sponsored a pilgrimage for us to attend. Father Pete Rossa, Pastor of St. Bernadette Catholic Church here in the Diocese of Phoenix was on that trip before he discerned Holy Orders. Our young adult leader at the time, Bobby Kloska, got us so fired up about attending and seeing the great Pope John Paul II.
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
In first balcony talk in Krakow, Pope tells youth to 'make chaos'
In first balcony talk, Pope tells youth to 'make chaos' :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): On his first night in Krakow Pope Francis was already stirring things up with participants in WYD by hosting an off-the-cuff Q and A and telling them to ‘make chaos’ by spreading the joy of their faith.
“You must do your duty and make chaos all night. Show your Christian joy, the joy the Lord gave you to be in the community who follows Jesus,” the Pope told those participating in World Youth Day after arriving to Krakow July 27.
He spoke from the balcony of the Bishop’s Palace, telling the thousands of youth gathered below not to be afraid, but to have faith and spread the joy that comes from following Christ.
“You must do your duty and make chaos all night. Show your Christian joy, the joy the Lord gave you to be in the community who follows Jesus,” the Pope told those participating in World Youth Day after arriving to Krakow July 27.
He spoke from the balcony of the Bishop’s Palace, telling the thousands of youth gathered below not to be afraid, but to have faith and spread the joy that comes from following Christ.
Why politics matters, and why it doesn’t
Why politics matters, and why it doesn’t - Top Stories - Aleteia.org – Worldwide Catholic Network Sharing Faith Resources for those seeking Truth – Aleteia.orgMILLS: Soon we begin the three-month season of loud dinner-table arguments, broken friendships, Facebook rages, guys slugging each other in pubs, as well as lots of “How’s the weather?” non-discussions of politics — otherwise known as the period between the major party conventions and the presidential election.
We put a lot of emotion into politics, judge other people by their political choices, act as if the election were the one thing in life that really matters.
We put a lot of emotion into politics, judge other people by their political choices, act as if the election were the one thing in life that really matters.
Martyrdom is more than being killed for your faith...
Martyrdom Is More than Being Killed for Your Faith | Catholic AnswersAKIN: The recent horrific murder of French priest Fr. Jacques Hamel by two ISIS-linked killers has caused worldwide shock and outrage. Not only was Fr. Hamel killed in a gruesome way (having his throat slit), he was killed while saying Mass.
This has led many to discuss his death in terms of martyrdom. Some have spoken as if his martyrdom was certain. For example, writing for the Catholic Herald, Ed Condon states
This has led many to discuss his death in terms of martyrdom. Some have spoken as if his martyrdom was certain. For example, writing for the Catholic Herald, Ed Condon states
What to do when you don't feel like praying
When You Don’t Feel Like PrayingLEJEUNE: A while ago, my wife and I got into an argument about some silly little thing. I thought we were done with the issue, when it cropped up again the next day. I got upset and was not very happy. Of course, my wife also unhappy with me and honestly neither of had too many fond feelings about one another at the time. So, when we started to get ready to go to bed, there was still tension in the air. It was during this time my wife said, “do you want to pray”?
Honestly, I didn’t want to. When we are upset, agitated, angry, etc sometimes the last thing we want to do is pray. But, that is exactly what we need to do at those times.
Honestly, I didn’t want to. When we are upset, agitated, angry, etc sometimes the last thing we want to do is pray. But, that is exactly what we need to do at those times.
French nun gives eyewitness account of Fr. Jacques Hamel's martyrdom
French nun relives terrifying moment she fled ISIS church killing in emotional interview paying tribute to murdered priest - Mirror Online: A French nun has relived the terrifying moment she fled the gruesome ISIS church killing in an emotional interview as she paid tribute to the murdered priest.
Sister Danielle was celebrating mass in the church near Rouen in Normandy, northern France, when two attackers stormed the building and brutally slaughtered 85-year-old Father Jacques Hamel.
She has spoken of her horror after watching the sick killers force the pensioner to his knees and prepare to slaughter him by the altar in an 'Arabic sermon'.
It was at this point that the woman managed to flee the macabre scene and call for help - leaving behind another nun and two worshippers.
Sister Danielle was celebrating mass in the church near Rouen in Normandy, northern France, when two attackers stormed the building and brutally slaughtered 85-year-old Father Jacques Hamel.
She has spoken of her horror after watching the sick killers force the pensioner to his knees and prepare to slaughter him by the altar in an 'Arabic sermon'.
It was at this point that the woman managed to flee the macabre scene and call for help - leaving behind another nun and two worshippers.
Fr. Hamel's martyrdom is a warning to the West
Priest Martyrdom a Warning to the West - Crisis MagazineFITZPATRICK: On Tuesday July 26, the day after the feast day of St. James and less than two weeks after a rampaging Islamic terrorist killed 84 civilians with a truck in the south of France, Fr. Jacques Hamel was celebrating Mass in a quiet Normandy church in Sainte-Etienne-du-Rouvray. Two militants backed by ISIS burst through the doors. The attackers forced the 86-year-old priest to his knees. They stabbed him in the chest and slit his throat. After praying aloud in Arabic around the altar, they stabbed one of the petrified and pleading congregation of five, two nuns and three laypeople. When police arrived, they attempted negotiation for the hostages but, in the end, the murderers were gunned down by sniper commandos. All along, as the Normandy killers carried out their bloody crimes in the name of the Islamic State, they repeatedly cried out “Allahu akbar,” meaning, “God is great.” Though their cries do not proclaim the greatness of the true God, they do proclaim a great warning to the West. The threat of Islam is come again, as it has in ages past, and it is sounding a warning to the Western nations to cling to the God of life and love in the face of death and hatred.
Syriac Catholic patriarch warns: Western politicians and media mislead world on Middle East
Syriac Catholic Patriarch Warns: Western Politicians and Media Mislead World on Middle East | Daily News | NCRegister.comGAETAN: Imagine a five-star general, under assault, with no weapons of defense — except faith.
Think of an Old Testament prophet living today, describing the evil destroying his community — but few listen.
That general or prophet is the fierce and noble leader of the Syriac Catholic Church of Antioch, Patriarch Ignatius Youssef III Younan, age 71, whose Church comprises some 200,000 souls worldwide.
Patriarch Youssef sat down with the Register in Rome to provide an update and overview of the situation facing Syriac Catholics in their main homelands of Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. (The Catholic bishop of Antioch traditionally carries the title “patriarch” — one of five patriarchs of Antioch, three Catholic and two Orthodox.)
His cri de coeur is unnerving.
Think of an Old Testament prophet living today, describing the evil destroying his community — but few listen.
That general or prophet is the fierce and noble leader of the Syriac Catholic Church of Antioch, Patriarch Ignatius Youssef III Younan, age 71, whose Church comprises some 200,000 souls worldwide.
Patriarch Youssef sat down with the Register in Rome to provide an update and overview of the situation facing Syriac Catholics in their main homelands of Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. (The Catholic bishop of Antioch traditionally carries the title “patriarch” — one of five patriarchs of Antioch, three Catholic and two Orthodox.)
His cri de coeur is unnerving.
The secular West’s impotence in the face of radical Islam
The Secular West’s Impotence in the Face of Radical IslamHULL: We are now aware that a martyrdom of a Catholic priest, Fr. Jacques Hamel, has taken place in France. It was only a matter of time before ISIS began its assault on Catholicism in Europe, and eventually, the United States. Other than in the Middle East and Asia, Christians have not been the primary target of ISIS and other radical Islamic groups. It has largely been secular institutions that have been attacked. Catholicism in the West is now a target of ISIS. The difference between the attack on Catholicism and the attack on secularism is that Catholics can win this war.
The decline of British English, visualized
The Decline of British English, Visualized — Steemit: While British English may rightfully claim the honor (honour?) of having anteceded its American cousin, there is no doubt that today American English is the defacto English in the world. Below are a few charts generated using Google Ngram Viewer that show the decline of the frequency of British English and the rise of American English in its stead.
Note: American spelling is in blue, while British is in red.
Note: American spelling is in blue, while British is in red.
Fr. Hamel was martyred ‘in odium fidei’, says archbishop; French bishops call for day of fasting
Fr Hamel was martyred ‘in odium fidei’, says Archbishop Fisher – CatholicHerald.co.uk: In his homily at a Mass for the repose of the soul of Fr Jacques Hamel, Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney, a theologian and member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, said the priest “died in odium fidei, that is in hatred of the faith”.
“This is a term Catholics use to describe the characteristic death of a martyr, as one who dies for his or her faith, and because of that faith,” the archbishop said.
Archbishop Fisher welcomed the solidarity shown by French Jewish and Muslim organisations, and said the murder was an attack on France, on civilisation and all religion.
“This is a term Catholics use to describe the characteristic death of a martyr, as one who dies for his or her faith, and because of that faith,” the archbishop said.
Archbishop Fisher welcomed the solidarity shown by French Jewish and Muslim organisations, and said the murder was an attack on France, on civilisation and all religion.
Memo to WYD: Forget the program, teach youth about the martyrs
Memo to WYD: Forget the program, teach youth about the martyrs - CruxALLEN: Quite probably, the Islamic State-inspired assassins who cut the throat of Father Jacques Hamel in St. Étienne-du-Rouvray, France, on Tuesday did not know that one effect of their act would be to cast a pall over World Youth Day, but that’s nevertheless exactly what’s happened.
World Youth Day is the massive gathering of Catholic youth from around the planet unfolding this week in Krakow, Poland, known tongue-in-cheek as the “Catholic Woodstock” because it’s normally a pumped-up celebration of fun, family and faith.
This week, however, will have a more somber tone because of the barbarity of what happened to Hamel, this time not in Iraq, Syria or some other battle-scarred locale, but in the very heart of Europe.
World Youth Day is the massive gathering of Catholic youth from around the planet unfolding this week in Krakow, Poland, known tongue-in-cheek as the “Catholic Woodstock” because it’s normally a pumped-up celebration of fun, family and faith.
This week, however, will have a more somber tone because of the barbarity of what happened to Hamel, this time not in Iraq, Syria or some other battle-scarred locale, but in the very heart of Europe.
The martyrdom of Father Jacques Hamel: At what point were the attackers' motives clear?
The martyrdom of Father Jacques Hamel: At what point were attackers' motives clear? — GetReligionMATTINGLY: Details continue to emerge about the events surrounding the murder of the Rev. Jacques Hamel, the Catholic priest who was killed by ISIS terrorists at the altar of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray Church, France.
One of the worshipers taken hostage – yes, a nun – remains in serious condition.
French officials have also confirmed that one of the two attackers, 19-year-old Adel Kermiche, was a known terrorist threat who had twice attempted to travel to Syria. He was being monitored with an electronic ankle tag, but his bail conditions allowed him to roam without supervision between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
One of the worshipers taken hostage – yes, a nun – remains in serious condition.
French officials have also confirmed that one of the two attackers, 19-year-old Adel Kermiche, was a known terrorist threat who had twice attempted to travel to Syria. He was being monitored with an electronic ankle tag, but his bail conditions allowed him to roam without supervision between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Before and After: A Fairytale
Before and After: A Fairytale |Blogs | NCRegister.comFISHER: Lots of my friends are selling "wellness" products -- shakes and powders, juices, creams and wraps meant to tighten your tummy, brighten your baggy eyes, and generally turn you into a startlingly more magnificent version of your current schlubby self. Before and after pictures illustrate the progress you can make: She used to look like this (awwwwww), but now she looks like THIS (oooooooh!).
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
3 reasons why “Vikings” is the most religiously interesting show on TV
3 Reasons Why “Vikings” is the Most Religiously Interesting Show on TV | Word On FireBARRON: At the prompting of some of my younger colleagues at Word on Fire, I spent time during a recent vacation getting caught up on the History Channel show Vikings. My friends had told me that Vikings, curiously, is the most religious show on television. They were right. Don’t get me wrong, there is enough violence, pillaging, plundering, sword-fighting, and political intrigue to satisfy the most macho viewers; but Vikings is also drenched with religion—and for that I applaud Michael Hirst, its sole writer and director. For this emphasis is not only historically accurate, but it also resists the regnant orthodoxy in much of the entertainment industry that characters should be presented as though they are indifferent to the world of faith.
10 things to do while your friends are at World Youth Day
10 Things to do While Your Friends are at World Youth Day - Mountain CatholicSEWELL: Chances are, if you’re reading this, you have a friend or seventeen who are on pilgrimage to World Youth Day this week in Krakow, Poland. But you aren’t there, and this probably perfectly describes you having to stay home:
Well, never fear. For those of us watching the action from the sidelines this World Youth Day, there’s a few things we can do in solidarity with our pilgrim brethren.
Well, never fear. For those of us watching the action from the sidelines this World Youth Day, there’s a few things we can do in solidarity with our pilgrim brethren.
How Pope Francis can commemorate Fr. Hamel's murder while in Poland
How Pope Francis Can Commemorate Father Hamel’s Murder While in Poland | Daily News | NCRegister.comDESOUZA: Pope Francis is a pastor of powerful gestures. Tomorrow, when he arrives here for World Youth Day, he should make a prolonged, prayerful and purposeful visit to the tombs in Wawel Cathedral, first among them King Jan III Sobieski.
The scourge of Islamic State violence marred the first day of WYD here, when the news arrived that Father Jacques Hamel had been beheaded in his parish church in France — during the celebration of the Eucharist, Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz stressed at the opening Mass, conveying his shock at the bloody blasphemy and sacrilege of this latest martyrdom. As Providence would have it, tomorrow afternoon, the Holy Father is scheduled to meet with the Polish bishops at the cathedral, in the crypt of which King Jan III Sobieski is buried. There is no figure in European history more associated with righteous resistance to aggressive Islamic expansion that the 17th-century king of Poland, who defeated the Turks at the Battle of Vienna in 1683. Upon his victory, Sobieski was hailed as the savior of Christendom, but he deflected the honor, expressing himself in lapidary Latin: Veni; vidi; Deus vincit! (“I came; I saw; God conquered!”)
The scourge of Islamic State violence marred the first day of WYD here, when the news arrived that Father Jacques Hamel had been beheaded in his parish church in France — during the celebration of the Eucharist, Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz stressed at the opening Mass, conveying his shock at the bloody blasphemy and sacrilege of this latest martyrdom. As Providence would have it, tomorrow afternoon, the Holy Father is scheduled to meet with the Polish bishops at the cathedral, in the crypt of which King Jan III Sobieski is buried. There is no figure in European history more associated with righteous resistance to aggressive Islamic expansion that the 17th-century king of Poland, who defeated the Turks at the Battle of Vienna in 1683. Upon his victory, Sobieski was hailed as the savior of Christendom, but he deflected the honor, expressing himself in lapidary Latin: Veni; vidi; Deus vincit! (“I came; I saw; God conquered!”)
WSJ editorial writer Sohrab Ahmari honors Fr. Jacques Hamel by announcing conversion to Catholicism
WSJ Editorial Writer Sohrab Ahmari Is Converting to Catholicism | ChurchPOP: Sohrab Ahmari, Editorial writer for the Wall Street Journal, announced on Twitter that he is converting to Catholicism. His tweet read: “#IAmJacquesHamel: In fact, this is the right moment to announce that I’m converting to Roman Catholicism under instruction at @LondonOrat.”
The hashtag “IAmJacquesHamel” refers to the French priest Fr. Jacques Hamel who was recently brutally murdered by Islamic extremists while serving Mass in France.
“@LondonOrat” is the Twitter account of the Brompton Oratory of St Philip Neri in London, often called the “London Oratory” for short. The London Oratory is known for its traditional liturgies and music.
The hashtag “IAmJacquesHamel” refers to the French priest Fr. Jacques Hamel who was recently brutally murdered by Islamic extremists while serving Mass in France.
“@LondonOrat” is the Twitter account of the Brompton Oratory of St Philip Neri in London, often called the “London Oratory” for short. The London Oratory is known for its traditional liturgies and music.
Please don't call it 'senseless' violence
Please don't call it 'senseless' violence | Catholic CultureLAWLER: The latest atrocity by the Islamic State—the brutal murder of an elderly priest, carried out during the holy Sacrifice of the Mass—was not a senseless act. Abominable, yes. Disgusting, surely. But senseless? No. It was premeditated. It was intentional. It was part of a larger pattern. This is murder for a cause, also known as persecution. Father Jacques Hamel was killed out of contempt for the faith—which speaks to a case of martyrdom. If you believe that he is a martyr, you can't say that his murderers acted irrationally. If you believe that they acted irrationally, you can't call him a martyr.
In the face of Islamic terrorism, you must do your Christian duty...
A Christian Duty in the Face of Terror | LifeZetteRUTLER: After another devastating ISIS attack in France, this time against a priest in his 80s while he was saying Mass, the answer isn’t just, “Do nothing.” As racism distorts race and sexism corrupts sex — so does pacifism affront peace.
Turning the other cheek is the counsel Christ gave in the instance of an individual when morally insulted: Humility conquers pride. It has nothing to do with self-defense.
Turning the other cheek is the counsel Christ gave in the instance of an individual when morally insulted: Humility conquers pride. It has nothing to do with self-defense.
Priest murdered by terrorists during Mass: Yes, the hellish details matter in this story
Priest murdered by terrorists during Mass: Yes, the hellish details matter in this story — GetReligionMATTINGLY: So an elderly Catholic priest was killed by terrorists in France. These basic facts are at the heart of the latest horror story from the very tense continent of Europe.
As you would imagine, a story of this kind will almost certainly include a number of poignant details that, for those with the eyes to see, are loaded with symbolism.
How many of the details should journalists include? To what degree are the religious details relevant and where should they be placed in a mainstream news report?
As you would expect, the religious details were highly relevant to a "conservative" publication on the other side of the Atlantic. Meanwhile, they were not as important to editors at America's most elite mainstream publication. Perhaps religion is viewed as "tabloid" material?
As you would imagine, a story of this kind will almost certainly include a number of poignant details that, for those with the eyes to see, are loaded with symbolism.
How many of the details should journalists include? To what degree are the religious details relevant and where should they be placed in a mainstream news report?
As you would expect, the religious details were highly relevant to a "conservative" publication on the other side of the Atlantic. Meanwhile, they were not as important to editors at America's most elite mainstream publication. Perhaps religion is viewed as "tabloid" material?
Vatican statement on “barbaric killing” of priest in France
Vatican Statement on Killing of Priest in France |Blogs | NCRegister.comPENTIN: Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi has issued the following initial statement on the murder of a priest in Rouen, France earlier today (my translation). French President Francois Hollande has said that the two assailants "claimed to be from Daesh", also known as the so-called Islamic State (ISIS).
Father Jacques Hamel: “A good priest ... who did his job to the very end”
Father Jacques Hamel: 'A good priest … who did his job to the very end' | World news | The Guardian: Described as modest, dedicated and always available for his parishioners, Father Jacques Hamel, 84, who was murdered in his Normandy church while celebrating morning mass, had been retired for nearly a decade.
He still officiated regularly as auxiliary at the church in St Étienne-du-Rouvray, near Rouen, and in neighbouring Elbeuf, local media reported, stepping in when the parish’s regular priest, Father Auguste Moanda-Phuati, was busy.
The priest’s throat was slit by two men armed with knives who took five people – Hamel, two nuns and two worshippers – hostage in the church. The two men were later shot by police. Three hostages were freed unharmed but one is in a critical condition.
He still officiated regularly as auxiliary at the church in St Étienne-du-Rouvray, near Rouen, and in neighbouring Elbeuf, local media reported, stepping in when the parish’s regular priest, Father Auguste Moanda-Phuati, was busy.
The priest’s throat was slit by two men armed with knives who took five people – Hamel, two nuns and two worshippers – hostage in the church. The two men were later shot by police. Three hostages were freed unharmed but one is in a critical condition.
St. Faustina’s shrine sends a new spark of Divine Mercy to America
St. Faustina’s Shrine Sends a New Spark of Divine Mercy to America | Daily News | NCRegister.comLUBOV: In the days leading up to Pope Francis’ first trip to the homeland of St. Pope John Paul II for World Youth Day, a young man from Poland was ordained a deacon to serve in the United States.
On Saturday at noon, in the Italian chapel of the Divine Mercy Shrine, dedicated to St. Faustina, Boguslaw Rebacz was ordained to the diaconate by Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver.
Deacon Rebacz shared with the Register what this special day meant to him.
“It is a special privilege for me to be ordained here, in the Divine Mercy Sanctuary, where there is the center of Divine Mercy — made even more special that it’s within the Jubilee Year of Mercy,” he said.
On Saturday at noon, in the Italian chapel of the Divine Mercy Shrine, dedicated to St. Faustina, Boguslaw Rebacz was ordained to the diaconate by Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver.
Deacon Rebacz shared with the Register what this special day meant to him.
“It is a special privilege for me to be ordained here, in the Divine Mercy Sanctuary, where there is the center of Divine Mercy — made even more special that it’s within the Jubilee Year of Mercy,” he said.
D.A. dismisses all bogus charges against David Daleiden for exposing Planned Parenthood
D.A. Dismisses All Bogus Charges Against David Daleiden for Exposing Planned Parenthood | LifeNews.com: On the night the head of the Planned Parenthood abortion company is slated to speak to the Democratic National Convention, the man behind the undercover videos has been vindicated. Again.
As LifeNews reported last month, a Harris County, Texas judge dismissed the bogus misdemeanor charge against David Daleiden for allegedly trying to buy body parts from the Planned Parenthood abortion business he was exposing for selling them as a part of the Center for Medical Progress’ undercover investigation.
As LifeNews reported last month, a Harris County, Texas judge dismissed the bogus misdemeanor charge against David Daleiden for allegedly trying to buy body parts from the Planned Parenthood abortion business he was exposing for selling them as a part of the Center for Medical Progress’ undercover investigation.
Why are so many Americans confused and frightened?
America Today: Freedom and BondageLONGENECKER: Why are so many Americans in a condition of confusion, fear, suspicion, anger and rage?
It is because of our disproportionate and disordered understanding of freedom.
Freedom. Freedom. Freedom. Freedom
Its like that is the only virtue Americans know about anymore.
But freedom like all virtues, is a delicate, vulnerable and hard won thing, and if it is not hard won, then it is not a virtue, it is a slogan.
It is a jingoistic slogan when we invade other countries with our vast military might and declare that we are “fighting to bring them freedom.” What on earth does that mean, and since World War II have we really ever brought anyone freedom by invading their country? I wonder. When our soldiers come home in coffins or are permanently disabled or so suffering from PTSD that they put a bullet in their head we say, “He died defending our freedom.” Did he? Or did he die to “protect our vital national interests” which means dominating other countries for economic and political motives.
It is because of our disproportionate and disordered understanding of freedom.
Freedom. Freedom. Freedom. Freedom
Its like that is the only virtue Americans know about anymore.
But freedom like all virtues, is a delicate, vulnerable and hard won thing, and if it is not hard won, then it is not a virtue, it is a slogan.
It is a jingoistic slogan when we invade other countries with our vast military might and declare that we are “fighting to bring them freedom.” What on earth does that mean, and since World War II have we really ever brought anyone freedom by invading their country? I wonder. When our soldiers come home in coffins or are permanently disabled or so suffering from PTSD that they put a bullet in their head we say, “He died defending our freedom.” Did he? Or did he die to “protect our vital national interests” which means dominating other countries for economic and political motives.
Tim Kaine: The whitewash on the sepulcher
Tim Kaine: The Whitewash on the Sepulcher | The StreamZMIRAK: Would anyone have dedicated their lives to building Communism if its partisans had been candid about what it entailed? Lenin won power by promising “peace, bread, and land for the peasants,” not “gulags, purges, and famines.” Even Hitler came to power with talk of economic renewal, national pride, and a peaceful Europe led by its “natural” hegemon, Germany. The death camps were dreamed up in secret, beneath the fog of war, once resistance was seemingly futile.
Jungle fever: Reading for the heart of the summer
Jungle Fever: Reading for the Heart of the Summer - Crisis MagazineFITZPATRICK: There is something distantly primal and tribal about summer, when sunny days and sultry nights seem to unconsciously conjure up the sense, or scent, of a wilder side of humanity. Something naked and free. Something delightful yet dangerous. These are, after all, the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. Whether it is the warm pulse of life, the humid breath of earth, or the sweltering oppression of sky, there is a quality in heat that enlivens and slackens—and unhinges. Everyone has heard of midsummer madness, but what of dog-day derangement? There is a fever that can set in as the season’s flush dries and cracks. High temperature can scorch the mind with sweating intimacies, fiery instincts, and tropical insanities that would never be dreamt of in the sober chill of colder climes. Such brain-bakings are best experienced as vicarious thrills and psychological safaris in summertime stories that delve through the hot and heavy.
How does your neighborhood get its power? Find out with this map...
This Map Shows Power Plant Fuel Source By Area Code: If you have ever wondered where the power comes from to light and heat your home, this new map created from U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data might give you some food for thought. Did burning coal supply the voltage that powers your television, or was it spinning turbines in a hydroelectric dam?
Though the map gives you a pretty good sense of fuel source by geographic region, rural areas make it seem as though some types of fuel account for larger percentages of the country's total energy consumption than they actually do. For example, large swaths of the west use hydropower as an energy source, but hydropower only accounts for 6 percent of the nation's total electricity generation, whereas small pockets rely on nuclear power, which generates 20 percent of America's electricity.
Though the map gives you a pretty good sense of fuel source by geographic region, rural areas make it seem as though some types of fuel account for larger percentages of the country's total energy consumption than they actually do. For example, large swaths of the west use hydropower as an energy source, but hydropower only accounts for 6 percent of the nation's total electricity generation, whereas small pockets rely on nuclear power, which generates 20 percent of America's electricity.
3 Catholic practices for the “spiritual but not religious”
3 Catholic practices for the “spiritual but not religious” - Spotlight - Aleteia.org – Worldwide Catholic Network Sharing Faith Resources for those seeking Truth – Aleteia.orgNOBLE: As most of you know, there are a growing number of people who have begun to identify as “spiritual but not religious.” I have always suspected that this phrase really covers a diverse group of people, some who are closer to agnosticism but don’t want to admit it, and others who practice a faith periodically but don’t want to identify with it too closely.
I have also anecdotally believed that the phrase “spiritual but not religious” is rarely used by people who actually implement many spiritual practices in their lives. But I think that the people who use the phrase genuinely want to be more spiritual, which is why they use it. The phrase simultaneously communicates an alienation from God (exhibited in a detachment from most spiritual practices) and a genuine desire to be in relationship with him.
I have also anecdotally believed that the phrase “spiritual but not religious” is rarely used by people who actually implement many spiritual practices in their lives. But I think that the people who use the phrase genuinely want to be more spiritual, which is why they use it. The phrase simultaneously communicates an alienation from God (exhibited in a detachment from most spiritual practices) and a genuine desire to be in relationship with him.
To heal the wounds of the sheep, the shepherd must help them to repent of their sins
Healing Through Repentance | Robert A. Gahl, Jr. | First ThingsGAHL: A few days ago, in the Vatican's newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, Rocco Buttiglione entered the thorny debate over Pope Francis’s post-synodal apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia. Buttiglione, the former Italian minister of culture and an expert on the philosophy of Pope St. John Paul II, sought to defend Francis from conservative critics who claim that he has broken with John Paul’s teaching on divorce and remarriage. With a populist approach centered on the sensus fidei of Catholics unencumbered by theological theories, Buttiglione claims that a simple interpretation of Amoris Laetitia will be the most faithful one, the one best able to understand and appreciate the pastoral novelty proposed by the pope. Unfortunately, Buttiglione’s interpretation of the distinction between objective morality and subjective imputability, a distinction emphasized and developed in Amoris Laetitia, is misleading. When taken seriously with its full pastoral implications, it will encourage a merciless, rather than merciful, pastoral approach to repentant sinners.
Islamic State knifemen shot dead after taking nuns hostage, “slicing throat” of 84-year-old priest during Mass
Isil knifemen who 'slit 84-year-old priest's throat' and took nuns hostage shot dead as second victim fights for life�: Police have shot dead two men who took a priest and several others hostage at knifepoint at a church in north-western France.�
The men shouted "Daesh" and cut the priest's throat before being "neutralised," police said.
Le Figaro newspaper reported that the priest died after his throat was cut.�
Elite police units rushed to the church in the Normandy town of Saint-Etienne-du Rouvray after the men seized a number of people including a priest and two nuns.�
The men shouted "Daesh" and cut the priest's throat before being "neutralised," police said.
Le Figaro newspaper reported that the priest died after his throat was cut.�
Elite police units rushed to the church in the Normandy town of Saint-Etienne-du Rouvray after the men seized a number of people including a priest and two nuns.�
And with sweet sleep mine eyelids close
And with Sweet Sleep Mine Eyelids Close - A Meditation on a Beautiful Hymn of the Night - Community in Mission : Community in MissionPOPE: One of the great night prayer hymns, “All Praise to Thee My God This Night,” appears in numerous hymnals of the English tradition. Sadly, it is not in our current breviary, but I hope that the new one might feature it. It was written by Thomas Ken in 1709 and is most often sung to the beautiful tune of Tallis’ Ordinal, which you can hear in the video below.
Ideally, night prayer should include acts of thanksgiving and praise to God along with repentance for any sins committed. Night prayer is also a time to ponder death and ask God’s graces to be prepared for death and judgment.
Ideally, night prayer should include acts of thanksgiving and praise to God along with repentance for any sins committed. Night prayer is also a time to ponder death and ask God’s graces to be prepared for death and judgment.
Amid closures, these two elements lead to thriving Catholic schools
Amid closures, these two elements lead to thriving Catholic schools | Catholic World Report - Global Church news and viewsFRASER: Summer no longer stretches long and lazy ahead, with the next school year no more than a weakling shade. In a few short weeks, my husband returns to teaching theology at a Catholic high school, and, even more alarming, a little after that our oldest child enters kindergarten at our parish school. Even as the summer shrinks before my forward gaze, Catholic education and all that it entails seems to simmer and percolate in my mind and heart with unceasing intensity.
Monday, July 25, 2016
What do you say when kids ask about dinosaurs?
What Do You Say When Kids Ask About Dinosaurs? |Blogs | NCRegister.comTRASANCOS: Suppose you catechize your children properly and teach them all about Adam and Eve, the Garden of Eden and original sin. Suppose you sit on the sofa one Sunday evening, read the Bible with them and explain how God created all of the plants and animals.
On Monday morning, they return to their science classes and learn about fossils and dinosaurs, which have sparked an interest and led them to browse the Internet for more information. It’s not like dinosaurs are taboo or anything. Kids love dinosaurs! Eventually, they ask the obvious question.
On Monday morning, they return to their science classes and learn about fossils and dinosaurs, which have sparked an interest and led them to browse the Internet for more information. It’s not like dinosaurs are taboo or anything. Kids love dinosaurs! Eventually, they ask the obvious question.
What’s underneath the Vatican power struggle over economic reforms
What’s Underneath the Vatican Power Struggle Over Economic Reforms | Daily News | NCRegister.comPENTIN: The Secretariat for the Economy has suffered two blows to its authority in the past few weeks in what inside sources say is a concerted effort to obstruct revealing financial information and possible misconduct in the Roman Curia.
However, some of the decisions have helped to clarify roles in the financial reform process and, together with new monitoring procedures, could significantly help to root out mismanagement and corruption in the long term.�
On June 10, the Vatican announced it was ending an external audit of the Holy See’s finances by the accountancy giant PricewaterhouseCoopers. The audit, which cost around €500,000 ($550,000) to complete, had already been suspended in April, just four months after it had begun, on the grounds that the Vatican wanted to obtain “clarifications.”
However, some of the decisions have helped to clarify roles in the financial reform process and, together with new monitoring procedures, could significantly help to root out mismanagement and corruption in the long term.�
On June 10, the Vatican announced it was ending an external audit of the Holy See’s finances by the accountancy giant PricewaterhouseCoopers. The audit, which cost around €500,000 ($550,000) to complete, had already been suspended in April, just four months after it had begun, on the grounds that the Vatican wanted to obtain “clarifications.”
Crisis in South Sudan: 'The worst is still to come'
South Sudan: 'The worst is still to come' - Aid to the Church in Need: A project partner of Aid to the Church in Need has warned that the upsurge of fighting in South Sudan will see the humanitarian crisis affecting millions of civilians worsening.
One of the Catholic charity’s South Sudanese project partners, who cannot be named for security reasons, described how renewed violence in Juba has caused immense suffering and increased insecurity amongst its people.
Referring to calls from the governments of neighbouring countries Uganda and Kenya for their citizens to leave South Sudan, he said: “The way the various governments all over the world are panicking and acting shows that they fear that something terrible is still to happen. One can even hear that ‘the worst is still to come!’”
One of the Catholic charity’s South Sudanese project partners, who cannot be named for security reasons, described how renewed violence in Juba has caused immense suffering and increased insecurity amongst its people.
Referring to calls from the governments of neighbouring countries Uganda and Kenya for their citizens to leave South Sudan, he said: “The way the various governments all over the world are panicking and acting shows that they fear that something terrible is still to happen. One can even hear that ‘the worst is still to come!’”
My mother was advised to abort me, says Cardinal Burke in new book
My mother was advised to abort me, says Cardinal Burke in new book – CatholicHerald.co.uk: Cardinal Raymond Burke has revealed that his mother was advised to abort him.
In a new book-length interview with the French journalist Guillaume d’Alançon, Cardinal Burke says that when his mother was pregnant with him, she became seriously ill and a doctor advised her to have an abortion.
According to Cardinal Burke, the doctor said: “You already have five children, it is important for you to be in good health so as to take care of them”.
“My parents refused,” says the cardinal, who is now chaplain to the Order of Malta. “My parents told him that they believed in God and that Christ would give them the necessary help. My mother gave birth to me, and everything went well.
In a new book-length interview with the French journalist Guillaume d’Alançon, Cardinal Burke says that when his mother was pregnant with him, she became seriously ill and a doctor advised her to have an abortion.
According to Cardinal Burke, the doctor said: “You already have five children, it is important for you to be in good health so as to take care of them”.
“My parents refused,” says the cardinal, who is now chaplain to the Order of Malta. “My parents told him that they believed in God and that Christ would give them the necessary help. My mother gave birth to me, and everything went well.
“Never again” has to be more than a slogan
Auschwitz: Horror and Hope | National ReviewLOPEZ: The first things you notice as you approach the former Nazi concentration camp are the billboards for real estate, an Italian restaurant, a snack bar — things furthest from your mind as you make your journey here. Down the block, in a park, children were playing. Twin girls in pigtails ran down the street. Life goes on, even in the shadow of such still-recent evil. There’s something jarring about it. There is also something hopeful.
Horror happens, but evil doesn’t win.
Horror happens, but evil doesn’t win.
6,726 Syrian refugees admitted to U.S. so far in FY16—but only 23 are Christians
6,726 Syrian Refugees Admitted to U.S. So Far in FY16--But Only 23 Are Christians: With ten weeks to go until the end of the fiscal year, the Obama administration continues to admit Syrian refugees at an accelerated pace, and has now exceeded two-thirds of President Obama’s target of 10,000 by September 30.
The proportion of Christians among those resettled continues to languish below half of one percent, while other non-Sunnis account for just over one percent.
As of Monday, 1,515 Syrian refugees fleeing the civil war in their homeland had been admitted since the beginning of July, and a total of 6,726 since FY 2016 began on October 1, according to State Department Refugee Processing Center data.
The proportion of Christians among those resettled continues to languish below half of one percent, while other non-Sunnis account for just over one percent.
As of Monday, 1,515 Syrian refugees fleeing the civil war in their homeland had been admitted since the beginning of July, and a total of 6,726 since FY 2016 began on October 1, according to State Department Refugee Processing Center data.
How to build a mini air hockey table for hours of fun
How to Build a Mini Air Hockey Table for Hours of Fun: Video games come and go, but air hockey will never go out of style. This classic arcade game can be enjoyed by kids and adults of all ages. You can build this downsized version for your kids room or garage and you'll be the most popular parent on the block.
Bob Clagett of I Like to Make Stuff, loves games, as evident by his spectacular arcade cabinet. He's opted out of electronics this time and built a mini air hockey table that is powered by his Shop-Vac. This air hockey table is built from materials found at any home center including the melamine top. It saves time if you have a CNC machine to cut all of the air holes but that can also be accomplished using a drill.
Bob Clagett of I Like to Make Stuff, loves games, as evident by his spectacular arcade cabinet. He's opted out of electronics this time and built a mini air hockey table that is powered by his Shop-Vac. This air hockey table is built from materials found at any home center including the melamine top. It saves time if you have a CNC machine to cut all of the air holes but that can also be accomplished using a drill.
For news media, Kaine is a 'Pope Francis Catholic,' other than all that moral doctrine stuff
For news media, Kaine is a 'Pope Francis Catholic,' other than all that moral doctrine stuff — GetReligionMATTINGLY: Look at it this way: When it comes to the death penalty, The New York Times is to the left of Sen. Tim Kaine. That appears to have been the key factor in producing a rather nuanced news feature on Kaine that, for many liberal Democrats, may be a sobering read.
Then again, maybe not. The message of the Times story("On Death Penalty Cases, Tim Kaine Revealed Inner Conflict") appears to be that Kaine is a strong Catholic, but when push comes to shove he gives voters what they want. That may comfort Democrats on the left, since the nation (or the courts at least) appear to be swing their way on moral and social issues.
Then again, maybe not. The message of the Times story("On Death Penalty Cases, Tim Kaine Revealed Inner Conflict") appears to be that Kaine is a strong Catholic, but when push comes to shove he gives voters what they want. That may comfort Democrats on the left, since the nation (or the courts at least) appear to be swing their way on moral and social issues.
Sunday, July 24, 2016
How do hummingbirds fly without crashing?
How Do Hummingbirds Fly Without Crashing? | Audubon: Nothing gets between a hummingbird and its nectar. Nothing.
A new study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that Anna’s Hummingbirds connect different visual cues to keep from crashing into things duiring their high-speed journeys to collect pollen.
Humans, along with many types of flying insects, can calculate how close an object is based on how quickly it passes through their visual field. “A good example of this is when we drive down the road—if it takes some time to pass a building in the distance, we know it’s far,” says Roslyn Dakin, a zoologist at the University of British Columbia and main author of the study.
A new study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that Anna’s Hummingbirds connect different visual cues to keep from crashing into things duiring their high-speed journeys to collect pollen.
Humans, along with many types of flying insects, can calculate how close an object is based on how quickly it passes through their visual field. “A good example of this is when we drive down the road—if it takes some time to pass a building in the distance, we know it’s far,” says Roslyn Dakin, a zoologist at the University of British Columbia and main author of the study.
How to win new converts
Winning New Converts - The Catholic ThingMCCLOSKEY: As the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, winning converts to our Faith should be a constant concern for all Catholics: “The true apostle is on the lookout for occasions of announcing Christ by word, either to unbelievers. . .or to the faithful.” [905] How should we go about it? With the knowledge that people are brought to the Church one by one.
All who are saved are saved through the Church even if they are not aware of it on earth. Everyone in heaven is a member of the Church. Pope Francis has rightly criticized proselytism (in the pejorative sense): that is, attempts to coerce, manipulate others into the faith. Instead, we need to approach others prepared for that total “gift of self” which is never more complete than when we act as God’s collaborators in communicating God’s grace.
All who are saved are saved through the Church even if they are not aware of it on earth. Everyone in heaven is a member of the Church. Pope Francis has rightly criticized proselytism (in the pejorative sense): that is, attempts to coerce, manipulate others into the faith. Instead, we need to approach others prepared for that total “gift of self” which is never more complete than when we act as God’s collaborators in communicating God’s grace.
Can we stop kidding ourselves about “I'm personally opposed, but”?
Can We Stop Kidding Ourselves About “I’m Personally Opposed, But”? |Blogs | NCRegister.comGRESS: In 1984, after much interior laboring over the thorny issue of abortion, Catholic Governor Mario Cuomo delivered the speech that would free Catholics from being swaddled in Church teaching while liberating them to cuddle up to pro-abortion policy. The New York Governor conceived the hair-splitting notion that amounted to – “I’m personally opposed to abortion, but politically pro-choice.” Born of a desire to appear to be pro-life (and adhering to Catholic teaching), while also appeasing the pro-choice juggernaut that doesn’t allow for choice on the issue, Cuomo seemingly resolved the unresolvable. Catholic politicians and others have hung onto it for dear life ever since.
‘Toy Story 3’ and our national naiveté
"Toy Story 3" and Our National Naivety� - The Imaginative ConservativeLONGENECKER: In Toy Story 3, the boy Andy is ready to go off to college. His room is being tidied, and his toys are about to be boxed up and stored in the attic. Then Mom makes a mistake and Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang are packed off to a kiddie daycare center called “Sunnyside.” Remember: The toys live to be played with and loved by a child, so when they tumble out of the box at Sunnyside, everything seems too good to be true. The daycare center is a brightly painted wonderland of fun for children. It is crammed full of other happy toys, and best of all, every day this happy home for toys will be full of children to play with them.
A toy dump truck pulls up, and Andy’s toys are welcomed by a big, pink teddy bear with a Colonel Sanders voice named Lots o’ Huggin’—or Lotso for short. He bellows out in his jovial voice, “Welcome to Sunnyside!” Lotso explains that they will be happy there all the rest of their days. No more rejection. No more children growing up and packing them into the attic or out for a garage sale. No, indeed. Their dreams have come true. At Sunnyside, they will have never ending stream of children to play with them every day.
A toy dump truck pulls up, and Andy’s toys are welcomed by a big, pink teddy bear with a Colonel Sanders voice named Lots o’ Huggin’—or Lotso for short. He bellows out in his jovial voice, “Welcome to Sunnyside!” Lotso explains that they will be happy there all the rest of their days. No more rejection. No more children growing up and packing them into the attic or out for a garage sale. No, indeed. Their dreams have come true. At Sunnyside, they will have never ending stream of children to play with them every day.
How the hook-up culture is damaging women
How the Hook-Up Culture Is Damaging Women - The Imaginative Conservative: A few months ago, a young woman at Stanford University was raped by a virtual stranger, and her rapist received a ridiculously light sentence. The story grabbed headlines everywhere, and caused a firestorm on social media. This “dumpster rape” is being blared about everywhere in the public square while a far more insidious and dangerous threat to women rages on directly under our noses, unacknowledged. This threat is systematically destroying an entire generation of our daughters, sisters, aunts, future mothers, and friends.
Hipsters, coffee, and Jesus: What we can learn about prayer from cups brewed one at a time
Hipsters, coffee, and Jesus: What we can learn about prayer from cups brewed one at a time - Prayer - Aleteia.org – Worldwide Catholic Network Sharing Faith Resources for those seeking Truth – Aleteia.orgPETESCH: I live in a small town where artsy folk love to congregate. Strolling the streets, you come upon a number of art galleries, pottery studios, and (of course) coffee shops. One establishment stands out from among the rest: the General Mercantile.
Stopping in to this coffee house is nothing like a Starbucks experience. The centuries-old building still bears the marks of its former life, when it served as a mercantile store in the early 1900s. The inside is furnished with a counter and wooden booths that could have found their way into an old Western starring John Wayne.
Stopping in to this coffee house is nothing like a Starbucks experience. The centuries-old building still bears the marks of its former life, when it served as a mercantile store in the early 1900s. The inside is furnished with a counter and wooden booths that could have found their way into an old Western starring John Wayne.
Pope responds to violence in Munich and Kabul with call for more prayer
Pope responds to violence in Munich and Kabul with call for more prayer :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): On Sunday, Pope Francis responded to recent acts of violence in Germany and Afghanistan, expressing his closeness to the families of the victims, and stressing the importance of prayer in the face of threats against “safety and peace.”
“At this time, our spirit is once more shaken by the sad news relating to the deplorable acts of terrorism and violence which have caused suffering and death,” the Pope said in an appeal after the weekly Angelus at the Vatican.
In his July 24 address, the Pontiff spoke in reference to “the dramatic events in Munich, Germany, and Kabul, Afghanistan, where the lives of numerous innocent people have been lost.”
“At this time, our spirit is once more shaken by the sad news relating to the deplorable acts of terrorism and violence which have caused suffering and death,” the Pope said in an appeal after the weekly Angelus at the Vatican.
In his July 24 address, the Pontiff spoke in reference to “the dramatic events in Munich, Germany, and Kabul, Afghanistan, where the lives of numerous innocent people have been lost.”
Three teachings from the Lord on prayer
Three Teachings from the Lord on Prayer - Community in Mission : Community in MissionPOPE: We must be careful to understand that in giving us the “Our Father,” the Lord Jesus is not simply providing us with words to say. More than this, He is giving us a pattern for prayer; He is “teaching us to pray.” He does this in response to the disciples, who did not ask to be given words to say, but to be taught how to pray.
Thus, while the words of the Our Father are precious, it is also important to look at the underlying structure implicit in the prayer so as to learn “how to pray.” By these words, Jesus is illustrating what ought to be going on in us interiorly, in our mind and heart, as we pray.
Thus, while the words of the Our Father are precious, it is also important to look at the underlying structure implicit in the prayer so as to learn “how to pray.” By these words, Jesus is illustrating what ought to be going on in us interiorly, in our mind and heart, as we pray.
Church attendance linked with reduced suicide risk, especially for Catholics, study says
Church attendance linked with reduced suicide risk, especially for Catholics, study says - LA Times: Against a grim backdrop of rising suicide rates among American women, new research has revealed a blinding shaft of light: One group of women—practicing Catholics—appears to have bucked the national trend toward despair and self-harm.
Compared with women who never participated in religious services, women who attended any religious service once a week or more were five times less likely to commit suicide between 1996 and 2010, says a study published Wednesday by JAMA Psychiatry.
It’s not clear how widely the findings can be applied to a diverse population of American women. In a study population made up of nurses and dominated by women who identified themselves as either Catholic or Protestant, the suicide rate observed was about half that for U.S. women as a whole. Of 89,708 participants aged 30 to 55, 36 committed suicide at some point over 15 years.
Compared with women who never participated in religious services, women who attended any religious service once a week or more were five times less likely to commit suicide between 1996 and 2010, says a study published Wednesday by JAMA Psychiatry.
It’s not clear how widely the findings can be applied to a diverse population of American women. In a study population made up of nurses and dominated by women who identified themselves as either Catholic or Protestant, the suicide rate observed was about half that for U.S. women as a whole. Of 89,708 participants aged 30 to 55, 36 committed suicide at some point over 15 years.
Why are Pakistani Muslims building a Christian church?
Why Are Pakistani Muslims Building A Christian Church? | uCatholic: Poor Muslim farmers in a Pakistani village are putting their savings together to help build a church for Christians in their neighbourhood. Here’s why...
The true reason for the greatness of St. Mary Magdalene
The True Reason for the Greatness of St. Mary Magdalene | ChurchPOP: It takes a lot of passion to be a great sinner. It takes even more passion, and a hefty dose of courage, to be a great lover. Mary Magdalene was both.
The Church honors her as a saint because she allowed the power of God’s merciful love to invade the depths of her wounded heart and transform it. In fact, she has so much to teach us that this year Pope Francis elevated her liturgical memorial to a feast.
We know she started out as a great sinner because St. Luke tells us Jesus cast seven demons out of her (Lk. 8:2). St. Gregory the Great believed those seven devils symbolized the seven capital sins, meaning every conceivable kind of sin. Yet once she encountered the healing love of Christ, Mary Magdalene became arguably the greatest lover the world has ever known, second only to Jesus and His mother.
The Church honors her as a saint because she allowed the power of God’s merciful love to invade the depths of her wounded heart and transform it. In fact, she has so much to teach us that this year Pope Francis elevated her liturgical memorial to a feast.
We know she started out as a great sinner because St. Luke tells us Jesus cast seven demons out of her (Lk. 8:2). St. Gregory the Great believed those seven devils symbolized the seven capital sins, meaning every conceivable kind of sin. Yet once she encountered the healing love of Christ, Mary Magdalene became arguably the greatest lover the world has ever known, second only to Jesus and His mother.
Saturday, July 23, 2016
Vatican asked to mediate in Venezuela crisis talks
The Vatican Has Been Invited to Mediate in Venezuela Crisis Talks | TIME: President Nicolás Maduro’s government has accepted an opposition proposal that the Vatican mediate in talks over Venezuela’s deepening economic crisis.
The ruling socialists and the Democratic Unity opposition coalition have been locked in a bitter showdown over Venezuela’s triple-digit inflation and raging food shortage.
The ruling socialists and the Democratic Unity opposition coalition have been locked in a bitter showdown over Venezuela’s triple-digit inflation and raging food shortage.
Friday, July 22, 2016
Pope Francis issues new Apostolic Constitution on women's contemplative life
Pope Francis Issues New Apostolic Constitution on Women's Contemplative Life |Blogs | NCRegister.comPENTIN: The Vatican today published Pope Francis’ new apostolic constitution on women’s contemplative life, Vultum Dei Quaerere (seeking the face of God).
The document, signed on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul on June 29 and released on the new liturgical feast of St. Mary Magdalene, eloquently praises the contemplative vocation and begins by explaining its essential nature, one which offers the world a prophetic sign and is devoted to “exclusively seeking” the face of God.
The document, signed on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul on June 29 and released on the new liturgical feast of St. Mary Magdalene, eloquently praises the contemplative vocation and begins by explaining its essential nature, one which offers the world a prophetic sign and is devoted to “exclusively seeking” the face of God.
A review of ‘Star Trek Beyond’
SDG Reviews ‘Star Trek Beyond’ | Daily News | NCRegister.comGREYDANUS: Early in Star Trek Beyond is a striking sequence that offers a vision of something Brad Bird’s Tomorrowland strained for but failed to deliver: It gives us a wondrous sci-fi conception of a community of tomorrow — a community unbound from the normal limitations of planetary gravitational conditions, with a roughly horizontal foundational plane and a perpendicular third dimension in which up and down are virtually parallel everywhere you go.
The enduring value of Catholic media
New CNS editor on the enduring value of Catholic media | America MagazineERLANDSON: In September 2014, a committee of six international Catholic media experts along with five Vatican officials began a series of meetings to review the Vatican’s hydra-headed, highly siloed media operations. Our appointment came from the Council of Cardinals, and our mandate from Cardinal George Pell of Australia laid out three priorities—a more effective embrace of new media, better cost control and improved collaboration among the various Vatican media entities.
After half a year of meetings, interviews, field trips and debate, our committee in March 2015 recommended a dramatic restructuring of the media operations. Our recommendations were in large part accepted, and in the remainder of 2015 a series of changes were made, beginning with the creation of a new Secretariat for Communications...
After half a year of meetings, interviews, field trips and debate, our committee in March 2015 recommended a dramatic restructuring of the media operations. Our recommendations were in large part accepted, and in the remainder of 2015 a series of changes were made, beginning with the creation of a new Secretariat for Communications...
The only way to restore public confidence in Catholic bishops
The only way to restore public confidence in Catholic bishops | Catholic CultureLAWLER: The revelation that the apostolic nuncio in Washington quashed an investigation into the alleged misconduct of an American archbishop is another damaging blow to the wounded credibility of the Catholic hierarchy. Nearly fifteen years after the sex-abuse scandal destroyed public confidence in the bishops’ integrity, that confidence has still not been restored—precisely because stories like this one keep bursting into the headlines.
What is Amazon.com’s bestselling book of all time?
What is Amazon.com’s Bestselling Book of All Time?CLARK: What is Amazon.com’s Bestselling Book of All Time?
And Why Does It Matter?
It is said that you become like those with whom you associate.
Honesty would force us to admit that the same is true of books. That thought is a bit less than edifying when we consider that Amazon.com’s bestselling book of all time is Fifty Shades of Grey: Book One of the Fifty Shades Trilogy.
In fact, if you go to Amazon.com and look up the five top-selling books of ALL TIME, three of them are books from the Hunger Games series and two of them are from the Fifty Shades series. Judging from observable cultural data, that fact should surprise exactly no one. But it should cause us Catholic parents to redouble our efforts to introduce our children to the great literature.
And Why Does It Matter?
It is said that you become like those with whom you associate.
Honesty would force us to admit that the same is true of books. That thought is a bit less than edifying when we consider that Amazon.com’s bestselling book of all time is Fifty Shades of Grey: Book One of the Fifty Shades Trilogy.
In fact, if you go to Amazon.com and look up the five top-selling books of ALL TIME, three of them are books from the Hunger Games series and two of them are from the Fifty Shades series. Judging from observable cultural data, that fact should surprise exactly no one. But it should cause us Catholic parents to redouble our efforts to introduce our children to the great literature.
That time Jesus appeared in the sky of Mexico
That time Jesus appeared in the sky of Mexico :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): It's a major miracle that you've probably never heard of.
On Sunday, Oct. 3, 1847, more than 2,000 people in Ocotlán, Mexico saw a perfect image of Jesus Christ crucified that appeared in the sky for more than 30 minutes.
Approved by the Archdiocese of Guadalajara in 1911, the phenomenon is known as the “Miracle of Ocotlán” and took place one day before an earthquake that killed 40 and left the town in Jalisco State in ruins.
On Sunday, Oct. 3, 1847, more than 2,000 people in Ocotlán, Mexico saw a perfect image of Jesus Christ crucified that appeared in the sky for more than 30 minutes.
Approved by the Archdiocese of Guadalajara in 1911, the phenomenon is known as the “Miracle of Ocotlán” and took place one day before an earthquake that killed 40 and left the town in Jalisco State in ruins.
Thursday, July 21, 2016
The problem of evil and the privilege of listening to Haydn
Reading in Exile: The Problem of Evil and the Privilege of Listening to Haydn: I'm never quite sure if the problem of evil is really a problem at all. The problem, of course, is that there is evil (or, for a more precisely posed problem, meaningless or unredeemed or pointless evil), but if there were a God as He has been classically understood (as all good, all powerful, all knowing, perfectly loving) then He would want to and be able to prevent evil, and so there should be no evil. Since there is evil, then by that fact we can know that there is no God. Evil is variously understood by different proponents of the problem--most often as suffering (or, better, meaningless suffering) or as any privation (any lack of something that ought to exist).
There are certainly more sophisticated versions of the problem, such as the one posed by Ivan Karamazov in Dostoyevsky's The Brothers Karamazov. (Yes, that link leads to the Pevear and Volokhosky translation, and I defy anyone who asserts falsely that the Garnett translation is better.) On these more sophisticated versions, the presence of evil in the world does not entail that God exists, but that a God Who would allow evil is not worthy of worship or obedience or love or belief.
There are certainly more sophisticated versions of the problem, such as the one posed by Ivan Karamazov in Dostoyevsky's The Brothers Karamazov. (Yes, that link leads to the Pevear and Volokhosky translation, and I defy anyone who asserts falsely that the Garnett translation is better.) On these more sophisticated versions, the presence of evil in the world does not entail that God exists, but that a God Who would allow evil is not worthy of worship or obedience or love or belief.
Materialism is the false god of modern science
Materialism: The False God of Modern Science - The Imaginative ConservativeSTANCIU: Trained to believe that every object as well as every act in the universe is matter, an aspect of matter, or produced by matter—that is, schooled to be a materialist—I scoffed at the two fellow students of mine in graduate school who regularly attended church. For me, at that time, the brain was the mind and God an illusion.
Ultra-rare Pokémon “god” Arceus rumored to be hidden at Vatican in PokémonGO
Ultra-Rare Pok�mon "God" Arceus Rumored to Be Hidden at Vatican in Pok�monGO | ChurchPOP: Rumors are spreading that, in some secret corner of Vatican City, PokémonGO players can find the ultra-rare mythical pokémon “god” Arceus.
PokémonGO is an augmented-reality smartphone game in which players must visit real-world locations in order to find and capture virtual-world pokémon. It has become an overnight worldwide phenomenon and is now one of the biggest mobile games in history.
Like many public places around the world, St. Peter’s square is swarming with players of the game. They say you can dependably find pokémon at the window from which Pope Francis does the Angelus, as well as the fountains in the square.
PokémonGO is an augmented-reality smartphone game in which players must visit real-world locations in order to find and capture virtual-world pokémon. It has become an overnight worldwide phenomenon and is now one of the biggest mobile games in history.
Like many public places around the world, St. Peter’s square is swarming with players of the game. They say you can dependably find pokémon at the window from which Pope Francis does the Angelus, as well as the fountains in the square.
The godlessness of cultural uniformity
The Godlessness of Cultural Uniformity - Crisis MagazineSEWELL: A story in Florence, Italy recently caught the attention of many around the world. It was big news when public outcry caused Florentine city officials to backtrack from an agreement to let a McDonald’s open in the historic Piazza del Duomo, not far from Florence’s historic fifteenth-century cathedral.
It would harm the identity of the city, according to Florence’s mayor, to have a vendor like McDonald’s invade a place with such rich cultural history. And it’s easy to understand the sentiment. Florence’s rejection of the golden arches is a necessary stance to protect a valuable patrimony, even if such an act is becoming increasingly uncommon.
It would harm the identity of the city, according to Florence’s mayor, to have a vendor like McDonald’s invade a place with such rich cultural history. And it’s easy to understand the sentiment. Florence’s rejection of the golden arches is a necessary stance to protect a valuable patrimony, even if such an act is becoming increasingly uncommon.
Memo: Apostolic Nuncio curtailed investigation of Minnesota archbishop
Memo: nuncio curtailed investigation of Minnesota archbishop : News Headlines | Catholic Culture: Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, then apostolic nuncio to the United States, directed that an investigation into Archbishop John Nienstedt’s alleged homosexual activity be curtailed, and subsequently asked two auxiliary bishops to destroy a letter about the case, according to a 2014 memo released on July 20 by prosecutors in Minnesota.
The memo’s author, identified in press reports as Father Daniel Griffith, served as liaison between the archdiocese and members of the investigative team. Archbishop Nienstedt, then archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, authorized the investigation into his alleged homosexual activity in January 2014.
The memo’s author, identified in press reports as Father Daniel Griffith, served as liaison between the archdiocese and members of the investigative team. Archbishop Nienstedt, then archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, authorized the investigation into his alleged homosexual activity in January 2014.
Instead of rejoicing under Pope Francis, liberal Catholics are fretting about the future
Liberal Catholicism’s unexpected crisis – CatholicHerald.co.uk: Even as Pope Francis wins the applause of the world for giving Catholicism a friendlier face, critics have started to grumble. On social media and in opinion columns, they have drawn up a list of grievances. While they approve of his pastoral outreach, they are concerned that he is leaving the Church unprepared to face the challenges of our age. They admire many of the men he has promoted, but fret that he has also empowered bishops who want to lead the Church on a dangerous, radical course – and may well do so once he departs.
As the faith fades in Munich-Friesing, Archdiocese piles up $6.1 billion from Church tax
Munich Archdiocese Possesses a Wealth of Resources | Daily News | NCRegister.com: The Catholic Archdiocese of Munich and Freising has assets of more than 5.52 billion euros (approximately $6.1 billion), making it the wealthiest diocese in Germany, according to German-language press reports, fueling criticism that the Church in Germany has become more of a temporal power than a spiritual one.
Various news agencies, reporting on the archdiocese’s June 20 release of its 2015 annual financial statement, said that the actual figure was higher: The Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, under the headline “Blessed are the Rich,” estimated that total assets — including wealth transferred to charitable foundations and “hundreds of contracts and accounts” — amounted to 6.3 billion euros.
Various news agencies, reporting on the archdiocese’s June 20 release of its 2015 annual financial statement, said that the actual figure was higher: The Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, under the headline “Blessed are the Rich,” estimated that total assets — including wealth transferred to charitable foundations and “hundreds of contracts and accounts” — amounted to 6.3 billion euros.
Why is original sin called the “Sin of Adam”?
Why is Original Sin Called the “Sin of Adam”? - Community in Mission : Community in MissionPOPE: Original sin is that first sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, committed when they ate the forbidden fruit of the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And while it clearly involved both of them, Scripture and Tradition refer to it formally as the “Sin of Adam” or “Adam’s Sin,” not the “Sin of Adam and Eve.” It is also described as coming to us “through one man,” not “through a man and a woman.” Consider the following quotes from Scripture and the Catechism...
The last VCRs ever will be made this month
The Last VCRs Ever Will Be Made This Month: Even after they're obsolete, technologies can take a long time to fully die out. It was only in 2011, after all, that the last typewriter factory shutdown. And now, at long last, it appears the videocassette recorder is suffering the same fate: Funai Electric, the last company known to make VCRs, is ceasing production.
Funai has a long history with the VHS format and VCRs. In 1980, it launched the CVC Player, the first ever compact cassette recorder, which attempted to compete with the more popular VHS and Betamax formats. Funai's website notes that the CVC "attracted a great deal of interest when Japanese television broadcasters used these for a program on climbing Mt. Everest," but they were no match for the more popular formats. In 1983 Funai started making VCRs of their own, applying technology used in the CVC, and haven't stopped until the end of this month.
Funai has a long history with the VHS format and VCRs. In 1980, it launched the CVC Player, the first ever compact cassette recorder, which attempted to compete with the more popular VHS and Betamax formats. Funai's website notes that the CVC "attracted a great deal of interest when Japanese television broadcasters used these for a program on climbing Mt. Everest," but they were no match for the more popular formats. In 1983 Funai started making VCRs of their own, applying technology used in the CVC, and haven't stopped until the end of this month.
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Our most primal fear and the source of our bondage
Our Most Primal Fear and the Source of Our Bondage - Community in Mission : Community in MissionPOPE: Let’s ponder a significant yet often overlooked text from Hebrews, which describes our most basic and primal fear. Our inordinate fear of what people think of us is rooted in an even deeper fear, one which is at the very core of our being. The Hebrews text both names it and describes it as being the source of our bondage. In order to unlock the secret of the text, I want to suggest to you an interpretation that will allow its powerful diagnosis to have a wider and deeper effect.
What happens in Krakow, doesn’t stay in Krakow
What Happens in Krakow, Doesn’t Stay in Krakow |Blogs | NCRegister.comGRESS: Most of us have heard the phrase, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” The idea being, of course, that when you visit sin city, the effects stay there and you can return to your life without tarnish or rumor following you home. Sadly, sin is never private, never isolated, and only left behind by the grace of confession and penance.�
The opposite, however, is also true, though in a different way. Goodness, as St. Thomas Aquinas taught, tends to diffuse itself, it radiates out from itself to others. Krakow—as the city of saints, heroes, soldiers, kings and queens, virgins and martyrs—has the ability to leave an indelible mark on every pilgrim. In short, what happens in Krakow won’t stay in Krakow. World Youth Day in Krakow offers the life-transforming opportunity for the good to inspire, delight, create wonder and move souls in such a way that they will never be the same again.�
The opposite, however, is also true, though in a different way. Goodness, as St. Thomas Aquinas taught, tends to diffuse itself, it radiates out from itself to others. Krakow—as the city of saints, heroes, soldiers, kings and queens, virgins and martyrs—has the ability to leave an indelible mark on every pilgrim. In short, what happens in Krakow won’t stay in Krakow. World Youth Day in Krakow offers the life-transforming opportunity for the good to inspire, delight, create wonder and move souls in such a way that they will never be the same again.�
Video: Skip Rodgers' “Ride for Hope and Mercy”
Skip Rodgers - Ride for Hope and Mercy - OneBillionStories.com: Skip Rodgers is a man on a mission: to raise awareness about the Christian genocide happening right now in the Middle East. As we have all seen in the news over the past 24 months, the situation in the Middle East has deteriorated quickly. The march against Christianity and it’s ancient roots in the greater area has spread rapidly. The cries of our brothers and sisters are not being answered by the larger global community. But rather than sit on the sidelines and complain about it, Skip Rodgers has taken the situation into his own hands. He is pedaling across the United States of America to raise awareness about the genocide happening before our very eyes. He is taking a stand, and he invites all of you watching this video to take a stand with him.
Bishop Paprocki: Don't be misled, Archbishop Chaput got it right on marriage
Bishop Paprocki: Don't be misled, Archbishop Chaput got it right on marriage :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): Some news reports got it wrong: Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput’s guidelines on Holy Communion and divorce-and-remarriage were “certainly correct” and in line with Pope Francis and Catholic teaching, an Illinois bishop has said.
“The Bible clearly teaches about the proper disposition to receive Holy Communion in the First Letter to the Corinthians,” Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield in Illinois said July 15.
St. Paul says in that letter that those who receive unworthily will be “guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord.”
“The Bible clearly teaches about the proper disposition to receive Holy Communion in the First Letter to the Corinthians,” Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield in Illinois said July 15.
St. Paul says in that letter that those who receive unworthily will be “guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord.”
The Land O’ Lakes Statement has been devastating the Church for 49 years
The Land O’ Lakes Statement Has Caused Devastation For 49 Years |Blogs | NCRegister.comREILLY: In hindsight, what they did was appalling.
But when several Catholic university leaders gathered in the summer of 1967 at a remote retreat in Land O’ Lakes, Wisconsin, did they fully anticipate the consequences of their vision for “modern” Catholic education? Hopefully not.
It was 49 years ago, on July 20-23, when Notre Dame’s Father Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C., gathered his peers to draft and sign the “Land O’ Lakes Statement,” a declaration of the independence of Catholic universities from “authority of whatever kind, lay or clerical, external to the academic community itself.”
But when several Catholic university leaders gathered in the summer of 1967 at a remote retreat in Land O’ Lakes, Wisconsin, did they fully anticipate the consequences of their vision for “modern” Catholic education? Hopefully not.
It was 49 years ago, on July 20-23, when Notre Dame’s Father Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C., gathered his peers to draft and sign the “Land O’ Lakes Statement,” a declaration of the independence of Catholic universities from “authority of whatever kind, lay or clerical, external to the academic community itself.”
Is it a sin to laugh or joke when in need of confession?
ASK FATHER: Is it a sin to laugh or joke when in need of confession? | Fr. Z's BlogZUHLSDORF: Aristotle points out that man is the only animal that laughs. Critters might look like they are “laughing”, but they aren’t. So, it’s human to laugh.
Mark Twain points out that man is the only animal that blushes… or needs to. Hence, because we are sinners, it’s human to blush.
It doesn’t help us to mope around all long-face before confession, though we should indeed pray that we feel remorse and shame and guilt for sins, true compunction, so that we might even blush, at least when alone or when making amends to others.
Mark Twain points out that man is the only animal that blushes… or needs to. Hence, because we are sinners, it’s human to blush.
It doesn’t help us to mope around all long-face before confession, though we should indeed pray that we feel remorse and shame and guilt for sins, true compunction, so that we might even blush, at least when alone or when making amends to others.
Along this year's route of the Tour de France, saints and Catholic history were made...
Tour de France, Catholic Style | Daily News | NCRegister.com: On July 2, bicyclists from around the world began the Tour de France, an annual race that weaves its way through the plains and mountains of the country. The race has been going strong since 1903 (interrupted only by the two World Wars).
This year, the race lasts 22 days, beginning in the north and ending in Paris. While I can’t imagine that the racers have any time to appreciate the history and architecture of the land as they whiz past, each stage of the race provides abundant opportunities for Catholic tourists to see and pray at some of the many sacred sites of this amazing country.
This year, the race lasts 22 days, beginning in the north and ending in Paris. While I can’t imagine that the racers have any time to appreciate the history and architecture of the land as they whiz past, each stage of the race provides abundant opportunities for Catholic tourists to see and pray at some of the many sacred sites of this amazing country.
The Ostpolitik failed. Get over it...
The Ostpolitik Failed. Get Over It. | George Weigel | First ThingsWEIGEL: In the 1960s, Popes John XXIII and Paul VI initiated a new Vatican approach to the countries behind the iron curtain, the Ostpolitik. According to its chief architect and agent, Archbishop Agostino Casaroli, the strategic goal of the Ostpolitik was to find a modus non moriendi—a “way of not dying”—for the Catholic Church in the countries of the Warsaw Pact. The tactics included a cessation of all public Vatican criticism of communist regimes, and endless negotiations with communist governments. The results were, to put it gently, minimal.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)