How The Catholic Church Documented Mother Teresa's 2 Miracles : Parallels : NPR: Hundreds of Catholics have been declared saints in recent decades, but few with the acclaim accorded Mother Teresa, set to be canonized by Pope Francis on Sunday, largely in recognition of her service to the poor in India.
"When I was coming of age, she was the living saint," says the Most Rev. Robert Barron, the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. "If you were saying, 'Who is someone today that would really embody the Christian life?' you would turn to Mother Teresa of Calcutta."
Born Agnes Bojaxhiu to an Albanian family in the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia, Mother Teresa became world-famous for her devotion to the destitute and dying. The religious congregation she established in 1950, the Missionaries of Charity, now counts more than 4,500 religious sisters around the world. In 1979, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her lifetime of service.
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Fr. Ignatius Spencer, a priest related to Princess Diana, is on the path to sainthood
Priest related to Princess Diana on the path to sainthood :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): A relative of Princess Diana, Prince William and Prince Harry has moved one step closer to sainthood.
According to reports from the British news source Catholic Herald, a 20-year investigation into the life and works of Father Ignatius Spencer has recently been approved by Vatican historians.
The positio, or document used in the process to declare someone “venerable,” has officially been passed to the theologians of the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Sainthood.
According to reports from the British news source Catholic Herald, a 20-year investigation into the life and works of Father Ignatius Spencer has recently been approved by Vatican historians.
The positio, or document used in the process to declare someone “venerable,” has officially been passed to the theologians of the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Sainthood.
What I did on my summer vacation
What I Did on My Summer Vacation | Classical Catholic EducationLANGLEY: I have often repeated the words of a wise teacher, who has now passed on from this dusty earth straight to heaven. (nonetheless I will still continue to send prayers up for his soul in grateful memory of the benefits I received from him.)
He said, “One can’t trust a thinker who lacks the ability to work with his hands.”
of perhaps he said,
“Beware of the thinker who has no experience with his hands.”
I like this second one better. Whether he said it precisely like that or said something else with even greater eloquence I cannot say. But the fact of the matter is that I have always attributed the idea to him, and he cannot deny it anymore.
He said, “One can’t trust a thinker who lacks the ability to work with his hands.”
of perhaps he said,
“Beware of the thinker who has no experience with his hands.”
I like this second one better. Whether he said it precisely like that or said something else with even greater eloquence I cannot say. But the fact of the matter is that I have always attributed the idea to him, and he cannot deny it anymore.
Pro-life activist says leaked document shows George Soros and Planned Parenthood in a panic
Pro-Life Activist Says Leaked Document Shows George Soros and Planned Parenthood in a Panic | Daily News | NCRegister.com: A leaked grant report from the George Soros-owned Open Societies Foundation seems to show Planned Parenthood and its allies in a panicked effort to raise millions of dollars to counter a series of investigative videos alleging the abortion provider broke the law.
For undercover journalist David Daleiden, it’s a sign of hope.
“It shows that the issue of selling baby body parts for profit is an issue that could shut Planned Parenthood down. And that is why they are taking it so seriously,” Daleiden, founder of the Center for Medical Progress, told CNA Aug. 24.
For undercover journalist David Daleiden, it’s a sign of hope.
“It shows that the issue of selling baby body parts for profit is an issue that could shut Planned Parenthood down. And that is why they are taking it so seriously,” Daleiden, founder of the Center for Medical Progress, told CNA Aug. 24.
For “Social Office”, the Pope taps Turkson — and for migrants, Peter picks himself...
Whispers in the Loggia: For "Social Office," Pope Taps Turkson... For Migrants, Peter Picks HimselfPALMO: Even before the usual "starting gun" to the Vatican's working year, the Pope has again moved to end August with a bang: at Roman Noon today, the Holy See announced the consolidation of the four Pontifical Councils focused on social teaching and outreach into a new "Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development," with the longtime Justice and Peace Czar, Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson (above), tapped as the combined entity's founding head.
Essentially placing all the Holy See's silos dealing with the Social Magisterium – among them, the business, political and military worlds – under one umbrella, the merged office will absorb the functions of the respective Councils for Justice and Peace, Cor Unum ("One Heart," which oversees the global church's charitable and humanitarian works, plus relief efforts), Migrants and Itinerant Peoples and the Pastoral Care of Health Workers. Yet in a remarkable act meant to underscore Francis' well-burnished concern and advocacy for migrants and refugees, the Pope wrote into the new body's statutes that – at least temporarily – that lone section of the office "is placed [directly] under the leadership of the Supreme Pontiff," to be personally overseen by him.
Essentially placing all the Holy See's silos dealing with the Social Magisterium – among them, the business, political and military worlds – under one umbrella, the merged office will absorb the functions of the respective Councils for Justice and Peace, Cor Unum ("One Heart," which oversees the global church's charitable and humanitarian works, plus relief efforts), Migrants and Itinerant Peoples and the Pastoral Care of Health Workers. Yet in a remarkable act meant to underscore Francis' well-burnished concern and advocacy for migrants and refugees, the Pope wrote into the new body's statutes that – at least temporarily – that lone section of the office "is placed [directly] under the leadership of the Supreme Pontiff," to be personally overseen by him.
TEDx Talk: Why nuns don't have midlife crises
New Advent: TEDx Talk: Why nuns don't have midlife crises: J. E. Sigler is a graduate student and instructor of public speaking in the Communication Department at Virginia Tech. Her research practically applies the philosophies of J. L. Austin and Nicholas Wolterstorff to pin down the concrete ways in which God communicates to individuals, particularly how He communicates His call to religious vocations.
C.S. Lewis Doodle: The necessity of chivalry
New Advent: C.S. Lewis Doodle: The necessity of chivalry: This is an illustration of C.S Lewis’ essay that was published on 17 August 1940 in the heat and roar of the Battle of Britain - five days after 'Eagleday' (13 August 1940) – the Nazi Luftwaffe’s operation to destroy the Royal Air Force. It was also just three days before Churchill’s famous “Never was so much owed by so many to so few” speech (20 August 1940) concerning heroic British fighter pilots (some 500 young fighter pilots had been killed in action up to that point). On the 15 September 1940 the Nazi’s were on the verge of victory but, suffering heavy losses, switched from a strategy of conquest to that of siege of the British Isles.
Snopes: Did a Catholic hospital refuse to treat a patient with a dislodged IUD?
Did a Catholic Hospital Refuse to Treat a Patient with a Dislodged IUD? : snopes.com: On 27 August 2016, multifaith blog Patheos published an article (with the somewhat misleading title "Catholic Hospital Turns Away Bleeding Woman with Dislodged IUD Because They Oppose Birth Control") that reported...
Sigrid Undset and the Hound of Heaven
Sigrid Undset and the Hound of Heaven |Blogs | NCRegister.comSPENCER: I recently finished reading Sigrid Undset’s The Master of Hestviken, having also read Kristen Lavransdattar and Catherine of Siena, and I am struck once again by her ability to understand humanity. One of the overriding themes in Undset’s works is God’s continual pursuit of a soul to the very end. She narrates nearly perfectly the interior state of her characters in all of their thoughts, experiences, desires, and inability to see truth. And, since her characters are so much like real people, they fall from grace, and live long lives of wallowing in their sins, and fleeing from a pursuing God who wants only to love them and to be loved in return.
How one pilot's sweet tooth helped defeat Communism
How One Pilot's Sweet Tooth Helped Defeat Communism | Mental Floss: In 1948, the Soviet beast was hungry. Three years into the postwar occupation of Germany, the USSR had tired of sharing Berlin, so it blockaded ground and water access to the two million residents in the American, French, and British zones. The Soviet hope was to starve them into submission. In response, from June 1948 to September 1949, thousands of pilots airlifted 2.3 million tons of food and supplies to the blockaded Berliners. The code name for the American mission: Operation Vittles.
Pope Francis creates new dicastery for ‘Promoting Integral Human Development’
Pope Francis Creates New Dicastery for 'Promoting Integral Human Development' |Blogs | NCRegister.comPENTIN: Pope Francis has established a new “super-dicastery” for “Promoting Integral Human Development”, headed by Cardinal Peter Turkson, the Vatican announced today.
In a communiqué, the Holy See Press Office said Francis has issued a motu proprio (papal decree) establishing the new dicastery which will incorporate the Pontifical Councils of Justice and Peace, “Cor Unum”, Health Care Workers, and Migrants and Itinerant Peoples.
It will begin its work from 1 January 2017, after which the four dicasteries it replaces will cease their duties as separate bodies.
In today's announcement, the Vatican said a section of the new dicastery expresses in a “special way the Pope’s concerns for refugees and migrants.”
In a communiqué, the Holy See Press Office said Francis has issued a motu proprio (papal decree) establishing the new dicastery which will incorporate the Pontifical Councils of Justice and Peace, “Cor Unum”, Health Care Workers, and Migrants and Itinerant Peoples.
It will begin its work from 1 January 2017, after which the four dicasteries it replaces will cease their duties as separate bodies.
In today's announcement, the Vatican said a section of the new dicastery expresses in a “special way the Pope’s concerns for refugees and migrants.”
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
If our Lord thinks I need to be bribed, then maybe, just maybe, He knows me better than I know myself...
In which I get Jesus Juked by Jesus – Aleteia.org – Worldwide Catholic Network Sharing Faith Resources for those seeking Truth – Aleteia.orgFISHER: The parable that Jesus tells in yesterday’s Gospel — the one about the party guests, and about exalting the lowly and casting down the exalted? It bugs me.
I get and appreciate the general principle, and I’ve seen it in action; but I’m not sure I completely approve of Jesus’ methods. He seems to be appealing to such a low motivation: Don’t try to elevate yourself, because think how embarrassing it will be when you get knocked back down where you belong! Bubbeleh, why would you do that to yourself? Think how much nicer it would be act all humble, and the host will be all, “Hey, what are you doing down there? Come on up, you old so-and-so!” right in front of all your friends. Ha!
I get and appreciate the general principle, and I’ve seen it in action; but I’m not sure I completely approve of Jesus’ methods. He seems to be appealing to such a low motivation: Don’t try to elevate yourself, because think how embarrassing it will be when you get knocked back down where you belong! Bubbeleh, why would you do that to yourself? Think how much nicer it would be act all humble, and the host will be all, “Hey, what are you doing down there? Come on up, you old so-and-so!” right in front of all your friends. Ha!
St. Edmund Arrowsmith was hunted, hanged, drawn and quartered on his way to Heaven
The Hunted Priest: St. Edmund Arrowsmith | The Christian Review: Arrowsmith. At first mention, the word brings to mind the 80’s rock band of a similar sounding name, but to many a devout Catholic in 17th century England, it conjured the image of a brave martyr priest, hunted and eventually executed for his faith.
Brian Arrowsmith was born in 1585 in the small hamlet of Haydock, Lancashire near England’s west coast to devout Catholic parents.
Faith and perseverance ran in his blood. Because of their faith, both of his grandfathers were regulars at the local prison, and in one instance his grandfather Nicholas was forced to attend a protestant service, where he was promptly dragged back to prison after loudly singing the hymns in Latin.
Brian’s parents fared no better, and were often dragged to jail, leaving a young Brian to feed and care for his siblings. Though his family came from noble stock, the perpetual fines soon drove them to destitution and near starvation. During this hardship, Brian never abandoned his faith, and by his teenage years, he began considering the priesthood; a vocation that meant certain imprisonment or martyrdom.
Brian Arrowsmith was born in 1585 in the small hamlet of Haydock, Lancashire near England’s west coast to devout Catholic parents.
Faith and perseverance ran in his blood. Because of their faith, both of his grandfathers were regulars at the local prison, and in one instance his grandfather Nicholas was forced to attend a protestant service, where he was promptly dragged back to prison after loudly singing the hymns in Latin.
Brian’s parents fared no better, and were often dragged to jail, leaving a young Brian to feed and care for his siblings. Though his family came from noble stock, the perpetual fines soon drove them to destitution and near starvation. During this hardship, Brian never abandoned his faith, and by his teenage years, he began considering the priesthood; a vocation that meant certain imprisonment or martyrdom.
10 Places to find excellent homilies online
10 Places to find excellent homilies online - Top Stories - Aleteia.org – Worldwide Catholic Network Sharing Faith Resources for those seeking Truth – Aleteia.orgNOBLE: I don’t envy priests.
Priests have tough jobs and often wear many hats. So, I try not to be too judgmental or annoyed when I hear bad homilies. But Pope Francis is right; sometimes the people in the pews really suffer from having to listen to mediocre homilies!
In my opinion, a priest does not have to be a good speaker or a scholar to give a good homily (although that can help). What he does need is a prayerful heart that is immersed in God’s Word and close to his people.
When I am disappointed in a homily, I try to shelve my irritation and focus on what is the real center of the Mass, the Eucharist. I also say a prayer for the priest who may be overworked, tired, or going through a tough time. But I also mentally make a note to look up something edifying about the reading of the day or to listen later to a homily online.
Priests have tough jobs and often wear many hats. So, I try not to be too judgmental or annoyed when I hear bad homilies. But Pope Francis is right; sometimes the people in the pews really suffer from having to listen to mediocre homilies!
In my opinion, a priest does not have to be a good speaker or a scholar to give a good homily (although that can help). What he does need is a prayerful heart that is immersed in God’s Word and close to his people.
When I am disappointed in a homily, I try to shelve my irritation and focus on what is the real center of the Mass, the Eucharist. I also say a prayer for the priest who may be overworked, tired, or going through a tough time. But I also mentally make a note to look up something edifying about the reading of the day or to listen later to a homily online.
Holy Eucharist desecrated, Missionaries of Charity assaulted in Argentina
Eucharist desecrated, Missionaries of Charity assaulted in Argentina :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): The community of the Missionaries of Charity in Mar del Plata, Argentina, became the target of criminals late last week, as three men broke in, beat the sisters and desecrated their chapel.
According to reports, three unidentified men entered the house of the community – which was founded by Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta – at around 7:30 p.m. Thursday, August 25.
According to reports, three unidentified men entered the house of the community – which was founded by Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta – at around 7:30 p.m. Thursday, August 25.
How to pray Mother Teresa’s famous “Flying Novena” to Our Lady
How to Pray Mother Teresa’s Famous “Flying Novena” to Our Lady |Blogs | NCRegister.comPRONECHEN: What of those times when you are in need of an answer but time doesn’t permit for prayers in petition for a day or more? Mother Teresa of Calcutta knew what to do. She turned to our Mother, and prayed her “Flying Novena.”
Msgr. Leo Maasburg, her friend and spiritual advisor, explained in his book Mother Teresa of Calcutta: A Personal Portrait that it was “Mother Teresa’s spiritual rapid-fire weapon. It consisted of ten Memorares — not nine, as you might expect from the word novena. Novenas lasting nine days were quite common among the Congregation of the Missionaries of Charity. But given the host of problems that were brought to Mother Teresa’s attention, not to mention the pace at which she traveled, it was often just not possible to allow nine days for an answer from Celestial Management. And so she invented the Quick Novena.” For some reason he calls it by this name rather than the “Flying Novena” which her Missionaries of Charity continue to use and pray.
Msgr. Leo Maasburg, her friend and spiritual advisor, explained in his book Mother Teresa of Calcutta: A Personal Portrait that it was “Mother Teresa’s spiritual rapid-fire weapon. It consisted of ten Memorares — not nine, as you might expect from the word novena. Novenas lasting nine days were quite common among the Congregation of the Missionaries of Charity. But given the host of problems that were brought to Mother Teresa’s attention, not to mention the pace at which she traveled, it was often just not possible to allow nine days for an answer from Celestial Management. And so she invented the Quick Novena.” For some reason he calls it by this name rather than the “Flying Novena” which her Missionaries of Charity continue to use and pray.
Apologists, catechists, theologians: Wake up!
Apologists, Catechists, Theologians: Wake Up! | Word On FireBARRON: After perusing the latest Pew Study on why young people are leaving the active practice of Christianity, I confess that I just sighed in exasperation. I don’t doubt for a moment the sincerity of those who responded to the survey, but the reasons they offer for abandoning Christianity are just so uncompelling. That is to say, any theologian, apologist, or evangelist worth his salt should be able easily to answer them. And this led me (hence the sigh) to the conclusion that “we have met the enemy and it is us.” For the past fifty years or so, Christian thinkers have largely abandoned the art of apologetics and have failed (here I offer a j’accuse to many in the Catholic universities) to resource the riches of the Catholic intellectual tradition in order to hold off critics of the faith. I don’t blame the avatars of secularism for actively attempting to debunk Christianity; that’s their job, after all. But I do blame teachers, catechists, evangelists, and academics within the Christian churches for not doing enough to keep our young people engaged. These studies consistently demonstrate that unless we believers seriously pick up our game intellectually, we’re going to keep losing our kids.
How to protect yourself against astrologers, psychics and other spiritualist swindlers
How to Protect Yourself Against Spiritualist Swindlers |Blogs | NCRegister.comSTAGNARO: Astrology, tarot, horoscopes, palm reading, divination, summoning the dead, elemental spirits and other such blather requires referring to and worshiping creatures rather than the Creator of creatures. This is a violation of the First Commandment. All attempts to wrestle information and power from spirits and physical objects such as angels, demons, crystals, constellations, planets, tea leaves or the dead are all, without exception, motivated by a desire for power and control not out of love and compassion. Even a cursory examination of the motives and actions of psychics/pagans/witches will reveal the salient fact that they aren't interested in spiritual enlightenment, a mystical union with God and an interior peace that is reflected in love between the soul and others. Rather, they are possessed by a Faustian desire for things of this world: wealth, health, power over others, desire for esoteric, self-referential knowledge, self-affirmation and self-empowerment. This leads only to selfishness, narcissism, madness, chaos and evil.
The wild goodness of Antoni GaudÃ, architect of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona
The Wild Goodness of Architect Antoni Gaud� - The Imaginative ConservativeKOZINSKI: Once I saw, out of the corner of my eye, a large book sitting on a table. Its cover was a detail photograph of a roof corner. I was caught immediately, like love at first sight. A detail of a roof was all it took to make me a life-long fan of Antoni Gaudà i Cornet, the genius-artist-ascetic whose vision lies behind the last truly great building project of modern times, La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. La Sagrada, GaudÃ’s crowning work, and the last of this man who slowly became more and more determined to be only God’s, is great because he saw a vision of the cult-center of Barcelona’s true soul: that twin-love of their natural land and the Word who made it. He submitted his great gifts to the truth that all truly great architecture—indeed, all great art—draws our souls back to their source, to each other, to the universal and common truths, to God.
Three (more) reasons why Mother Teresa's halo matters
Three (more) reasons why Mother Teresa's halo matters - CruxALLEN: When Mother Teresa becomes “St. Teresa of Calcutta” on Sept. 4, it’s expected to be the largest public event of Pope Francis’ jubilee Year of Mercy. Her beatification in 2003 drew an estimated 300,000 people to St. Peter’s Square and the surrounding area, and organizers anticipate that turnout to be surpassed this time around.
Over the next few days, we’ll likely hear more than once, on-air and in print, that Francis is “making” Mother Teresa a saint. Theologians will tell you, however, that nothing could be further from the truth - as the old saying goes, God, not popes, makes saints.
Catholic belief holds that if someone is truly a saint, that individual is already in heaven. A canonization is understood as an after-the-fact recognition of what’s already happened.
Over the next few days, we’ll likely hear more than once, on-air and in print, that Francis is “making” Mother Teresa a saint. Theologians will tell you, however, that nothing could be further from the truth - as the old saying goes, God, not popes, makes saints.
Catholic belief holds that if someone is truly a saint, that individual is already in heaven. A canonization is understood as an after-the-fact recognition of what’s already happened.
Pope Francis said it: Climate change is not a population crisis
Pope Francis said it: Climate change is not a population crisis - CruxCAMOSY: An NPR story raised eyebrows last week with this provocative headline: “Should We Have Children in an Age of Climate Change?”
The piece focuses on the work and views of Travis Rieder, a philosopher at the Berman Institute of Ethics at John’s Hopkins University. His “small family ethic” questions the idea that having children is a good thing, particularly in the age of climate change.
“Maybe we should protect our kids by not having them,” he said. Americans are the biggest contributors per capita to climate change-so, given the seriousness of our ecological crisis, Reider argues we shouldn’t see the addition of new Americans as something to celebrate.
The piece focuses on the work and views of Travis Rieder, a philosopher at the Berman Institute of Ethics at John’s Hopkins University. His “small family ethic” questions the idea that having children is a good thing, particularly in the age of climate change.
“Maybe we should protect our kids by not having them,” he said. Americans are the biggest contributors per capita to climate change-so, given the seriousness of our ecological crisis, Reider argues we shouldn’t see the addition of new Americans as something to celebrate.
Dear Washington Post editors: Ask some orthodox Catholics why THEY oppose Trump
Dear Washington Post editors: Ask some orthodox Catholics why THEY oppose Trump — GetReligionMATTINGLY: You knew this story was coming sooner or later, in The Washington Post as well as in every other mainstream news outlet. The understated Post headline: "Donald Trump has a massive Catholic problem."
Of course he does. I mean, let's think it through.
Raise your hand if you are surprised that the majority of Catholics and ex-Catholics who oppose their church's defense of ancient Christian doctrines on sex, marriage, the defense of life from conception to grave and related issues are going to vote for Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Raise your hand if you are surprised that Catholics who say they support those teachings, but have not defended these doctrines in public life or even a voting booth since, oh, 1973, are going to vote for Clinton.
Of course he does. I mean, let's think it through.
Raise your hand if you are surprised that the majority of Catholics and ex-Catholics who oppose their church's defense of ancient Christian doctrines on sex, marriage, the defense of life from conception to grave and related issues are going to vote for Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Raise your hand if you are surprised that Catholics who say they support those teachings, but have not defended these doctrines in public life or even a voting booth since, oh, 1973, are going to vote for Clinton.
Monday, August 29, 2016
In Norway, 323 reindeer killed by lightning in one fell swoop
323 reindeer killed by lightning in Norway - The Local: An official from the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate (Statens naturoppsyn - NNI) was on a routine inspection on Friday when he walked into an area where dead reindeer were lying close together on the ground. A total of 323 of the animals were confirmed dead and it is believed that the flock was struck by lightning when a powerful storm passed through Telemark. “They were lying there dead in a fairly concentrated area. Reindeer are pack animals and are often close together. During a heavy thunderstorm, they may have gathered even closer together out of fear,” NNI spokesman Knut Nylend told NTB.
College athletes are being recruited for NASCAR pit crews, with great results
The Athletes of the Pit Crew - The New Yorker: During the thirty-seventh lap of the Nascar Sprint Cup Series at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, in Loudon, New Hampshire, earlier this year, Jimmie Johnson, driving car No. 48, pulled into the pit lane for a new set of tires and a fresh tank of petrol. The six-man pit crew stood on the concrete ledge that outlined their designated stall. Just before Johnson skidded to a stop, the crew leapt off the wall and rushed to the passenger side. The jackman thrusted the car’s ride side up, while two tire changers zipped the wheel’s lug nuts off with a hydraulic screw gun. Just as the tire changers discarded the old rubber, their corresponding tire carriers shoved the replacement in front of the hub. After another round of hydraulic screeching—tightening five lugs for each wheel—the team jumped up and moved over to the driver’s side, where it was all repeated: car jacked up, old tires off, new ones on. The fueller hoisted the gas can above his head, funnelling the liquid into the car’s tank. He removed the can from the car, the jackman dropped all four tires back onto the pavement, and Johnson shifted into gear and hit the gas pedal, zooming back onto the track. The entire process took less than twelve seconds.
Pope Francis receives Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg at the Vatican
Pope Francis Receives Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg |Blogs | NCRegister.com: In the latest in a series of meetings with tech industry heavyweights this year, Pope Francis today received in private audience Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook. In a statement, Holy See Press Office director Greg Burke said the Pope this morning met Zuckerberg along with his wife, Prescilla Chan.
“Together they spoke about how to use communications technology to alleviate poverty, encourage a culture of encounter, and to communicate a message of hope, especially to the most disadvantaged,” the statement read.
“Together they spoke about how to use communications technology to alleviate poverty, encourage a culture of encounter, and to communicate a message of hope, especially to the most disadvantaged,” the statement read.
Sunday, August 28, 2016
“The demons see us as competition”: An interview with exorcist Fr. Gary Thomas
Interview With an Exorcist | Demonic Attacks | Protection Against Demons and Evil Spirits - Beliefnet: We take a lot for granted, we humans. Gravity keeps us comfortably in our seats. Light comes in the morning, only to wane in the night, fading into pale starlight. The Earth spins on its axis in the darkness of space, making its way around the sun in a solar system that sits on a safe and quiet arm of the Milky Way galaxy. We know how all these things work. We do not fret, because we can comfortably explain, quantify, and catalog every phenomenon to ourselves, and those natural systems we have yet to understand will no doubt soon submit to the searching power of the mind of man.
A new overview of a contested subject
A new overview of a contested subject – Catholic PhillyCHAPUT: The goal of my column this week is simple: pointing readers to The New Atlantis, one of the nation’s best journals about science, technology and their intersection with ethics. Earlier this week (August 22), The New Atlantis released an important new overview of nearly 200 peer-reviewed studies from the 1950s to the present on issues of sexuality and gender identity, with findings from the biological, psychological and social sciences.
The overview, entitled “Sexuality and Gender,” can be found on line here. While the body of the overview may be data-dense for the average reader, the report’s executive summary, conclusion and prefatory notes to each section are clear, well-written and accessible to any interested adult.� And we should be interested, because sexuality and gender identity are now sharply disputed topics with big implications for the health of individuals and our wider culture.
The overview, entitled “Sexuality and Gender,” can be found on line here. While the body of the overview may be data-dense for the average reader, the report’s executive summary, conclusion and prefatory notes to each section are clear, well-written and accessible to any interested adult.� And we should be interested, because sexuality and gender identity are now sharply disputed topics with big implications for the health of individuals and our wider culture.
See the destruction of Pompeii in full-length animation
New Advent: See the destruction of Pompeii in full-length animation: A Day in Pompeii, a Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition, was held at Melbourne Museum from 26 June to 25 October 2009. Over 330,000 people visited the exhibition — an average of more than 2,700 per day — making it the most popular traveling exhibition ever staged by an Australian museum.
Zero One created the animation for an immersive 3D theatre installation which gave visitors a chance to feel the same drama and terror of the town's citizens long ago, and witness how a series of eruptions wiped out Pompeii over 48 hours.
Zero One created the animation for an immersive 3D theatre installation which gave visitors a chance to feel the same drama and terror of the town's citizens long ago, and witness how a series of eruptions wiped out Pompeii over 48 hours.
Is there such a thing as pure evil? Here's what St. Thomas Aquinas says...
Is There Such a Thing as Pure Evil? Here's What St. Thomas Says. - Community in Mission : Community in MissionPOPE: We human beings are inclined to thinking categorically and absolutely. But not all (or even most) categories are absolute. Is there such a thing as absolute goodness, with no error admixed? Yes, most assuredly. God is so, as are the saints He has perfected in Heaven. But is there such a thing as absolute evil, in which there is no admixture of goodness? St. Thomas Aquinas and others say that there is not.
On one level, this is because evil is a privation, the absence of something that should be there. Hence if someone (or something) were wholly evil, he (it) would not exist at all. There would be no “there” there.
On one level, this is because evil is a privation, the absence of something that should be there. Hence if someone (or something) were wholly evil, he (it) would not exist at all. There would be no “there” there.
Bruises on parade: Of barking dogs, bottle trees, and a dead Habsburg prince
Bruises on Parade: Of Barking Dogs, Bottle Trees, and a Dead Prince |Blogs | NCRegister.comBECKER: For hundreds of years, the traditional burial ceremony of Habsburg monarchs has included seeking admission for the deceased to a Viennese Capuchin friary that houses the imperial crypt. Almost as a parallel to our liturgical breast-striking, the ceremony begins with a trifold knocking at the friary door.
“Who’s there?” the porter asks from within.
Then, a herald proceeds to name the dead royal and list all of his high falutin titles and associations – as in the following litany from the last time this happened in 2011: “Otto of Austria; former Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary; Prince Royal of Hungary and Bohemia, of Dalmatia, Croatia, Slavonia, Galicia, Lodomeria, and Illyria; Grand Duke of Tuscany and Cracow,” and so on and so forth.
“Who’s there?” the porter asks from within.
Then, a herald proceeds to name the dead royal and list all of his high falutin titles and associations – as in the following litany from the last time this happened in 2011: “Otto of Austria; former Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary; Prince Royal of Hungary and Bohemia, of Dalmatia, Croatia, Slavonia, Galicia, Lodomeria, and Illyria; Grand Duke of Tuscany and Cracow,” and so on and so forth.
There's no such thing as an ex-Catholic
There’s No Such Thing as an Ex-Catholic | J. D. Flynn | First ThingsJDFLYNN: In the post-modern West, well before believers can proclaim revealed truth, they’re forced to combat the epistemological consequences of the dictatorship of relativism—to explain the possibility that truth claims can have real, objective, and unalterable meaning. It is an absurd, but nonetheless real, challenge to defend the idea that “true” and “false” exist, that “right” and “wrong” have meaning, that the contours of the natural world have significance, and order, and law.
Is Batman Catholic? 7 intriguing pieces of evidence...
Is Batman Catholic? 7 Intriguing Pieces of Evidence | ChurchPOP: Is Batman – perhaps the greatest comic book superhero ever – a Catholic?
It’s very much a possibility. Most experts agree Batman is either Catholic or Episcopalian.
It’s hard to determine with certainty which one he is, though, for two reasons: (1) The comic books never say explicitly what Batman’s religion is; and (2) Catholicism and Episcopalianism looked very similar in their trappings in the mid-20th century when the Batman character was created.
We’ll lay out a few pieces of evidence, and you can decide for yourself!
It’s very much a possibility. Most experts agree Batman is either Catholic or Episcopalian.
It’s hard to determine with certainty which one he is, though, for two reasons: (1) The comic books never say explicitly what Batman’s religion is; and (2) Catholicism and Episcopalianism looked very similar in their trappings in the mid-20th century when the Batman character was created.
We’ll lay out a few pieces of evidence, and you can decide for yourself!
Did you know Mother Teresa experienced visions of Jesus?
Did you know Mother Teresa experienced visions of Jesus? :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): Even her friend of more than 30 years, Father Sebastian Vazhakala, did not know Mother Teresa had conversations with and visions of Jesus before forming the Missionaries of Charity.
It wasn't until after her death, for the vast majority of people, that this part of Mother Teresa's spiritual life was uncovered. “It was a big discovery,” Missionary of Charity priest, Fr. Vazhakala told CNA. When Mother Teresa's cause for canonization was opened, just two years after her death in 1997, documents were found in the archives of the Jesuits in Calcutta, with the spiritual director and another of Mother Teresa's close priest friends, and in the office of the bishop, containing her accounts of the communications.
It wasn't until after her death, for the vast majority of people, that this part of Mother Teresa's spiritual life was uncovered. “It was a big discovery,” Missionary of Charity priest, Fr. Vazhakala told CNA. When Mother Teresa's cause for canonization was opened, just two years after her death in 1997, documents were found in the archives of the Jesuits in Calcutta, with the spiritual director and another of Mother Teresa's close priest friends, and in the office of the bishop, containing her accounts of the communications.
Meet the Greater Honeyguide, the bird that can communicate with humans
Meet the Greater Honeyguide, the Bird That Understands Humans | Audubon: At least, that’s how Claire Spottiswoode tells it. The zoologist from the University of Cambridge has spent the past eight years studying the species’ dark side in the wooded savannas of southern Africa. Minutes after entering the world, Greater Honeyguide chicks turn murderous, using the barbed ends of their beaks to slay their nest mates. But the victims aren’t the young honeyguide's kin—they’re actually the offspring of the nest’s rightful owners, which now have the unfortunate task of raising a brutal brood parasite.
Tips for effective Catholic evangelizers: “I was an FBI crisis negotiator for 23 years...”
I Was a Crisis Negotiator for 23 Years. Here’s What It’s Like to Talk Down an Armed Hostage Taker. - The Trace: The most damaging thing for a hostage negotiator is losing self-control. If you can’t control your own emotions, how can you begin to influence someone else’s? If you get angry at what the person has said or done, if you overreact when they don’t follow through on what they said, if you overreact to a verbal attack, that’s self-defeating and self-destructive.
The first task of a negotiator is to bring down the emotions. We use a diagram in training that looks like a child’s teeter-totter. On one side you have “emotions,” and on the other side you have “rational thinking.” When emotions go up, rational thinking goes down.
The first task of a negotiator is to bring down the emotions. We use a diagram in training that looks like a child’s teeter-totter. On one side you have “emotions,” and on the other side you have “rational thinking.” When emotions go up, rational thinking goes down.
Which NFL team are you stuck watching every Sunday?
Which NFL Team Are You Stuck Watching Every Sunday? | FiveThirtyEight: Like millions of other Americans, I watch the NFL on a regular basis. However, just like millions of other viewers, most Sundays I am not sure which games will be on my television. I live in Austin, so there’s a good chance I’ll get to see the Cowboys and Texans, but beyond that, there’s no way for me to know what to expect. Because of the nature of the league’s broadcast deal, and the realities of “regional coverage,” every Sunday the league’s national broadcast partners Fox and CBS assign different games to different markets, based on both regional and national interest. So unless you have a premium NFL television package, your location greatly affects your viewing experiences. Folks in Wisconsin get to watch their Packers every week; folks in northern Florida “get” to see the Jags.
You have to serve before you sit: A homily for the 22nd Sunday of the Year
You Have to Serve Before You Sit – A Homily for the 22nd Sunday of the Year - Community in Mission : Community in MissionPOPE: In the Gospel for Sunday’s Mass, the Lord Jesus summons us to a deeper appreciation for what brings true honor, for what makes a person truly great. As you may imagine, what the world considers great and honorable is rather different from what God thinks and sees. Let’s look at this Gospel in three parts and discover its paradoxical vision.
Saturday, August 27, 2016
Holy detachment means letting God be all we need
Detachment: Letting God Be All We NeedEWING: In a culture that presents detachment as a distant type of apathy or indifference, the word detachment itself procures distaste and disdain for those who are genuinely seeking to deepen their interior lives. Yet detachment can be holy. We hear the word in terms of surrender or abandonment, as in “surrender to God’s will” or “abandonment to Divine Providence,” respectively. How can one discern the difference between worldly and holy detachment?
Secular detachment is derived from a sense of selfishness. The person who withdraws from the world does so out of a motive of fear, anxiety, ambivalence, and anger, among many other egocentric reasons. With the onslaught of social media and the bombardment of selfies or self-aggrandizement in varying forms on the internet, it’s quite common for many of us to become swept away with a sense of emotional and spiritual distance that result in lack of charity toward neighbor and enemy alike. This sort of detachment leads us inward in a self-protective sense, so that we begin (or continue) to build invisible barriers around our hearts that prevent us from risking vulnerability.
Secular detachment is derived from a sense of selfishness. The person who withdraws from the world does so out of a motive of fear, anxiety, ambivalence, and anger, among many other egocentric reasons. With the onslaught of social media and the bombardment of selfies or self-aggrandizement in varying forms on the internet, it’s quite common for many of us to become swept away with a sense of emotional and spiritual distance that result in lack of charity toward neighbor and enemy alike. This sort of detachment leads us inward in a self-protective sense, so that we begin (or continue) to build invisible barriers around our hearts that prevent us from risking vulnerability.
An open invitation to make the move and sign up for RCIA
An Open Invitation - Kevin Lowry: A Grateful Convert : Kevin Lowry: A Grateful ConvertLOWRY: One of the great privileges of my life is knowing many good people. In fact, it would be difficult to overstate the impact of these family members, friends, and acquaintances on my journey through life – and who I have become.
As anyone who has read my conversion story or my latest book knows, the greatest gift I have been given is my unwitting discovery of the Catholic faith. Embracing the Church has transformed just about every aspect of my life. Through her, I have received the cleansing power of baptism, a sacramental marriage, recourse to the Eucharist and confession, and a sense of purpose that transcends even my own suffering.
Of course, there have been other practical ramifications. Like eight amazing kids.
As anyone who has read my conversion story or my latest book knows, the greatest gift I have been given is my unwitting discovery of the Catholic faith. Embracing the Church has transformed just about every aspect of my life. Through her, I have received the cleansing power of baptism, a sacramental marriage, recourse to the Eucharist and confession, and a sense of purpose that transcends even my own suffering.
Of course, there have been other practical ramifications. Like eight amazing kids.
Who put the West in Western Civilization?
Who Put the West in Western Civilization? - The Imaginative ConservativeROYAL: Where did “Western” Civilization come from? The term does not refer to any simple geographical location and did not exist until relatively recently. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, G.K. Chesterton was the first to use the expression “Western man” only ninety years ago, in 1907. How the notion came into existence explains a good deal about what the West represents. For many people, the West simply means Western Europe and countries of European origin such as the Americas, Australia, and New Zealand. But the non-European parts of the West, particularly America, have added to and altered the original cultural base. Much of what is characteristically American was forged against European influences, long before there was such a thing as opposition to “Euro centrism.” Yet we also undeniably remain an offshoot of Europe. In addition, Western ways are spreading to other parts of the globe. Paradoxes of this kind make it necessary to inquire more carefully into exactly what we mean by the West.
Like it or not, it is time for Church leaders to take courage and face the dragon
Time for a Christian Declaration of Independence? - The Imaginative ConservativePEARCE: One of the biggest mistakes that we can make is to believe that holy matrimony has anything whatsoever to do with a secular understanding of “marriage.” Apart from the fact that the increasingly meaningless “marriage” label is affixed to both things, they could not be more different.
Holy matrimony is a heavenly sacrament, defined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church as “the matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, [which] is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.”
Holy matrimony is a heavenly sacrament, defined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church as “the matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, [which] is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.”
Pope Francis sends Jubilee video message to the Americas
Pope Francis: Jubilee Video Message to Americas - Vatican Radio: Pope Francis has sent a Video Message to the Church in the Americas to mark the American continental Jubilee, opening Saturday, August 27th in Bogota, Colombia, and running through August 30th, under the auspices of the Bishops’ Conference of Latin America (CELAM) and the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, with the close cooperation of the US and Canadian Bishops’ Conferences.
Sailing the globe using nothing but the sun, stars, and ocean swells
New Advent: Sailing the globe using nothing but the sun, stars, and ocean swells: Hawai'i—possibly the most remote island chain on the planet—was discovered hundreds of years ago by Polynesian voyagers in canoes. These ancient explorers relied exclusively upon their knowledge of the stars, bird behavior and ocean swell patterns to find speckles of land. Today, the modern descendants of these explorers are circumnavigating the globe using the same techniques.
St. Monica can help bring your loved ones back to Christ
St. Monica Can Help Bring Your Loved Ones Back to Christ |Blogs | NCRegister.comFENELON: I love St. Monica.
As far as I’m concerned, she is the epitome of what I refer to as the “Mommy Heart.”
A true Mommy Heart is driven by love, fueled by determination, and governed by wisdom. St. Monica’s heart is all of that and more.
Time and again, I’ve told my children, “Mommy Hearts don’t come with an on/off switch.”
In other words, I can’t simply stop caring about – and yes, worrying about – them just because they’ve reached adulthood. I bore them, raised them, tended them, and will forever be spiritually and emotionally tied to them because I’m their mom. Plain and simple.
So, when I text them to check in with me because I heard on the news about a terrible accident on the roads they normally travel, they do it. When I warn them not to burn themselves out at work or to get plenty of rest and fluids when they’re sick, they take it with a grain of salt.
As far as I’m concerned, she is the epitome of what I refer to as the “Mommy Heart.”
A true Mommy Heart is driven by love, fueled by determination, and governed by wisdom. St. Monica’s heart is all of that and more.
Time and again, I’ve told my children, “Mommy Hearts don’t come with an on/off switch.”
In other words, I can’t simply stop caring about – and yes, worrying about – them just because they’ve reached adulthood. I bore them, raised them, tended them, and will forever be spiritually and emotionally tied to them because I’m their mom. Plain and simple.
So, when I text them to check in with me because I heard on the news about a terrible accident on the roads they normally travel, they do it. When I warn them not to burn themselves out at work or to get plenty of rest and fluids when they’re sick, they take it with a grain of salt.
Mongolia’s first Catholic priest to be ordained in Ulaanbaatar
Mongolia’s first Catholic priest to be ordained in Ulaanbaatar - Vatican Radio: Joseph Enkh will be ordained to priesthood by His Exc. Mgr. Wenceslao Padilla, CICM, Apostolic Prefect of Ulaanbaatar on August 28. The new priest has chosen for his ordination the motto: "Deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow me" (Lk 9, 23). According to Fides, "More than 1,500 people have confirmed that they will participate in the celebration, which will be a very special moment for the Catholic Church in Mongolia and for the whole society", says Fr. Prosper Mbumba, CICM a Congolese missionary in the Asian country.
Don Joseph Enkh was ordained a deacon on 11 December 2014 in Daejeong (South Korea), where he received his initial formation, and returned to Mongolia in January. Since then he has been carrying out his pastoral experience, serving in various parishes of Mongolia. On Monday evening, August 29 Joseph Enkh will celebrate his first Mass in the same Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul in Ulaanbaatar
Don Joseph Enkh was ordained a deacon on 11 December 2014 in Daejeong (South Korea), where he received his initial formation, and returned to Mongolia in January. Since then he has been carrying out his pastoral experience, serving in various parishes of Mongolia. On Monday evening, August 29 Joseph Enkh will celebrate his first Mass in the same Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul in Ulaanbaatar
Friday, August 26, 2016
The strange case of the pilgrimage site in a Pennsylvania ghost town
The Strange Case of the Pilgrimage Site in a Pennsylvania Ghost Town |Blogs | NCRegister.comPRONECHEN: Imagine a once-thriving town with seven churches, businesses, schools, and working families — now with less than 10 residents. Imagine all but a handful of those homes and building once alive but now mostly razed. Imagine only one beautiful structure left. The only one that remains fully alive and thriving in the ghost town.
Imagine no more because the municipality is Centralia, Penn., and the only one, thriving edifice is the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church. So flourishing, in fact, that it has been designated a holy pilgrimage site and was chosen to have a Holy Door of Mercy in the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia for the Jubilee Year of Mercy.
Imagine no more because the municipality is Centralia, Penn., and the only one, thriving edifice is the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church. So flourishing, in fact, that it has been designated a holy pilgrimage site and was chosen to have a Holy Door of Mercy in the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia for the Jubilee Year of Mercy.
Pro-lifers must entrust our efforts to Christ, for abortion is Satanic
Pro-Lifers Must Entrust Our Efforts to Christ, for Abortion is Satanic |Blogs | NCRegister.comHAMILTON: As I mentioned previously, an out-of-state abortion business is opening an abortion clinic a few blocks from my home parish. I am blessed to be part of a wonderful parish. It is full of people who love Jesus and who work for the good, including an end to abortion.
I believe that the fight for the sanctity of human life is more than a legal and political struggle. I think that it is a spiritual battle. We are dealing with what St. Paul described as “powers and principalities.”
Abortion has led our society into the pit of nihilism and degeneracy. It sets us against one another. Abortion is Moloch. It is Satanic.
I believe that the fight for the sanctity of human life is more than a legal and political struggle. I think that it is a spiritual battle. We are dealing with what St. Paul described as “powers and principalities.”
Abortion has led our society into the pit of nihilism and degeneracy. It sets us against one another. Abortion is Moloch. It is Satanic.
How busily doing things for God can drive us from Him
How Doing Things For God Can Drive Us From Him |Blogs | NCRegister.comARMSTRONG: I don’t argue with God, but I did have a question for him. It would surface while preparing a meal. That is when the New Testament story of Martha and Mary occasionally crossed my mind.
In Luke 10:38-42 at the home of Mary and Martha, we learn that Mary sat at the feet of Jesus soaking in his teachings while Martha was in the kitchen making preparations. “She went to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.”
Mary chose Jesus. Of course that is better. But meals do not prepare themselves.
So my question to Jesus was: if Martha joined Mary, who was going to get the food ready?
In Luke 10:38-42 at the home of Mary and Martha, we learn that Mary sat at the feet of Jesus soaking in his teachings while Martha was in the kitchen making preparations. “She went to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.”
Mary chose Jesus. Of course that is better. But meals do not prepare themselves.
So my question to Jesus was: if Martha joined Mary, who was going to get the food ready?
Join a Divine Mercy Chaplet on Facebook Live at 3:00 p.m. EST on Friday
Join Us for the Divine Mercy Chaplet Today at 3pm EST! | ChurchPOP: Last week, we got a great response to our first ever live Divine Mercy Chaplet on Facebook – so we’re doing it again!
At 3pm EST today (Friday, August 26th), ChurchPOP will be leading the Divine Mercy Chaplet on a Facebook Live video. We want as many people as possible to pray with us!
To join us, at 3pm EST simply come to our Facebook page, or come back to this article (we’ll embed the video at the bottom of this article). On Facebook, you’ll be able to post prayer requests in the comments, and, most importantly, hopefully you’ll join with us and many others from around the world to pray wherever you are!
At 3pm EST today (Friday, August 26th), ChurchPOP will be leading the Divine Mercy Chaplet on a Facebook Live video. We want as many people as possible to pray with us!
To join us, at 3pm EST simply come to our Facebook page, or come back to this article (we’ll embed the video at the bottom of this article). On Facebook, you’ll be able to post prayer requests in the comments, and, most importantly, hopefully you’ll join with us and many others from around the world to pray wherever you are!
This anti-Christian graffito may be our earliest depiction of the Crucifixion
This Anti-Christian Graffito May Be Earliest Depiction of Crucifixion |Blogs | NCRegister.comMATTARCHBOLD: We are mocked in popular culture. We are attacked by the government. But this, as we know, is nothing new for Christians.
In fact, it's rather fitting that perhaps the earliest surviving depiction of Christ crucified might just be anti-Christian graffiti. Discovered in 1857, carved into a wall near the Palatine Hill in Rome, the graffiti is believed to have been drawn around 200 AD. The central figure of the drawing is a crucified figure with the body of a man and the head of a donkey or ass. To the left of the crucified figure is a man raising his hand in presumed worship. A mocking inscription accompanies the drawing which says "Alexamenos worshipping his God."
In fact, it's rather fitting that perhaps the earliest surviving depiction of Christ crucified might just be anti-Christian graffiti. Discovered in 1857, carved into a wall near the Palatine Hill in Rome, the graffiti is believed to have been drawn around 200 AD. The central figure of the drawing is a crucified figure with the body of a man and the head of a donkey or ass. To the left of the crucified figure is a man raising his hand in presumed worship. A mocking inscription accompanies the drawing which says "Alexamenos worshipping his God."
One year from now, America will see its first total solar eclipse since 1979
One Year From Now, America Will See Its First Total Solar Eclipse Since 1979: It's already being called the Great American Eclipse, and it's coming on August 21, 2017. For the first time in 38 years, the shadow of a total solar eclipse will cross the lower 48 of the United States.
If you have seen a partial solar eclipse and think there is no reason to see a total one, think again. In a partial eclipse, you must use those little cardboard pinhole viewers to see the sun's disk projected onto a piece of paper so as not to hurt your eyes. It's very cool, but not the transformative experience of a total eclipse, when the apparent diameter of the moon is larger than that of the sun and blocks all direct sunlight. Day turns to night, birds go silent, and you can stare directly at the moon with the sun behind it without any eye protection. (You still have to be careful though! Cover your eyes before the sun re-emerges. Here's a complete guide to eclipse eye safety from NASA.)
If you have seen a partial solar eclipse and think there is no reason to see a total one, think again. In a partial eclipse, you must use those little cardboard pinhole viewers to see the sun's disk projected onto a piece of paper so as not to hurt your eyes. It's very cool, but not the transformative experience of a total eclipse, when the apparent diameter of the moon is larger than that of the sun and blocks all direct sunlight. Day turns to night, birds go silent, and you can stare directly at the moon with the sun behind it without any eye protection. (You still have to be careful though! Cover your eyes before the sun re-emerges. Here's a complete guide to eclipse eye safety from NASA.)
In Mississippi, two Catholic nuns found slain in the home they shared
BREAKING: In Mississippi, Two Catholic Nuns Found Slain in the Home They Shared – Seasons of GraceSCHIFFER: Two Catholic nuns have been found dead in a home they shared near Jackson, Mississippi–the apparent victims of homicide.
The sisters, both nurse practitioners, were not shot; but authorities have not yet explained how they died. One was apparently a member of the Kentucky-based Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. The other belonged to the School Sisters of St. Francis, an order originating in Milwaukee.
The sisters, both nurse practitioners, were not shot; but authorities have not yet explained how they died. One was apparently a member of the Kentucky-based Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. The other belonged to the School Sisters of St. Francis, an order originating in Milwaukee.
I love being Catholic. It gets us through everything — maybe even decaf...
Death, Taxes…and Decaf | Rocking the Cradle CatholicMOORE: It’s been an odd couple of weeks around our house. And if I weren’t Catholic, I think they would have depressed me greatly.
First of all, we lost my mother-in-law. “Babci” as her grandchildren called her, passed to the next life after a short hospital stay. True, she made it to 90 and was sharp as a tack all the way, but that doesn’t make our dinner table any less empty. She lived with us for five years and suppertime is now decidedly diminished without her nightly report of events gathered from a day spent cruising her favorite cable stations.
Due to some logistical issues, we had to postpone Babci’s burial until a week after her funeral Mass. We buried her on a Monday morning and stopped by later to see how she was settling into the new neighborhood. We also took some measurements we needed to order her monument; that included the uneasy process of measuring other people’s monuments for reference.
First of all, we lost my mother-in-law. “Babci” as her grandchildren called her, passed to the next life after a short hospital stay. True, she made it to 90 and was sharp as a tack all the way, but that doesn’t make our dinner table any less empty. She lived with us for five years and suppertime is now decidedly diminished without her nightly report of events gathered from a day spent cruising her favorite cable stations.
Due to some logistical issues, we had to postpone Babci’s burial until a week after her funeral Mass. We buried her on a Monday morning and stopped by later to see how she was settling into the new neighborhood. We also took some measurements we needed to order her monument; that included the uneasy process of measuring other people’s monuments for reference.
Beyond elections: How Catholics can find their place in politics
AngelusLOPEZ: There’s a genocide of Christians going on in the world today, with ISIS rallying to “take down the cross,” according to its English-language magazine. There’s heightened anger and hostility and deadly violence — including the political manipulation of young men who need more integration not isolation, and outright slaughter of police — in urban streets. And there’s Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. When you question Trump supporters, they’ll tell you they love him because he’ll blow the whole political process up, so deep is their cynicism and frustration and distrust of government. And even though he’s made a career in Washington, socialist Bernie Sanders gave Clinton a run for her money in the primaries for similar reasons.
After 220,000 deaths, Colombia and FARC are ending a half-century of war
Ending a half-century of war | The Economist: A decade or so has passed since a ferocious war between the state and the FARC, an army of leftist narco-guerrillas, dominated life in Colombia. An offensive launched by government forces in 2002 pushed the FARC into remote mountain and jungle areas. A unilateral ceasefire declared by the FARC last year virtually ended hostilities. Nowadays the war’s terror no longer troubles city-dwelling Colombians.
Nevertheless, the final peace accord announced on August 24th, after four years of talks in Havana, is historic. It ends a war that began 52 years ago and has killed perhaps 220,000 people and displaced 7m more. Under the agreement, the FARC is to turn itself into a normal political party. After its fighters finally remove their uniforms, vestigial insurgencies will continue in South America. A drug-running rump of the Shining Path fights feebly on in Peru and the ELN remains more than a nuisance in Colombia. But the FARC’s recognition of Colombia’s constitutional order represents the death of a strain of Stalinist violence that has plagued Latin America for decades. When Colombia’s citizens vote on the settlement on October 2nd it deserves their endorsement.
Nevertheless, the final peace accord announced on August 24th, after four years of talks in Havana, is historic. It ends a war that began 52 years ago and has killed perhaps 220,000 people and displaced 7m more. Under the agreement, the FARC is to turn itself into a normal political party. After its fighters finally remove their uniforms, vestigial insurgencies will continue in South America. A drug-running rump of the Shining Path fights feebly on in Peru and the ELN remains more than a nuisance in Colombia. But the FARC’s recognition of Colombia’s constitutional order represents the death of a strain of Stalinist violence that has plagued Latin America for decades. When Colombia’s citizens vote on the settlement on October 2nd it deserves their endorsement.
What's the deal with Carter Lake (the only Iowa city west of the Missouri River)?
What's the deal with Carter Lake (aka the only Iowa city west of the Missouri River)? | Living | omaha.com: You and I are used to it, but first-time visitors landing at Omaha’s Eppley Airfield must get a tad dizzy as they drive into town. No sooner are they welcomed to Omaha then — whoa!— they’re welcomed to Iowa. Before they can pull a confused U-turn, they’re back in Omaha.
“What just happened?” they ask themselves.
Answer: Carter Lake.
Depending on your perspective, Carter Lake is either a feisty little Liechtenstein squeezed between Nebraska and Iowa or a gallstone in Omaha’s gut. Either way, the town of 3,200 souls deserves respect for having survived its history of geographic and political whiplash.
“What just happened?” they ask themselves.
Answer: Carter Lake.
Depending on your perspective, Carter Lake is either a feisty little Liechtenstein squeezed between Nebraska and Iowa or a gallstone in Omaha’s gut. Either way, the town of 3,200 souls deserves respect for having survived its history of geographic and political whiplash.
Top 5 Pope John Paul I quotes on his 38th papal anniversary
Top 5 Pope John Paul I Quotes On His 38th Papal Anniversary: If the life of Albino Luciani could be summed up in a word, perhaps that word would be “improbable.”
His midwife baptized him shortly after his birth, as she recognized that he was in serious danger of death.
He was confirmed at age 6, entered the minor seminary at age 11, and was ordained a priest at age 22.
In 1973, he was made a cardinal, and only five years later, he was elected pope, taking a double papal name for the first time in history.
But though his Savior walked the earth for 33 years, Pope John Paul I, as the Vicar of Christ, served his Savior for only 33 days.
His midwife baptized him shortly after his birth, as she recognized that he was in serious danger of death.
He was confirmed at age 6, entered the minor seminary at age 11, and was ordained a priest at age 22.
In 1973, he was made a cardinal, and only five years later, he was elected pope, taking a double papal name for the first time in history.
But though his Savior walked the earth for 33 years, Pope John Paul I, as the Vicar of Christ, served his Savior for only 33 days.
Crusader-era hand grenade surprises archaeologists
Crusader-era hand grenade surprises archaeologists | Fox News: A centuries-old hand grenade that may date back to the time of the crusaders is among a host of treasures retrieved from the sea in Israel.
The metal artifacts, some of which are more than 3,500 years old, were found over a period of years by the late Marcel Mazliah, a worker at the Hadera power plant in northern Israel.
Mazliah’s family recently presented the treasures to the Israel Antiquities Authority. Experts, who were surprised by the haul, think that the objects probably fell overboard from a medieval metal merchant’s ship.
The metal artifacts, some of which are more than 3,500 years old, were found over a period of years by the late Marcel Mazliah, a worker at the Hadera power plant in northern Israel.
Mazliah’s family recently presented the treasures to the Israel Antiquities Authority. Experts, who were surprised by the haul, think that the objects probably fell overboard from a medieval metal merchant’s ship.
The strange tale of JFK's goat-out-the-vote induction into the Knights of Columbus
The Strange Tale of JFK's Goat-Out-the-Vote Campaign | Atlas Obscura: As this turbulent election season marches on, it's easy to forget that, throughout the history of world politics, a small but steady role has been played by goats.
During June's European Union referendum, something called gifgoat.party convinced nearly 10,000 people to register to vote by showing them videos of frolicking kids. One of Donald Trump's personal tax-cutting strategies includes pasturing goats on two of his New Jersey golf courses, making them, legally, large (and strangely barren) farms. And then there's President George W. Bush's favorite emergency reading material, The Pet Goat. If three's a trend, we're already there.
During June's European Union referendum, something called gifgoat.party convinced nearly 10,000 people to register to vote by showing them videos of frolicking kids. One of Donald Trump's personal tax-cutting strategies includes pasturing goats on two of his New Jersey golf courses, making them, legally, large (and strangely barren) farms. And then there's President George W. Bush's favorite emergency reading material, The Pet Goat. If three's a trend, we're already there.
You have to decide! Parables on judgment and the drama of human life
Decide! Parables on Judgment and the Drama of Human Life - Community in Mission : Community in MissionPOPE: Today’s Gospel at daily Mass (Friday of the 21st Week of the Year) features one of the many parables in which Jesus paints a picture of the great drama of human life. We are caught up in a great and cosmic battle and must choose sides; there are only two armies and no third way is given. Sadly, most have lost any sense of this, despite the battle lines being more clearly drawn than ever.
‘Greater’ is a cut above most faith-based films
SDG Reviews ‘Greater’ | Daily News | NCRegister.comGREYDANUS: Greater has three surprises, which is three more than most faith-based films, particularly of the inspirational sports-movie variety.
First, while the film’s hero is the celebrated Arkansas Razorbacks offensive guard Brandon Burlsworth (Christopher Severio) — possibly the greatest walk-on player in college football history — the protagonist is not Brandon but his brother Marty, played by Neal McDonough of Arrow.
Second, while Brandon’s own faith never wavers, the film cross-examines Christian pieties and even faith itself to a greater degree than any other faith-based film I can think of. In a movie like God’s Not Dead, disbelief is a straw-man villain that exists solely to be vanquished and humiliated by the righteous hero. Here it’s a nagging voice in a grieving believer’s heart asking a question that admits no simple, final answer: Why do bad things happen to good people?
First, while the film’s hero is the celebrated Arkansas Razorbacks offensive guard Brandon Burlsworth (Christopher Severio) — possibly the greatest walk-on player in college football history — the protagonist is not Brandon but his brother Marty, played by Neal McDonough of Arrow.
Second, while Brandon’s own faith never wavers, the film cross-examines Christian pieties and even faith itself to a greater degree than any other faith-based film I can think of. In a movie like God’s Not Dead, disbelief is a straw-man villain that exists solely to be vanquished and humiliated by the righteous hero. Here it’s a nagging voice in a grieving believer’s heart asking a question that admits no simple, final answer: Why do bad things happen to good people?
Nonviolent politics to be the focus of next World Day of Peace, Vatican announces
Nonviolent politics to be the focus of next World Day of Peace :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): Announced Friday, the theme Pope Francis selected for the 2017 World Day of Peace focuses on nonviolence as a political solution to what he has frequently termed a “piecemeal World War III” being waged throughout the globe.
“Violence and Peace are at the origin of two opposite ways to building society,” an Aug. 26 communique from the Vatican’s Council for Justice and Peace announcing the theme read.
“The proliferation of hotbeds of violence produces most serious negative social consequences…Peace, by contrast, promotes social positive consequences and it allows the achievement of real progress.”
“Violence and Peace are at the origin of two opposite ways to building society,” an Aug. 26 communique from the Vatican’s Council for Justice and Peace announcing the theme read.
“The proliferation of hotbeds of violence produces most serious negative social consequences…Peace, by contrast, promotes social positive consequences and it allows the achievement of real progress.”
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Looks like Saint Jude has a bee in his bonnet...
Huge Hornet Nest Makes It Look Like Statue is Wearing a Turban �TwistedSifter: In this interesting (and slightly terrifying) photo we see a huge hornet nest atop a statue that has a striking resemblance to a turban. You can also see a large number of hornets covering other parts of the statue so be sure to observe this nest from afar. For me, the photo is close enough.
Photos of Yellowstone National Park then and now
Photos of Yellowstone National Park then and now - Business Insider: In the summer of 1871, photographer William Henry Jackson set out on an expedition to document the untamed, other-worldly beauty of a region that would become the country's first national park. At the time, Congress was reviewing legislation to establish Yellowstone National Park, but it needed convincing.
They heard accounts of the wonders explorers had seen — "spouting geysers, towering waterfalls and a huge, pristine mountain lake," as photojournalist Bradly J. Boner told Business Insider. But they "seemed too extraordinary and were often dismissed as campfire tales."
They heard accounts of the wonders explorers had seen — "spouting geysers, towering waterfalls and a huge, pristine mountain lake," as photojournalist Bradly J. Boner told Business Insider. But they "seemed too extraordinary and were often dismissed as campfire tales."
3 ways Catholics misunderstand the Church's teaching about the death penalty
3 Ways Catholics Misunderstand the Death Penalty | Archdiocese of OmahaGUTIERREZ: The fact that there is a Catechism paragraph on the death penalty would make most Catholics think that understanding the Church’s teaching on the matter would be easy. It’s there in black and white—what’s not to understand? But the human mind is Olympic in its ability to twist and bend and mash up all kinds of rationalizations for our own preferences.
Here are three ways that Catholics typically misunderstand the Church’s teaching on the death penalty
Here are three ways that Catholics typically misunderstand the Church’s teaching on the death penalty
The poignant but triumphant story of a Yugoslavian nun who was raped during the war
The Poignant but Triumphant Story of the Yugoslavian Nun Who Was Raped – EpicPew: Particularly inspiring in this Year of Mercy, here is an extraordinary letter written by a young nun, Sister Lucy Vertrusc, to her mother superior. Sister Vertrusc became pregnant after she was raped in 1995 during the war in the former Yugoslavia. The letter appeared in an Italian newspaper at the behest of her Mother Superior.
Liberal education and conditions of hope
Liberal Education and Conditions of Hope - The Imaginative ConservativeARBERY: On Tuesday of this week, the second-largest class in the history of Wyoming Catholic College arrived on campus, most of them with their parents. The new students are a wonderful-looking group, enthusiastic and full of spirit. After a week of preparation, they leave this weekend for the twenty-one-day trip into the Wind River Mountains that is a signature of our program.
When I welcomed the freshmen and parents on Tuesday afternoon, I reminded them of the four conditions of hope that Thomas Aquinas cites: what is hoped-for must be something in the future, not something already possessed; it must be something good; it must be arduous and difficult to attain; and it must be possible, since no one seriously hopes for impossible things. These conditions apply to the whole education they are undertaking, not just to their initiation in the wilderness. In its difficulty, it will require of them all they have, but, of course, what they have will expand in capacity the more they learn.
When I welcomed the freshmen and parents on Tuesday afternoon, I reminded them of the four conditions of hope that Thomas Aquinas cites: what is hoped-for must be something in the future, not something already possessed; it must be something good; it must be arduous and difficult to attain; and it must be possible, since no one seriously hopes for impossible things. These conditions apply to the whole education they are undertaking, not just to their initiation in the wilderness. In its difficulty, it will require of them all they have, but, of course, what they have will expand in capacity the more they learn.
Lord, make me happy — but not yet
Lord, Make Me Happy … But Not Yet |Blogs | NCRegister.comLONGENECKER: Sister Mary Lucy was a Poor Clare nun who suffered greatly. She lost her eyesight and had a degenerative bone disease which caused her spine to crumble.
The doctors could do very little to help her. I used to visit her regularly, but never once heard her complain.
Instead she had a huge radiant smile. I asked her, “Sister, do you ever feel angry at the Lord because you have lost your sight?”
“Oh no!” she’d exclaim, “I’ve seen such wonderful things that I would never have been able to see if I had my sight!”
She was a mystic.
Another time I asked her if she was in pain because of her crumbling spine.
She said, “Constantly!”
“Doesn’t that make you unhappy?”
The doctors could do very little to help her. I used to visit her regularly, but never once heard her complain.
Instead she had a huge radiant smile. I asked her, “Sister, do you ever feel angry at the Lord because you have lost your sight?”
“Oh no!” she’d exclaim, “I’ve seen such wonderful things that I would never have been able to see if I had my sight!”
She was a mystic.
Another time I asked her if she was in pain because of her crumbling spine.
She said, “Constantly!”
“Doesn’t that make you unhappy?”
U.S. birth rate continues slump, hits lowest level in nation's history
Whither the Culture of Life? Birth Rate Hit Its Lowest Level Yet | Daily News | NCRegister.com: If the ultimate referendum on Americans’ openness to life is the national birth rate, the latest results are in and they are not pretty. New federal data shows births at their lowest rate on record in the U.S., as the pregnancy rate continues its downward slump since the Great Recession of 2007-2009.
The Centers for Disease Control reported that the general fertility rate in the U.S. had unexpectedly fallen to 58.9 births per 1,000 women, age 15-44, in the first quarter of 2016. The general fertility rate in the first quarter of 2015 had been 60 births per 1,000 women. �
Furthermore, the CDC’s data showed that births dropped for women 15-19 years old, and women in their 20s. However, births ticked up for women in their 30s and 40s, indicating that women were delaying childbearing into their later years.
The Centers for Disease Control reported that the general fertility rate in the U.S. had unexpectedly fallen to 58.9 births per 1,000 women, age 15-44, in the first quarter of 2016. The general fertility rate in the first quarter of 2015 had been 60 births per 1,000 women. �
Furthermore, the CDC’s data showed that births dropped for women 15-19 years old, and women in their 20s. However, births ticked up for women in their 30s and 40s, indicating that women were delaying childbearing into their later years.
Pew Research study: Church-shopping Americans look for good sermons, warm welcome
Choosing a New Church or House of Worship | Pew Research Center: About half of U.S. adults have looked for a new religious congregation at some point in their lives, most commonly because they have moved. And when they search for a new house of worship, a new Pew Research Center study shows, Americans look first and foremost for a place where they like the preaching and the tone set by the congregation’s leaders.
In new interview, Benedict XVI reveals motives for his resignation
In New Interview Benedict XVI Shares Motives for Resignation |Blogs | NCRegister.comPENTIN: In a new interview, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has said he was prompted to resign because there were many commitments he was “no longer able to accomplish” as Pope, and that he was unable to take any more long-haul flights.
Speaking to theologian Elio Guerriero in an interview published in the Italian daily La Repubblica Aug. 24, Benedict XVI said after travelling to Mexico and Cuba in 2012, he “did not feel able to make such an intense trip as the World Youth Day of 2013 in Rio de Janeiro”.
St. John Paul II, he added, had established the World Youth Day program such that “the physical presence of the Pope was essential.”
Speaking to theologian Elio Guerriero in an interview published in the Italian daily La Repubblica Aug. 24, Benedict XVI said after travelling to Mexico and Cuba in 2012, he “did not feel able to make such an intense trip as the World Youth Day of 2013 in Rio de Janeiro”.
St. John Paul II, he added, had established the World Youth Day program such that “the physical presence of the Pope was essential.”
Pope names Jorge Rodriguez as new auxiliary bishop for Archdiocese of Denver
Bishop-elect Jorge Rodriguez, S.T.D. - ArchDen.org: He’s a pastor who has loved every assignment he’s ever had, a professor who is passionate about sharing the Gospel, and he’s a Mexican-born priest who expresses a deep appreciation and love for the growing Hispanic Catholic community in this archdiocese. As auxiliary bishop to the Archdiocese of Denver, Bishop-elect Rodriguez will assist Archbishop Samuel Aquila in serving the pastoral needs of the faithful in northern Colorado.
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
The 33-day “Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary” begins on September 4
Total Consecration To Jesus Through Mary - What Are You Waiting For? | Following The TruthZIMAK: On Sunday, September 4, 2016 we will once again begin the 33 day period of preparation which will result in consecrating (or re-consecrating) ourselves to Jesus through Mary on October 7 and I am inviting as many of you as possible to make this consecration along with me.
This year, I am doing it in a completely unique and exciting way. Instead of using one particular book, I will be selecting our daily meditations from “The Best Of The Best” preparation methods (including books by Fr. Michael Gaitley, Fr. Hugh Gillespie and others). All of these daily meditations will be compared with St. Louis de Montfort’s guidelines to ensure that you are getting the best possible preparation.
This year, I am doing it in a completely unique and exciting way. Instead of using one particular book, I will be selecting our daily meditations from “The Best Of The Best” preparation methods (including books by Fr. Michael Gaitley, Fr. Hugh Gillespie and others). All of these daily meditations will be compared with St. Louis de Montfort’s guidelines to ensure that you are getting the best possible preparation.
Msgr. Nalty’s recipe for Amatriciana from the earthquake-torn town of Amatrice
Msgr. Nalty’s Recipe for Amatriciana from the Earthquake-Torn Town of Amatrice |Blogs | NCRegister.comGRESS: Amatriciana is the beloved signature sauce of the Italian town of Amatrice, which was razed in an earthquake on August 24. Restaurateurs throughout Italy are showing support for the people of Amatrice by donating 1 or 2 euros to Red Cross relief efforts for every Amatriciana dish sold. For those outside Italy, I offer the recipe below. Cooking up this meal — praying while you work — and contributing materially to relief efforts seem like great ways to keep the suffering people of central Italy close to your heart.
Coming to America, thanks to the Knights of Columbus
Coming To America, Thanks to the Knights of Columbus |Blogs | NCRegister.comDICAMILLO: The Knights of Columbus Museum in New Haven, Connecticut, sits in the shadow of the towering, unique sable edifice that is the K of C Headquarters. “Originally,” notes Peter Sonski, the Museum’s Education, Outreach and Visitor Services Manager, “our museum was located inside the headquarters itself. However, we were able to purchase this current building from the City of New Haven some years ago in the mid-1990s, and it has been our home ever since it opened in 2001.” It’s a building in the “brutalist” style—ironically the very same style of the Yale School of Architecture building just up the street.
Motherhood is a glaring reminder of the greatness of God’s mercy
Motherhood: a glaring reminder of the greatness of God’s mercy ~ The MotherlandsRENNER: You know when your toddler falls off the couch the exact way you warned her about forty-three times. And you say, “I told you not to do that. That’s what happens when you don’t listen.” But they have barely stopped crying, clutching their rug-burned knee, before they attempt to do it again?
It’s like looking into a mirror, having children. And not a dimly lit one, but a highly polished mirror surrounded by garish, buzzing, neon lights.
Children delight in things that are bad for them—eating bugs, assaulting their friends, escaping the horror of apologizing. Sometimes they only learn when they get exactly what they want. And even then, more times than not, they dust themselves off and get right back to it.
I’m exactly like that.
It’s like looking into a mirror, having children. And not a dimly lit one, but a highly polished mirror surrounded by garish, buzzing, neon lights.
Children delight in things that are bad for them—eating bugs, assaulting their friends, escaping the horror of apologizing. Sometimes they only learn when they get exactly what they want. And even then, more times than not, they dust themselves off and get right back to it.
I’m exactly like that.
Federal judge sides with St. Louis priest in SNAP case
Federal judge sides with St. Louis priest in SNAP defamation case | Religion | stltoday.com: Exasperated by nearly two months of defiance of a court order to supply details about people making sexual abuse claims against a St. Louis priest, U.S. District Judge Carol E. Jackson dealt a heavy blow this week to the advocacy group SNAP and others.
In an order filed Monday in a suit by the Rev. Xiu Hui “Joseph” Jiang, Jackson says that SNAP’s refusal to comply has made it impossible for the priest to “litigate the claims against him.”
In an order filed Monday in a suit by the Rev. Xiu Hui “Joseph” Jiang, Jackson says that SNAP’s refusal to comply has made it impossible for the priest to “litigate the claims against him.”
Why Mass-going Catholics (and Mormons) are abandoning Donald Trump
Trump Has A Catholic Problem - Forbes: It’s no secret that Donald Trump has struggled among traditionally conservative constituencies. For many Republicans who identify as three-legged stool conservatives (national security, economic policy, social issues), Trump seems far from an appropriate fit for the party’s nomination, and worse, is often outwardly hostile toward their beliefs.
Chicago's St. John Cantius parish reaches out to Our Lady of Fatima
Chicago Reaches out to Our Lady of Fatima: In 1916, three children in the small village of Fatima, Portugal, had a supernatural encounter with the Angel of Peace. Their names were Lucia dos Santos (age 10), and her cousins Francinsco (age 8) and Jacinta Marto. The Angel encouraged them to pray and make sacrifices as a way of drawing down peace on their country.
A good reminder from the Lord on titles and honors
A Good Reminder from the Lord on Titles and Honors - Community in Mission : Community in MissionPOPE: It really is a simple lesson, so simple that we usually miss it entirely: For all our coveted titles, honors, and distinctions, our greatest title is “Beloved Child of God.”
Understanding our status as a child is the true picture of greatness, not being a “big cheese.” To be humble and to understand the dignity of humility is what God calls great.
We Catholics (and especially we Catholic clergy) love our distinctions and honorifics: Your Excellency, Your Eminence, Your Grace, Your Holiness, Pontifex Maximus, Reverend, Very Reverend, Right Reverend, Reverend Father, etc. You name it, we’ve got it!
Understanding our status as a child is the true picture of greatness, not being a “big cheese.” To be humble and to understand the dignity of humility is what God calls great.
We Catholics (and especially we Catholic clergy) love our distinctions and honorifics: Your Excellency, Your Eminence, Your Grace, Your Holiness, Pontifex Maximus, Reverend, Very Reverend, Right Reverend, Reverend Father, etc. You name it, we’ve got it!
On the canonization of Saint Teresa of Calcutta
On the Canonization of Saint Teresa of Calcutta - Crisis MagazineRUTLER: In a brief count of saints, there are at least 148 who were mothers, and Marie-Azelie Guerin Martin’s daughter was a saint, too—like Marie Zhao Guoshi in China whose daughters Marie and Rosa were martyred with her. Many mothers in the Middle East are appearing in heaven during these days of genocide possibly faster than ever. Every nation and race has mother saints: Eanfleda of England, Elizabeth of Hungary, Margaret of Scotland, Hedwig of Poland, Gianna Molla of Italy, all the way back to the holy mothers of apostles. There must be mother-in-law saints, though they may have been fewer. Blanche of Castille might qualify if only for her terrible zeal, like a Christianized Spartan mother, telling her son Saint Louis that she’d rather have him dead at her feet than to have him commit a mortal sin. The chroniclers have kept private what her daughter-in law Marguerite thought of her.
Pope tosses audience speech, prays Rosary for victims of Italy quake
Pope tosses audience speech, prays rosary for victims of Italy quake :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): Instead of giving the usual catechesis during his Wednesday general audience, Pope Francis decided to postpone the speech, leading pilgrims in praying the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary for the victims of an earthquake that rocked central Italy earlier that morning.
“On hearing the news of the earthquake that has struck central Italy and which has devastated many areas and left many wounded, I cannot fail to express my heartfelt sorrow and spiritual closeness to all those present in the zones afflicted,” the Pope said Aug. 24.
“On hearing the news of the earthquake that has struck central Italy and which has devastated many areas and left many wounded, I cannot fail to express my heartfelt sorrow and spiritual closeness to all those present in the zones afflicted,” the Pope said Aug. 24.
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Rome shakes as earthquake strikes central Italy
Earthquake leaves at least six dead in central Italy - BBC News: A magnitude 6.2 earthquake has struck central Italy, leaving at least six people dead and others trapped under rubble, Italian officials said.
The quake hit at 03:36 (01:36 GMT), 76 km (47 miles) southeast of the city of Perugia, at the very shallow depth of 10km (six miles), the USGS said.
The mayor of one town told Italian radio that "half the town is gone".
In Rome, some buildings shook for 20 seconds, according to La Repubblica newspaper.
A family of four had been found under rubble in the town of Accumoli, the town's mayor Stefano Petrucci told RAI TV.
Meanwhile police said two people had died in the nearby village of Pescara del Tronto, RAI reported.
The quake hit at 03:36 (01:36 GMT), 76 km (47 miles) southeast of the city of Perugia, at the very shallow depth of 10km (six miles), the USGS said.
The mayor of one town told Italian radio that "half the town is gone".
In Rome, some buildings shook for 20 seconds, according to La Repubblica newspaper.
A family of four had been found under rubble in the town of Accumoli, the town's mayor Stefano Petrucci told RAI TV.
Meanwhile police said two people had died in the nearby village of Pescara del Tronto, RAI reported.
Liberal, moderate or conservative? Here's a trick to see how Facebook labels you...
Liberal, Moderate or Conservative? See How Facebook Labels You - The New York Times: You may think you are discreet about your political views. But Facebook, the world’s largest social media network, has come up with its own determination of your political leanings, based on your activity on the site.
And now, it is easy to find out how Facebook has categorized you — as very liberal or very conservative, or somewhere in between.
And now, it is easy to find out how Facebook has categorized you — as very liberal or very conservative, or somewhere in between.
108 years ago, this priest's murder at Mass shocked the U.S.
108 Years Ago, This Priest's Murder at Mass Shocked the U.S. |Blogs | NCRegister.comSCHIFFER: When you read a headline about priests being murdered at Mass, who comes to mind? Almost certainly, you think of Fr. Jacques Hamel, who died last month at the hands of Muslim terrorists during Mass in the small French town of Saint Etienne-du-Rouvray, in Normandy.
If your mind stretches beyond the horror of Fr. Hamel's death, his throat slashed by ISIS sympathizers, then you probably think next of Blessed Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador. Archbishop Romero was assassinated while celebrating Mass in the chapel of the Hospital of Divine Providence on March 24, 1980. Just one day before his death, Romero had called on Salvadoran soldiers, as Christians, to stop aiding the government's repression and violation of basic human rights, and to instead obey the laws of God. For that, he was shot while praying at the altar.
If your mind stretches beyond the horror of Fr. Hamel's death, his throat slashed by ISIS sympathizers, then you probably think next of Blessed Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador. Archbishop Romero was assassinated while celebrating Mass in the chapel of the Hospital of Divine Providence on March 24, 1980. Just one day before his death, Romero had called on Salvadoran soldiers, as Christians, to stop aiding the government's repression and violation of basic human rights, and to instead obey the laws of God. For that, he was shot while praying at the altar.
The only halfway decent parish in the area is still not good. What to do?
ASK FATHER: Only half-way decent parish near us is still not good. What to do? | Fr. Z's BlogZUHLSDORF: Regardless of one’s inclinations, theological or liturgical opinions, everyone can agree that what the priest did was bad form. It’s improper to use the moment of the reception of Holy Communion as a weapon. Let’s be clear: a different situation would be that of someone who is egregiously, manifestly sinning (e.g. attempting to receive Holy Communion whilst remaining in a notoriously sinful state) or causing grave scandal (attempting to receive Holy Communion whilst wearing a blasphemous t-shirt or rainbow sash). In that case the priest is obliged to say something, though this is for him the third rail and it could bring the world down on his head. It is sad that priests are crucified by bishops for following the Church’s teachings and Canon Law, but I digress. The Communion rail (or conga line, as it sadly is in many churches) is not the place for this sort of antic on the part of the priest.
Why are so many airport shops named after news networks?
Branded Newsstands, Bad Nachos, and the Evolution of Airport Retail | Atlas Obscura: When you travel to different places—in the U.S. in particular, perhaps less so outside of it—the airports often feel like they're designed of a single piece of cloth, despite the fact that they're most certainly not.
While there are some modest design differences here and there, you're ultimately waiting for your flight in an area that has little to distinguish it from the other airports you've been in.
While there are some modest design differences here and there, you're ultimately waiting for your flight in an area that has little to distinguish it from the other airports you've been in.
Getting broken has been strangely good
Getting broken has been strangely goodSHEA: Was feeling pretty down last week. Bullets you fire through your own feet can carry a bit of a sting. And great flaming walls of hate washing over you can also bring on the blues. So my assumption was that I would more or less curl up in a ball and feel sorry for myself.
But God surprised me in multiple ways. The first surprise was a friend who came by the house and asked if we could talk. He’s a sweet, good, simple, humble soul, honest as the daylight and one of those people you just know is going straight to heaven when he dies.
Turned out his marriage was on the rocks. He was understandably leery of giving a lot of details, but he just... needed somebody to talk to. We walked around the block and he poured his heart and soul out. Just so broken. So fragile. Such a precious good man. You just felt all the pain in the world in his words. And my heart just went out to him, two screwed up people with nothing to bring to the table but “Help.” I felt such a kinship with him. He finished what he had to say and I embraced him and felt his shoulders heaving as a great gush of tears poured out of him. And I felt nothing but the pity of God for our broken race. It was a really precious thing.
But God surprised me in multiple ways. The first surprise was a friend who came by the house and asked if we could talk. He’s a sweet, good, simple, humble soul, honest as the daylight and one of those people you just know is going straight to heaven when he dies.
Turned out his marriage was on the rocks. He was understandably leery of giving a lot of details, but he just... needed somebody to talk to. We walked around the block and he poured his heart and soul out. Just so broken. So fragile. Such a precious good man. You just felt all the pain in the world in his words. And my heart just went out to him, two screwed up people with nothing to bring to the table but “Help.” I felt such a kinship with him. He finished what he had to say and I embraced him and felt his shoulders heaving as a great gush of tears poured out of him. And I felt nothing but the pity of God for our broken race. It was a really precious thing.
On grace and coincidence and (womp!) St. Thomas More
On grace and coincidence and (womp!) Thomas More – Aleteia.org – Worldwide Catholic Network Sharing Faith Resources for those seeking Truth – Aleteia.orgFISHER: About thirty years ago, my parents were terribly worried. Like me and my husband, they had a daughter who was eighteen. They wanted her to get a good college education, preferably at a school that would deepen her Faith. My parents were fairly recent converts, and couldn’t rely on a network of Catholic friends or family (or the internet!) to advise them.
They had heard, though, of this guy, St. Thomas More, and they knew he had bucked society to give his daughters a good classical education; so they figured it couldn’t hurt to pray to him for help. And — this is the way I remember the story, anyway — as they were in the car praying to him, they happened to take the scenic route, and happened to look out the window, and happened to see a modest little mailbox that said “Thomas More Institute of Liberal Arts.”
They had heard, though, of this guy, St. Thomas More, and they knew he had bucked society to give his daughters a good classical education; so they figured it couldn’t hurt to pray to him for help. And — this is the way I remember the story, anyway — as they were in the car praying to him, they happened to take the scenic route, and happened to look out the window, and happened to see a modest little mailbox that said “Thomas More Institute of Liberal Arts.”
This 100-year-old to-do list hack still works like a charm
This 100-Year-Old To-Do List Hack Still Works Like A Charm | Fast Company | Business Innovation: By 1918, Charles M. Schwab was one of the richest men in the world.
Schwab (oddly enough, no relation to Charles R. Schwab, founder of the Charles Schwab Corporation) was the president of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, the largest shipbuilder and the second-largest steel producer in the U.S. at the time. The famous inventor Thomas Edison once referred to Schwab as the "master hustler." He was constantly seeking an edge over the competition.
Accounts differ as to the date, but according to historian Scott M. Cutlip, it was one day in 1918 that Schwab—in his quest to increase the efficiency of his team and discover better ways to get things done—arranged a meeting with a highly respected productivity consultant named Ivy Lee.
Schwab (oddly enough, no relation to Charles R. Schwab, founder of the Charles Schwab Corporation) was the president of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, the largest shipbuilder and the second-largest steel producer in the U.S. at the time. The famous inventor Thomas Edison once referred to Schwab as the "master hustler." He was constantly seeking an edge over the competition.
Accounts differ as to the date, but according to historian Scott M. Cutlip, it was one day in 1918 that Schwab—in his quest to increase the efficiency of his team and discover better ways to get things done—arranged a meeting with a highly respected productivity consultant named Ivy Lee.
8 reasons Jim Gaffigan shouldn't quit his show
8 Reasons Jim Gaffigan Shouldn't Quit His Show |Blogs | NCRegister.comMATTARCHBOLD: Dear Jim Gaffigan: I am writing this heartfelt post to convince you to continue with your show, The Jim Gaffigan Show, on TV Land. Recently, you announced that there won't be a Season 3 to your wonderful show because you want to focus on raising your five children. This plea of mine might seem ironic to some in that I was a journalist who left his job at a newspaper to raise his five children but I'm a complex man. OK, not that complex. But I watch a lot of television and your show is one of my favorites. So that should be enough right there. But apparently it's not.
Woman who desecrated church found dead in apparent suicide
Woman Who Desecrated Church Found Dead in Apparent Suicide | ChurchPOP: The woman who admitted to desecrating a Catholic church in Missouri was found dead in her apartment on Monday, August 22nd in an apparent suicide.
The local county coroner Jim Turner has so far withheld the details that point to suicide, saying he’ll release more information when the full investigation is complete.
Fr. Bill Peckman, pastor of the desecrated church, expressed deep sadness at the woman’s passing on Facebook
The local county coroner Jim Turner has so far withheld the details that point to suicide, saying he’ll release more information when the full investigation is complete.
Fr. Bill Peckman, pastor of the desecrated church, expressed deep sadness at the woman’s passing on Facebook
Jim Gaffigan ends TV show, citing need to spend more time with family
Jim Gaffigan Ends TV Show, Citing Need to Spend More Time With Family | ChurchPOP: Comedian Jim Gaffigan and his wife Jeannie announced on Facebook that they have decided not to make a third season of The Jim Gaffigan Show, saying it was taking them away from their 5 children too much.
“As many of you know,” the couple wrote, “all the episodes this season were written by Jeannie and me. Jeannie was the showrunner and I acted in virtually every scene. In one way it was a perfect scenario. We worked with an amazing cast and crew, learned tons and laughed so much.
“However the time commitment to make the quality of show we wanted was taking us away from our most important project, our five children.”
A few hours later, they published another message on Facebook to clarify the show had not been canceled by TV Land, but that the Gaffigans had freely chosen to end it.
“As many of you know,” the couple wrote, “all the episodes this season were written by Jeannie and me. Jeannie was the showrunner and I acted in virtually every scene. In one way it was a perfect scenario. We worked with an amazing cast and crew, learned tons and laughed so much.
“However the time commitment to make the quality of show we wanted was taking us away from our most important project, our five children.”
A few hours later, they published another message on Facebook to clarify the show had not been canceled by TV Land, but that the Gaffigans had freely chosen to end it.
10 tips from priests for a better confession
10 Tips from priests for a better Confession - Spotlight - Aleteia.org – Worldwide Catholic Network Sharing Faith Resources for those seeking Truth – Aleteia.orgNOBLE: I’ve been partaking of the Sacrament of Penance for several years now but I still don’t feel like I know what I am doing. Sometimes I leave the confessional wondering, “Did I do that right? Should I have been more specific? Was I honest enough?”
The other day as I left confession, I thought, “I know, I will ask for some advice from the men who do hear other people’s confessions for a living!”
The other day as I left confession, I thought, “I know, I will ask for some advice from the men who do hear other people’s confessions for a living!”
Traveling back 500 years, on royal pilgrimage
On Royal Pilgrimage - Crisis MagazineTURLEY: The hour was early and the season summer. In the brightness of the morning air, and with the silence of the city streets all around, I set out.
In this Year of Mercy, I was on pilgrimage. The place in question is visited by many, but merely as a curiosity. I was going there for a different reason: to pray at the grave of a woman who bore witness to Holy Marriage and, above all, to its indissolubility.
On I walked, the night rains having passed and washed the streets until they glistened and glowed like the New Jerusalem lowered from the heights above. No cars were seen; no buses stirred; at the street crossing the lights signaled to no earthly presence. Instead, they were a reminder that the twenty-first century exists, and this city remained within that realm. But I was taking part in something older than this century, reaching back to the time of the Apostles. Perhaps back further still, to the real beginning in Eden, when our first parents headed out into the darkness on a journey, one that continues to this day, and which, someday, shall have a final homecoming.
In this Year of Mercy, I was on pilgrimage. The place in question is visited by many, but merely as a curiosity. I was going there for a different reason: to pray at the grave of a woman who bore witness to Holy Marriage and, above all, to its indissolubility.
On I walked, the night rains having passed and washed the streets until they glistened and glowed like the New Jerusalem lowered from the heights above. No cars were seen; no buses stirred; at the street crossing the lights signaled to no earthly presence. Instead, they were a reminder that the twenty-first century exists, and this city remained within that realm. But I was taking part in something older than this century, reaching back to the time of the Apostles. Perhaps back further still, to the real beginning in Eden, when our first parents headed out into the darkness on a journey, one that continues to this day, and which, someday, shall have a final homecoming.
Bishop Holley goes to Graceland: Pope taps DC auxiliary for Memphis
Whispers in the Loggia: Bishop Holley Goes To Graceland – Pope Taps DC Aux. for MemphisPALMO: As Cardinal Theodore McCarrick gradually returns to kicking after knee-replacement surgery earlier this month, the hits just keep on coming for his onetime top aides. (Put another way, Ted's reaping the "Wuerlwind"... still in all, as "get well" gifts go, it's hard to beat.)
Six days after dear Uncle's lead deputy in Washington was called to Rome as head of a Vatican dicastery, at Noon today – in an unusual August nod – the Pope named the cardinal's last "son," the veteran DC auxiliary Martin Holley, 61, as fifth bishop of Memphis in succession to the venerable Terry Steib SVD, a prelate of some 32 years and the longtime convener of the African-American bishops, who reached the retirement age in May 2015.
Six days after dear Uncle's lead deputy in Washington was called to Rome as head of a Vatican dicastery, at Noon today – in an unusual August nod – the Pope named the cardinal's last "son," the veteran DC auxiliary Martin Holley, 61, as fifth bishop of Memphis in succession to the venerable Terry Steib SVD, a prelate of some 32 years and the longtime convener of the African-American bishops, who reached the retirement age in May 2015.
Monday, August 22, 2016
Essential Catholic teachings on the End Times
Essential Catholic Teachings on the End Times - Community in Mission : Community in MissionPOPE: We are currently reading from St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Thessalonians in daily Mass, and given the focus of on the “end times,” it might be good to review certain basic Catholic teachings on this matter, the theology of which is called eschatology.
The Catholic approach to the end times is different from that in certain (but not all) Protestant circles, especially the Evangelicals, who have a strong and often vivid preoccupation with signs of the Second Coming of Christ. Many of the notions that are expressed there are either erroneous or extreme. Some of these notions are rooted in a misunderstanding of the various genres of Scripture; others are caused by reading certain Scriptures in isolation from the wider context of the whole of Scripture; and some are rooted in reading one text while disregarding others that balance it.
The Catholic approach to the end times is different from that in certain (but not all) Protestant circles, especially the Evangelicals, who have a strong and often vivid preoccupation with signs of the Second Coming of Christ. Many of the notions that are expressed there are either erroneous or extreme. Some of these notions are rooted in a misunderstanding of the various genres of Scripture; others are caused by reading certain Scriptures in isolation from the wider context of the whole of Scripture; and some are rooted in reading one text while disregarding others that balance it.
The Ninevites believed Jonah and repented; can America do likewise?
The Ninevites Believed Jonah and Repented; Can America Do Likewise? |Blogs | NCRegister.comHAMILTON: An abortion clinic is opening two blocks from the parish where I go to encounter the Risen Lord in the Holy Eucharist.
Parents will drive the children who attend our parish school past the abortion clinic on their way to class. I will drive past the abortion clinic on my way to Mass, as will most of my fellow parishioners. Our parish priests will sleep in a rectory that is a stone’s throw from a place where children die horribly and in great numbers.
This, like just about everything else in the larger world, is all fresh news to me. Everything that was happening in the outside my circle of illness slipped past me in the long period when I was underwater with cancer and its treatment. I didn’t know much about one of our candidates for president. Then I woke up to discover things that left me aghast and demoralized by the Sophie’s Choice that is forced upon us.
Parents will drive the children who attend our parish school past the abortion clinic on their way to class. I will drive past the abortion clinic on my way to Mass, as will most of my fellow parishioners. Our parish priests will sleep in a rectory that is a stone’s throw from a place where children die horribly and in great numbers.
This, like just about everything else in the larger world, is all fresh news to me. Everything that was happening in the outside my circle of illness slipped past me in the long period when I was underwater with cancer and its treatment. I didn’t know much about one of our candidates for president. Then I woke up to discover things that left me aghast and demoralized by the Sophie’s Choice that is forced upon us.
Soccer's ultimate con man was a superstar who couldn't actually play the game
Soccer's Ultimate Con Man Was a Superstar Who Couldn't Play the Game | Atlas Obscura: Brazilian soccer star Carlos Kaiser had it all: exclusive contracts with popular teams, money, fame, and women. The professional soccer star was only missing one thing: the ability to play soccer. Arguably the greatest con artist in all of sports history, Kaiser (birth name Carlos Henrique Raposo) was able to maintain a career that spanned nearly two decades while playing in as few games as possible and never scoring a goal.
The Queenship of Mary is deeply rooted in Scripture
The Queenship of Mary Is Deeply Rooted in Scripture – Seasons of GraceSCHIFFER: The Old Testament foreshadows this queenship of Mary,�by teaching us about the honor accorded to the Queen Mother in Israelite society.� Theologian Dr. Scott Hahn writes and speaks about the “Queen Mother,” called the“gebirah” in Hebrew.� In traditional Jewish life, the“gebirah” occupied a unique and powerful position throughout the history of ancient Israel’s monarchy.� When the Queen Mother, or gebirah, entered the room, the king would rise to his feet as a sign of respect; and the king always acceded to his mother’s wishes.
Relic of True Cross stolen from church in San Francisco
ONLY ON ABC7NEWS.COM: Ancient relic stolen from St. Dominic's Catholic Church in San Francisco | abc7news.com: Officials are searching for an ancient, religious artifact that was allegedly stolen from a Catholic church in San Francisco.
Church leaders are heartbroken and parishioners are praying for the safe return of a relic, which is a prized and sacred possession at Dominic's Catholic Church.
The relic is believed to be part of the cross where Christ was crucified.
Sunday mass at St. Dominic's Catholic Church is a time for prayer and reflection. But on Sunday, there was sad news for parishioners. "This past Thursday, the church was robbed of a very sacred item," St. Dominic's Catholic Church Father Michael Hurley said.
Church leaders are heartbroken and parishioners are praying for the safe return of a relic, which is a prized and sacred possession at Dominic's Catholic Church.
The relic is believed to be part of the cross where Christ was crucified.
Sunday mass at St. Dominic's Catholic Church is a time for prayer and reflection. But on Sunday, there was sad news for parishioners. "This past Thursday, the church was robbed of a very sacred item," St. Dominic's Catholic Church Father Michael Hurley said.
A crown for a crown: Celebrating the Queenship of Mary
A Crown for a Crown: Celebrating the Queenship of Mary |Blogs | NCRegister.comFENELON: Since the sixth century, the Church has honored Mary using the title, “Queen,” and on August 22 of each year, we celebrate the feast of the Queenship of Mary.
Historically, the mother of the King was known as the Queen Mother. Simply put then, Mary is Queen because her Son, Jesus Christ, is King.
Theologically speaking, Pope Pius XII summed it up in his Radio message to Fatima in 1939...
Historically, the mother of the King was known as the Queen Mother. Simply put then, Mary is Queen because her Son, Jesus Christ, is King.
Theologically speaking, Pope Pius XII summed it up in his Radio message to Fatima in 1939...
Haunted house Olympics: How many of the faith-driven stories did you see in Rio coverage?
Haunted house Olympics: How many of the faith-driven stories did you see in Rio coverage? — GetReligionMATTINGLY: For many Rio 2016 viewers, it was the emotional peak of the entire Olympics.
I am referring to what happened – far from the finish line – during a preliminary heat for the women’s 5,000-meter run. That was when Abbey D’Agostino of team USA collided with Nikki Hamblin of New Zealand.
Both went down. D’Agostino didn't know it, but she had a torn ACL. Nevertheless, she stopped and helped Hamblin. Together – with the American runner clearly injured – they finished the race. D’Agostino left the track in a wheelchair and, later, was not able to accept an offer by Olympic judges allowing both runners to run in the final because of their fine sportsmanship.
I am referring to what happened – far from the finish line – during a preliminary heat for the women’s 5,000-meter run. That was when Abbey D’Agostino of team USA collided with Nikki Hamblin of New Zealand.
Both went down. D’Agostino didn't know it, but she had a torn ACL. Nevertheless, she stopped and helped Hamblin. Together – with the American runner clearly injured – they finished the race. D’Agostino left the track in a wheelchair and, later, was not able to accept an offer by Olympic judges allowing both runners to run in the final because of their fine sportsmanship.
Cardinal Marx faces accusations over handling of alleged abuse case
Cardinal Marx faces accusations over handling of alleged abuse case :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): Accusations have been raised in a number of German media that Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising failed to remove from office a priest accused in 2006 of sexually abusing a minor.
The alleged abuser, it appears, was allowed to stay on as parish priest for a number of years, even going on overnight excursions with youth.
A spokesperson for Cardinal Marx has said that the prelate had acted in accordance with relevant guidelines that were in place at the time.
The alleged abuser, it appears, was allowed to stay on as parish priest for a number of years, even going on overnight excursions with youth.
A spokesperson for Cardinal Marx has said that the prelate had acted in accordance with relevant guidelines that were in place at the time.
Sunday, August 21, 2016
“Brilliant” and “influential” Harvard law professor converts to Catholicism
"Brilliant," "Influential" Harvard Law Professor Converts to Catholicism | ChurchPOP: Harvard law professor Adrian Vermeule was recently received into the Catholic Church, reports Princeton law professor Robert George, himself also Catholic, on Facebook.
Comfort Catholicism has to go. It is time to prepare for persecution...
Comfort Catholicism Has to Go; It is Time to Prepare for Persecution |Blogs | NCRegister.comPOPE: We are at war for our own souls and the souls of people we love. We are at war for the soul of this culture and nation. And like any soldier, we must train to fight well. We must study our faith and be more committed than ever. We must also know our enemy and his tactics, and we must be prepared to suffer — and even to lose our life.
Gen. Lew Wallace, the man who dreamed Ben-Hur
The Man Who Dreamed Ben-HurAQUILINA: Lew Wallace was taking a behind-the-scenes tour of the Ben-Hur stage show, soon to open in New York. The centerpiece of the whole show was the chariot race, which is hard enough to stage for a movie, so you can imagine how it was for a live show. In this case, there were real horses running on a cleverly designed treadmill, with scenery rolling past in the background.
As Wallace looked around, he simply couldn’t believe how much money was being spent, how many people were working day after day — all to bring the story he dreamed up to life.
As Wallace looked around, he simply couldn’t believe how much money was being spent, how many people were working day after day — all to bring the story he dreamed up to life.
False freedom is called “license”, and license leads to slavery
Freedom and Bondage - The Imaginative ConservativeLONGENECKER: I have become increasingly cynical about my fellow Americans’ praise of freedom. “Freedom,” it seems to me, has become a meaningless jingoistic slogan that is used to excuse most anything. “Our boys died defending our freedom!” they cry as yet another flag-draped coffin is unloaded from the plane. Did that boy die defending our freedom? Really? Exactly which of our freedoms were threatened by turmoil in Afghanistan or Iraq? Which foreign dictator threatened to attack us or invade our country and deny us our freedoms?
Pope prays for victims of 'bloody' attack at a wedding in Turkey
Pope prays for victims of 'bloody' attack at a wedding in Turkey :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): After an explosion in southern Turkey lit up a wedding ceremony, killing 50 people and wounding nearly 100 more, Pope Francis offered his prayers for the victims, and asked for peace to be given to all.
“Dear brothers and sisters, I have heard of the sad news of the bloody attack yesterday which struck the beloved Turkey,” the Pope said Aug. 21, after leading pilgrims in praying the traditional Angelus prayer.
He offered his prayers for the victims, both “living and dead,” and led those gathered in a moment of silence and a Hail Mary, asking for “the gift of peace for all.”
According to news agency Aljazeera, at least 50 people have been killed and 94 wounded after what is believed to be a suicide bomber blew themselves up at a wedding ceremony in Turkey's southeastern province of Gaziantep, near the Syrian border, Aug. 20.
“Dear brothers and sisters, I have heard of the sad news of the bloody attack yesterday which struck the beloved Turkey,” the Pope said Aug. 21, after leading pilgrims in praying the traditional Angelus prayer.
He offered his prayers for the victims, both “living and dead,” and led those gathered in a moment of silence and a Hail Mary, asking for “the gift of peace for all.”
According to news agency Aljazeera, at least 50 people have been killed and 94 wounded after what is believed to be a suicide bomber blew themselves up at a wedding ceremony in Turkey's southeastern province of Gaziantep, near the Syrian border, Aug. 20.
Saturday, August 20, 2016
If we ignore what is going on around us, our freedom will vanish forever
NCRegister | Freedom vs. BeliefMCCLOSKEY: Mary Eberstadt’s latest book, It’s Dangerous to Believe: Religious Freedom and Its Enemies, presents the reversals that the concept and practice of religious freedom have undergone in recent years in the democratic and once freedom-respecting nations of the world. Eberstadt has documented a “first world” move towards a secularist world order that reinterprets the exercise of religion as an assault on the rights of others, thereby greatly shrinking the sphere in which traditional believers, particularly Christians and (among them) particularly Catholics, are permitted to express these beliefs in speech and action.
Scottish police call for Catholic priest after witnessing inexplicable poltergeist phenomena
Scottish Police Call for Catholic Priest After Inexplicable Poltergeist Experience | ChurchPOP: “If there’s something strange in your neighborhood, who you gonna call?” Apparently the Catholic Church – even in an officially Protestant country.
“These were incidents that were witnessed by our own officers. Incidents that are not easily explained,” one source close to the local Scottish police department said. “But officers with more than 20 years’ service are saying they’ve never seen anything like this.”
During a recent house call in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, police claim to have personally witnessed lights turning on and off on their own, clothes flying across the room, and even a possibly levitating dog.
After determining that the family’s claims that they were being haunted by a poltergeist might in fact be true, and thus beyond the expertise of the police, the authorities called the Catholic Church.
“These were incidents that were witnessed by our own officers. Incidents that are not easily explained,” one source close to the local Scottish police department said. “But officers with more than 20 years’ service are saying they’ve never seen anything like this.”
During a recent house call in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, police claim to have personally witnessed lights turning on and off on their own, clothes flying across the room, and even a possibly levitating dog.
After determining that the family’s claims that they were being haunted by a poltergeist might in fact be true, and thus beyond the expertise of the police, the authorities called the Catholic Church.
Be sober and serious about salvation
Sober and Serious about Salvation – A Homily for the 21st Sunday of the Year - Community in Mission : Community in MissionPOPE: In the readings today the Lord describes a danger: our tendency to make light of judgment and not be sober that one day we must account for our actions. In the first reading the Lord sets forth His desire to save us, but we must understand that our will, our yes, is essential to our salvation. In the second reading (from the Letter to the Hebrews) Our Lord sets forth a plan whereby, having accepting Jesus, we can make a daily walk with Him in a kind of delivering discipline. Let’s take a detailed look at the today’s readings, hear the urgent warnings, and soberly lay hold of the solutions offered.
Elizabeth Smart says porn made kidnapping ordeal even worse
Elizabeth Smart Says Porn Made Kidnapping Even Worse | TIME: Kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart says pornography led to her captor raping her more than he already did in the nine months she was held.
Smart made the remarks in a video posted Friday by Fight the New Drug, an anti-pornography advocacy group.
Smart made the remarks in a video posted Friday by Fight the New Drug, an anti-pornography advocacy group.
How the camera is spoiling religion
How the Camera is Spoiling Religion – Christian Renaissance MovementEAMONNCLARK: A while back a professor commented to my class about the recent cover of The Word Among Us. He noted that the title was “The Gospel of Encounter,” and yet it featured something rather opposed to such a notion… A woman who actually “turned away from the Vicar of Christ,” as he put it, to take a selfie. (It’s the June 2015 issue.)
You have no doubt experienced the frustration of such things before, if you’ve ever been to Notre Dame, the Holy Sepulchre, or any major church or shrine. A lot of people are there just to snag photos.
You have no doubt experienced the frustration of such things before, if you’ve ever been to Notre Dame, the Holy Sepulchre, or any major church or shrine. A lot of people are there just to snag photos.
Here are the most- and least-ticketed cars in America
Here Are the Most- and Least-Ticketed Cars: Whether it's because some cars catch the eye of cops, or because they catch the eye of irresponsible drivers, is not clear. What is clear is that some cars are simply ticketed more often than others.
Insurance.com conducted a study this year involving more than 323,000 cars to find out which models receive the most speeding tickets and traffic violations. Your Mechanic took the analysis of that data a step further by separating the cars into eight categories: luxury cars, compacts, mid-sized, minivans, pickup trucks, sports cars, subcompact cars, and SUVs.
Insurance.com conducted a study this year involving more than 323,000 cars to find out which models receive the most speeding tickets and traffic violations. Your Mechanic took the analysis of that data a step further by separating the cars into eight categories: luxury cars, compacts, mid-sized, minivans, pickup trucks, sports cars, subcompact cars, and SUVs.
Friday, August 19, 2016
When Mozart disobeyed the pope
When Mozart Disobeyed the Pope |Blogs | NCRegister.comSCHIFFER: In his lifetime, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed more than 600 works including symphonies, concertos and operas. From his earliest years, he had an ear for music; the child prodigy began composing at only four or five years of age, and completed his first symphony by the age of eight.
But did you know that he disobeyed an edict of the Pope—thus risking excommunication? Mozart was raised a devout Catholic; but when he was only fourteen, he pirated a musical composition which had been commissioned for use exclusively in the Sistine Chapel.
But did you know that he disobeyed an edict of the Pope—thus risking excommunication? Mozart was raised a devout Catholic; but when he was only fourteen, he pirated a musical composition which had been commissioned for use exclusively in the Sistine Chapel.
The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
The Words of the Prophets Are Written on the Subway Walls |Blogs | NCRegister.comSTAGNARO: Among my New York City circle of friends, I am considered to be the best read. This is not because I am the most educated or gifted with the highest I.Q. It is because I have the longest commute. When one lives in the outer boroughs, as our less enlightened, Manhattan-centric brethren call them, one can expect a bus or subway commute of as much as one and a half hours each way. When I first moved to Brooklyn and then to Queens, with a brief sojourn of six months on Staten Island in between, I came to realize that three hours of each workday that would otherwise be wasted could be better spent improving myself. I recall the first book I brought with me all those years ago: Thomas Merton's Seven-Storey Mountain—a book that every Catholic is allegedly supposed to read. I chose it simply because it looked hefty and would easily last me a few rounds on the subway.
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