Thursday, October 31, 2019
There’s a word of encouragement hidden in one of Our Lord’s stranger sayings
A Word of Encouragement in One of Jesus’ Stranger Sayings - Community in MissionPOPE: In this strange and provocative saying of Jesus from the Gospel of Luke is an important perspective: evil, no matter how powerful it may seem, cannot stand; it will ultimately self-destruct and be overcome by the light. No matter how awful Good Friday seemed to those first disciples, Jesus was casting out demons and bring healing in that very act of suffering. His apparent disappearance into death and His descent into the place of the dead was only for the purposes of turning out the Devil’s trophy room, bringing life into the place of the dead and healing to the deep wounds caused by sin.
Former Baptist R.J. Snell is right: “Catholicism is weird. I don’t think there’s any way around it...”
Devotions, Relics and Catholic Piety - RJ Snell - The Coming Home Network: RJ Snell grew up as a pretty stoic and practical Canadian Baptist, so when he first became interested in the Catholic Church, he was also somewhat put off by it, because of the gritty and visceral nature of some of Her devotional practices. Candles, incense, statues, relics — all these things confused and repelled him at first, but eventually the deeply incarnational Catholic approach to understanding our relationship with God was actually one of the main things that drew him to want to become Catholic as an adult.
Is there such a thing as good and bad “magic?” Here are 4 different types to consider
Is there such a thing as good and bad "magic"? Here are 4 different types to consider - Voyage Comics & PublishingHEFFRON: In mid-2019, there was a string of Christian schools that removed the Harry Potter books from their school libraries due to the books’ depiction of spells. The concern is not confined to that series; conservative Catholics and Evangelicals often express unease about fictional depictions of magic, either as problematic themselves, or as risking enticing readers into an actual practice of magic. After all, numerous Biblical passages condemn sorcery or witchcraft, including Deuteronomy 18, Galatians 5, and Revelation 21.
Whether or not you believe in the devil and his demons, invoking them can be hazardous to your health
Hostile Witnesses on Halloween | Catholic AnswersNASH: Beneath the silly and superficially shocking noise of modern Halloween celebrations lies a chilling testimony to the reality of the hallowed ones venerated on the eve of All Saints Day, and the Blessed Sacrament to which they were so devoted. The day is celebrated by profoundly misguided souls who attack the Eucharist, often diabolically validating that what even many Catholics think is merely symbolic bread is actually God truly present—body, blood, soul, and divinity.
Dressing up as ourselves for Halloween
Dressing Up as Ourselves for Halloween - Crisis MagazineFITZPATRICK: Have you ever dared to go inside one of those Halloween outlets that crop up a month before October 31? Besides high-priced trash, these shops offer an insight into what Dante might have conceived for our times in his Inferno, portraying the horrors and monstrosities that are housed in the heart of our society with filthy “fun,” edgy “heroes,” and the consequent intuitive dread of death. The paradoxical parody of deviant sex, jaded heroism, and twisted torture is poignant, for they are images of identity rather than fantasy.
Just the facts: What you need to know about the Amazon Synod
Just the Facts: the Amazon Synod | Catholic AnswersAKIN: The three-week Synod of Bishops for the Amazon has drawn to a close, with a final Mass celebrated by Pope Francis on Sunday, October 27. It was convened to address two principal topics, both mentioned its title, Amazonia: New Paths for the Church and for an Integral Ecology.
By discussing “new paths for the Church,” organizers sought to address pastoral concerns in the pan-Amazon region of South America, and by discussing “an integral ecology,” it sought to address environmental concerns in the region.
By discussing “new paths for the Church,” organizers sought to address pastoral concerns in the pan-Amazon region of South America, and by discussing “an integral ecology,” it sought to address environmental concerns in the region.
Remembering the dead through music
Remembering the Dead through Music – Building Catholic CultureSTAUDT: Halloween has become a national spectacle that ranges from cute to the macabre. In a culture that tries to forget death in daily life, it breaks forth dramatically and briefly each year, though in a way that trivializes it. Through the Solemnity of All Saints and the Feast of All Souls, we have an important moment to refocus our attention on the Communion of Saints and to connect with death in a healthy and holy way.
The Catholic tradition, focused on the need of the dead to receive purification for the effect of sins after death, has emphasized praying for the dead. The chief means has been celebrating a Requiem Mass for the souls of the faithful departed (those who have died in sanctifying grace but were not perfected by grace before death). Saying Mass for the dead is an ancient practice that became very important in medieval spirituality, particularly under the influence of the Abbey of Cluny, which had hundreds of dependent monasteries throughout Europe and promoted the feast of All Souls.
The Catholic tradition, focused on the need of the dead to receive purification for the effect of sins after death, has emphasized praying for the dead. The chief means has been celebrating a Requiem Mass for the souls of the faithful departed (those who have died in sanctifying grace but were not perfected by grace before death). Saying Mass for the dead is an ancient practice that became very important in medieval spirituality, particularly under the influence of the Abbey of Cluny, which had hundreds of dependent monasteries throughout Europe and promoted the feast of All Souls.
Pope Francis adds new Marian feast to Roman Calendar
Pope Francis Adds New Marian Feast to Roman Calendar: Pope Francis has decreed that the feast of Our Lady of Loreto be included in the Roman Calendar as an optional memorial to be celebrated on Dec. 10.
“This celebration will help all people, especially families, youth and religious, to imitate the virtues of that perfect disciple of the Gospel, the Virgin Mother, who, in conceiving the Head of the Church also accepted us as her own,” Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, stated in the decree published Oct. 31.
With the decree, the optional memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Loreto must appear in all calendars and liturgical books for the celebration of the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours.
Catholic pilgrims travel to the small Italian town of Loreto to stand inside the Holy House of Mary, preserved in a basilica, in which Tradition holds that the Virgin Mary was born, raised and greeted by the Gabriel the Archangel at the Annunciation.
“This celebration will help all people, especially families, youth and religious, to imitate the virtues of that perfect disciple of the Gospel, the Virgin Mother, who, in conceiving the Head of the Church also accepted us as her own,” Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, stated in the decree published Oct. 31.
With the decree, the optional memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Loreto must appear in all calendars and liturgical books for the celebration of the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours.
Catholic pilgrims travel to the small Italian town of Loreto to stand inside the Holy House of Mary, preserved in a basilica, in which Tradition holds that the Virgin Mary was born, raised and greeted by the Gabriel the Archangel at the Annunciation.
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
London exorcist speaks on the reality of Satan
As Halloween Approaches, an Exorcist Speaks on the Reality of SatanTURLEY: On a sunlit autumn day, outside a church in central London, there stands a figure — by his dress unmistakably a Catholic priest. This priest, Father Jeremy Davies, is also an exorcist. He is at the church door awaiting someone, due to arrive shortly, in need of his ministry.
The matter-of-fact and calm manner of Father Davies belies the fact that this is a man on the front line of an ancient and ongoing spiritual battle. It is one carried out by him behind closed doors in a London church on an apparently mundane weekday afternoon. Yet within those church walls the power of the Holy Name releases people from the influence of evil, frees the oppressed from wicked spirits and, in the more extreme cases, casts out demons from the possessed.
The matter-of-fact and calm manner of Father Davies belies the fact that this is a man on the front line of an ancient and ongoing spiritual battle. It is one carried out by him behind closed doors in a London church on an apparently mundane weekday afternoon. Yet within those church walls the power of the Holy Name releases people from the influence of evil, frees the oppressed from wicked spirits and, in the more extreme cases, casts out demons from the possessed.
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Father James Martin’s exercise in fallacy
Father James Martin’s Exercise in FallacyCLARK: Just two days before Cardinal Newman’s beatification in 2010, NPR ran a piece speculating as to whether Cardinal Newman was a homosexual—even suggesting the possibility that he may have engaged in sexual relations with another priest. In that article, Father James Martin was quoted as saying, “It's not unreasonable to think he (Newman) might have been homosexual… His letters and his comments on the death of one of his close friends are quite provocative.”
Getty fire spares home for retired sisters in Los Angeles — for now
With prayer and watchful eyes, the Getty fire couldn’t take the Brentwood home of the Sisters of St. Joseph – Daily News: As the Getty fire raged and the sound of sirens echoed around them Monday morning, dozens of women gathered in the community room at Carondelet Center, a nursing home in Brentwood, where the Sisters of St. Joseph live.
But Monday was not a typical day of prayer at the place nearly 80 retired Roman Catholic nuns call home.
The fire, fueled by winds, heat and dry weather, was burning and destroying homes, threatening thousands more, including theirs.
But Monday was not a typical day of prayer at the place nearly 80 retired Roman Catholic nuns call home.
The fire, fueled by winds, heat and dry weather, was burning and destroying homes, threatening thousands more, including theirs.
The mystical visions of Our Lord that made St. Jude the “patron of hopeless causes”
Saint of the Impossible: The Mystical Visions of Jesus That Made St. Jude Patron of Hopeless Causes |: St. Jude is a very powerful intercessor, especially for impossible cases!
The Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Jude Thaddeus on Oct. 28. He was one of Christ’s original 12 apostles during His earthy life. The Church reveres St. Jude as “the patron saint of the impossible.”
Have you ever wondered why that is?
It is said that Jesus first appeared to St. Bernard of Clairvaux, a 12th-century French abbot, mystic, and Doctor of the Church. He had multiple visions throughout his lifetime, one in which Jesus asked him “to accept St. Jude as ‘The Patron Saint of the Impossible.'”
The Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Jude Thaddeus on Oct. 28. He was one of Christ’s original 12 apostles during His earthy life. The Church reveres St. Jude as “the patron saint of the impossible.”
Have you ever wondered why that is?
It is said that Jesus first appeared to St. Bernard of Clairvaux, a 12th-century French abbot, mystic, and Doctor of the Church. He had multiple visions throughout his lifetime, one in which Jesus asked him “to accept St. Jude as ‘The Patron Saint of the Impossible.'”
Kanye West’s life transformation: “This is a free man talking”
Kanye West's Life Transformation 'Is A Free Man Talking'MERING: Everyone has an opinion about Kanye West’s opinions, and if there is one thing he is free of it’s self-censorship. “This is a free man talking,” he stated emphatically in a recent interview about his latest album, “Jesus is King.” His bravado is cut with a near compulsion to be earnest — about everything.
This compulsion has brought him trouble in the past, and rightfully so. But this compulsion has also made him not only an independent thinker, but someone able to look inward with startling introspection.
This compulsion has brought him trouble in the past, and rightfully so. But this compulsion has also made him not only an independent thinker, but someone able to look inward with startling introspection.
Italian bishops’ agency published prayer to Pachamama, “Mother Earth of the Inca peoples”
Italian bishops’ agency published prayer to Pachamama : News Headlines | Catholic Culture: Missio, the pastoral agency of the Italian Episcopal Conference, published a prayer to Pachamama in an April 2019 publication devoted to the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon Region.
Vatican Cardinals Becciu and Versaldi linked to missing millions and financial scandal
Vatican Cardinals Linked to Missing Millions and Financial ScandalCONDON: An Italian dermatology hospital and two senior cardinals are at the center of a burgeoning financial scandal involving a Vatican bank, the U.S.-based Papal Foundation and millions of euros from misallocated government grants. The events concern the financial collapse of the Istituto Dermopatico dell’Immacolata (IDI), an Italian hospital. According to media reports and new sources, Cardinal Angelo Becciu and Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi have been key players in a complicated series of transactions that financed the Vatican Secretariat of State’s 2015 acquisition of the hospital, which had collapsed under large-scale acts of theft and money laundering that led to the imprisonment of its president.
Quick hits: After the Synod, praying for a miracle
Quick Hits: After the Synod, praying for a miracle | Catholic CultureLAWLER: The Amazon Synod has ended, with entirely predictable results, in terms of the propositions endorsed by the participating bishops. But bear in mind that the Synod is only an advisory body, and the final outcome depends on how Pope Francis responds to the bishops’ advice, in the apostolic exhortation that will conclude the work of the Synod.
Msgr. Charles Pope is, like many of us, terribly disappointed with the Synod, and not optimistic about the papal document that will ensue. But he hasn’t given up hope, and he urges us to join him as we Pray for a Miracle
Msgr. Charles Pope is, like many of us, terribly disappointed with the Synod, and not optimistic about the papal document that will ensue. But he hasn’t given up hope, and he urges us to join him as we Pray for a Miracle
Synod hopes and fears: The difference that matters
Synod hopes and fears: The difference that matters | Catholic CultureMIRUS: I hope that all serious Catholics who have begun reading about the results of the Amazon Synod are concerned about the outcome. But I want to caution against premature panic. I also want to clarify the issues. And I even want to help get everyone into the right Spirit.
The news report to which we linked by the National Catholic Register did a very good job of providing the basic information we can use to make important distinctions. I recommend that everyone start there. It goes without saying, perhaps, that Phil Lawler has already done a good job of calling attention to the desired final outcome, when Pope Francis issues the official post-synodal apostolic exhortation next year.
Clarifying the issues and avoiding panic are, in this case, pretty much the same thing. When the Synod called for married priests to serve in the Amazon, it may have been grossly imprudent, but it was not calling for anything that the Church cannot implement if she deems it prudent. In the early days, St. Paul laid down even for bishops that they should be men of good repute who (if they have families) should have only one wife and whose children should be well disciplined. That, by the way, is challenge enough for any man, and only a fool fails to see the many reasons for the strong tradition of celibacy that has grown up since apostolic times, along with all its advantages.
The news report to which we linked by the National Catholic Register did a very good job of providing the basic information we can use to make important distinctions. I recommend that everyone start there. It goes without saying, perhaps, that Phil Lawler has already done a good job of calling attention to the desired final outcome, when Pope Francis issues the official post-synodal apostolic exhortation next year.
Clarifying the issues and avoiding panic are, in this case, pretty much the same thing. When the Synod called for married priests to serve in the Amazon, it may have been grossly imprudent, but it was not calling for anything that the Church cannot implement if she deems it prudent. In the early days, St. Paul laid down even for bishops that they should be men of good repute who (if they have families) should have only one wife and whose children should be well disciplined. That, by the way, is challenge enough for any man, and only a fool fails to see the many reasons for the strong tradition of celibacy that has grown up since apostolic times, along with all its advantages.
Get ready for the upcoming 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time...
The Sacred Page: Making Things Right: The Biblical Basis of Reparation (31st Sun. OT)BERGSMA: We are drawing close to November, the month that constitutes its own unofficial liturgical season, focused on the Last Things. We begin the month with All Saints and round it out with the Feast of Christ the King. This Sunday’s Readings introduce themes that will be developed throughout the finale of the liturgical year: repentance, the Kingdom of God, and final judgment. In particular, the Gospel Reading urges us not merely to repent while we still have time, but also to make right the wrongs we have done to others, that is, to make reparation. Some non-Catholic theologies deny the need for reparation, but it is a biblical concept that has within it the power of healing and reconciliation.
Were they Pachamama statues? Some journalists declined to quote Pope Francis on that point...
Were they Pachamama statues? Some journalists declined to quote Pope Francis on that point — GetReligionMATTINGLY: The question for today, after a whirlwind of Vatican news: When historians write about the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon region, will they call it the “Amazonian” synod or the “Pachamama” synod?
While the synod handled complex issues of Catholic tradition (ordaining married men) and the theology of holy orders (women entering the modern diaconate), it also veered into ancient questions about Christians being tempted to worship other deities. At this point, Catholic progressives and conservatives were arguing about the first item in the Ten Commandments, as in: “You shall have no other gods before me.”
While the synod handled complex issues of Catholic tradition (ordaining married men) and the theology of holy orders (women entering the modern diaconate), it also veered into ancient questions about Christians being tempted to worship other deities. At this point, Catholic progressives and conservatives were arguing about the first item in the Ten Commandments, as in: “You shall have no other gods before me.”
What Cory Booker gets wrong about abortion, and what he gets right
Cory Bookers & Abortion: What He Gets Wrong, and What He Hets Right | National ReviewLOPEZ: Cory Booker recently tweeted something he couldn’t possibly have read. It was a link to a Glamour magazine piece about men and abortion, and he wrote: “Women shouldn’t be solely responsible for sharing their personal stories as evidence of their humanity. When reproductive rights are in danger, it’s on all of us to join the fight. Thanks to these men for sharing how abortion has impacted their lives.”
Catholicism at a crossroads: 3 takeaways from the Amazon Synod
Catholicism at a crossroads: 3 takeaways from the Amazon SynodLISI: It’s been one very busy month at the Vatican. The three-week Pan-Amazon Synod that came to a conclusion this past Sunday in Rome could very well mark the beginning of some major changes within Roman Catholicism.
The battle for the future direction of the church was played out among the bishops and others who participated in the synod aimed at addressing issues affecting Catholicism in the region of the Amazon that encompasses a great swath of South America. It’s ramifications, however, could very well impact the global church.
“We are a bit like tax collectors because we are sinners, and a bit Pharisees because we are presumptuous, able to justify ourselves, masters of the art of self-justification,” Pope Francis said during his homily this past Sunday to close the synod. “This may often work with ourselves — but not with God.”
The battle for the future direction of the church was played out among the bishops and others who participated in the synod aimed at addressing issues affecting Catholicism in the region of the Amazon that encompasses a great swath of South America. It’s ramifications, however, could very well impact the global church.
“We are a bit like tax collectors because we are sinners, and a bit Pharisees because we are presumptuous, able to justify ourselves, masters of the art of self-justification,” Pope Francis said during his homily this past Sunday to close the synod. “This may often work with ourselves — but not with God.”
15 simple car hacks for cold and snowy weather
15 Simple Cold Weather Car Hacks | Mental Floss: If your windows look like that scene from Titanic anytime you get in the car, grab a can of cheap shaving cream. Coat the inside of your car windows with a thin layer of the cream, which has the same active ingredients as defoggers, then wipe them clean. Now your windows won't fog up while you’re driving.
As the 21st century unfolds, Pachamama may prove to be a greater threat to the Catholic faith than Islam
Pachamama, Witchcraft and Women’s Ordination – Fr. Dwight LongeneckerLONGENECKER: Westerners are fed up with atheism, nihilism and rationalism. The human soul can not go without religion for very long. There is a hunger for religion–not just be charitable, be respectable, turn in your homework on time and don’t forget to brush your teeth do goodism. People want real religion–something transcendental–something that connects with the supernatural. I wrote further here on this subject in explaining why Pentecostalism and Paganism are on the upsurge.
Old fashioned rationalistic reductionist do-gooder mainstream Christianity is grey and dying. The mainline Protestant denominations and the liberal Catholics are on their way out.
Old fashioned rationalistic reductionist do-gooder mainstream Christianity is grey and dying. The mainline Protestant denominations and the liberal Catholics are on their way out.
Joe Biden denied Communion at South Carolina parish over his abortion stance
Joe Biden Denied Communion at South Carolina Parish Over His Abortion Stance: A South Carolina Catholic priest denied Holy Communion to Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Sunday because of the candidate’s support for legal abortion.
Father Robert Morey, pastor of St. Anthony Catholic Church in the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina, denied Biden Holy Communion at Sunday Mass for his support of legal abortion, The Florence Morning News reported Monday.
“Sadly, this past Sunday, I had to refuse Holy Communion to former Vice President Joe Biden,” Father Morey said in a statement he sent CNA Oct. 28.
Father Robert Morey, pastor of St. Anthony Catholic Church in the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina, denied Biden Holy Communion at Sunday Mass for his support of legal abortion, The Florence Morning News reported Monday.
“Sadly, this past Sunday, I had to refuse Holy Communion to former Vice President Joe Biden,” Father Morey said in a statement he sent CNA Oct. 28.
Monday, October 28, 2019
Joe Biden denied Holy Communion at South Carolina church
Joe Biden denied Holy Communion at Florence church | Local News | scnow.com: Former Vice President Joe Biden, a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 2020 presidential race, was denied Holy Communion on Sunday morning at a Florence church.
Father Robert E. Morey of Saint Anthony Catholic Church confirmed Monday afternoon that he had denied the presidential candidate Holy Communion because of his stance on abortion. Biden, a lifelong Catholic, had attended the church's 9 a.m. Mass.
Communion is one of seven sacraments in the Roman Catholic Church. The others are baptism, reconciliation, confirmation, marriage, anointing of the sick and holy orders.
Father Robert E. Morey of Saint Anthony Catholic Church confirmed Monday afternoon that he had denied the presidential candidate Holy Communion because of his stance on abortion. Biden, a lifelong Catholic, had attended the church's 9 a.m. Mass.
Communion is one of seven sacraments in the Roman Catholic Church. The others are baptism, reconciliation, confirmation, marriage, anointing of the sick and holy orders.
The mystery of why the Bayeux Tapestry was created may have finally been solved
Bayeux Tapestry was made for the Bayeux Cathedral, English expert affirms--Aleteia: New evidence about the famed Bayeux Tapestry has affirmed that it was intended to be displayed in the Bayeux Cathedral in Normandy, France. For centuries, there has been debate about where the tapestry was manufactured, who commissioned it and whether it was originally displayed in England or France. But measurements carried out by a British professor of art, and visualizing of the cathedral as it was in the 11th century, have demonstrated that the artisan who made the tapestry intended it for the French cathedral.
Fight the battles you can actually win. These are the battles the Lord Himself puts before you...
The battles you can actually win – SIMCHA FISHERFISHER: Father Jacob Boddicker wrote this on Facebook yesterday. I kept reading it over and over. I’m sharing here with his permission.
I know a lot of my brothers and sisters are worried and frustrated at things that are happening in the Church recently. But I wanted to tell you that just within the limited realm of my influence:
Two people who had not been to confession in many, many years finally came to our Lord’s mercy this weekend.
Six young people–five from my parish and one from out of town–will be confirmed by me this coming weekend.
I know a lot of my brothers and sisters are worried and frustrated at things that are happening in the Church recently. But I wanted to tell you that just within the limited realm of my influence:
Two people who had not been to confession in many, many years finally came to our Lord’s mercy this weekend.
Six young people–five from my parish and one from out of town–will be confirmed by me this coming weekend.
At the Synod’s closing Mass there was this wonderful statue of Our Lady — perhaps a correction to the Pachamama fuss
Mary Mama at the Closing Mass of Amazonian Synod – Fr. Dwight LongeneckerLONGENECKER: I’m surprised that no one else has commented on the large and beautiful image of the Blessed Virgin Mary that appeared in St Peter’s for the closing Mass of the Amazonian synod.
It is pictured here in front of the left front pillar of the baldacchino. This statue is not usually there. In fact, curiously, I’m not aware of any major image of the Blessed Mother featured prominently in St Peter’s. For that matter, in many of the Roman churches you don’t see a prominent Mary statue. I’d be interested to study this fact further. I’ll bet my friend Elizabeth Lev can shed some light on this.
It is pictured here in front of the left front pillar of the baldacchino. This statue is not usually there. In fact, curiously, I’m not aware of any major image of the Blessed Mother featured prominently in St Peter’s. For that matter, in many of the Roman churches you don’t see a prominent Mary statue. I’d be interested to study this fact further. I’ll bet my friend Elizabeth Lev can shed some light on this.
The Three Martyrs of Anavarza, Turkey, have an incredible story...
Going the Distance for Christ: The Three Martyrs of Anavarza, Turkey – Ζήστε ζεστό: In the year 304, three men by the names of Tarachus, Probus, and Andronicus were found to be Christian during the bloody persecution of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. During this persecution, scholars estimate approximately 3,500 Christians were executed.
We celebrated the feast day of these Saints this month on 11 October, and they have an incredible story I will share with you:
Sts. Tarachus, Probus, and Andronicus were arrested in the city of Pompeiopolis, an ancient coastal town west of the modern-day city of Mersin, Turkey. Tarachus was a Roman born at Claudiopolis, Isauria (Modern Day Mut, Turkey), he became a soldier in the Roman army but left the army when he became a Christian.
We celebrated the feast day of these Saints this month on 11 October, and they have an incredible story I will share with you:
Sts. Tarachus, Probus, and Andronicus were arrested in the city of Pompeiopolis, an ancient coastal town west of the modern-day city of Mersin, Turkey. Tarachus was a Roman born at Claudiopolis, Isauria (Modern Day Mut, Turkey), he became a soldier in the Roman army but left the army when he became a Christian.
A 450-year-old ‘Last Supper,’ painted by a nun named Plautilla Nelli, makes its museum debut in Florence
A Nun's 450-Year-Old 'Last Supper' Makes Its Museum Debut in Florence - Atlas Obscura: In the early 1990s, Jonathan Nelson was searching for a little-known but historic Florentine painting: “Last Supper” by Plautilla Nelli, an Italian nun who is said to have taught herself to paint in the 16th century. Nelson, an art historian, was working on the first-ever book about Nelli, but he wasn’t sure whether her painting of the famous Biblical scene still existed, or where, exactly, it had ended up. He tried the museum of Santa Maria Novella, a Dominican church where it was last seen in the 1930s. When he couldn’t find it there, he asked the father superior for permission to enter the Santa Maria Novella monastery.
What would happen if we abolished time zones altogether?
What would happen if we abolished time zones altogether? | WIRED UK: Sommarøy, a tiny Norwegian island perennially dazzled by light in summer and smothered by darkness in winter, made headlines in June 2019 with the news it had taken the executive decision to cancel the concept known as time. “If you want to paint your house at 2am, it’s OK. It we want to take a swim at 4am, we will,” wrote Kjell Ove Hveding, the leader of the campaign, on its Facebook page.
Pope changes name of Vatican Secret Archive to Vatican Apostolic Archive
Pope Francis Changes Name of Vatican Archive: Pope Francis declared Monday that the Vatican Secret Archive be changed to the title of Vatican Apostolic Archive, to avoid the negative associations that accompany modern interpretations of the word “secret.”
In an apostolic letter issued motu proprio Oct. 28, Francis declared that, “from now on, the current Vatican Secret Archive, nothing changing in its identity, its structure and its mission, be called the Vatican Apostolic Archive.”
This change, the Pope wrote, is to avoid associations with the evolving interpretation of the word “secret,” which instead of denoting “private,” he said, has “assumed the prejudicial sense of being hidden, not to be revealed and to be reserved for a few.”
Francis added that this interpretation is “the complete opposite of what the Vatican Secret Archive has always been and intends to be.”
In an apostolic letter issued motu proprio Oct. 28, Francis declared that, “from now on, the current Vatican Secret Archive, nothing changing in its identity, its structure and its mission, be called the Vatican Apostolic Archive.”
This change, the Pope wrote, is to avoid associations with the evolving interpretation of the word “secret,” which instead of denoting “private,” he said, has “assumed the prejudicial sense of being hidden, not to be revealed and to be reserved for a few.”
Francis added that this interpretation is “the complete opposite of what the Vatican Secret Archive has always been and intends to be.”
Sunday, October 27, 2019
She was punished for saying No to the Nazis. Would we have done the same thing? Only if we practice now...
She Said No to the Nazis, and Paid the Price | The StreamMILLS: She died just a few weeks ago, at the age of 99, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Diet Eman was a hero you probably never heard of. I hadn’t. When the Germans invaded the Netherlands in May 1940, the 20-year-old woman rallied her friends and family to resist. Her fiancé, Hein Sietsma, helped lead the group. They were all Christians.
And following Christ cost them. They lived in constant fear and gave up the pleasant life they could have had. The Nazis killed some of them. They brutalized some of them in prison. Diet lost almost everything but her life.
And following Christ cost them. They lived in constant fear and gave up the pleasant life they could have had. The Nazis killed some of them. They brutalized some of them in prison. Diet lost almost everything but her life.
Pray for a miracle — An initial reaction to the close of the Synod
Pray for a Miracle — An Initial Reaction to the Close of the SynodPOPE: I, like many of you, feel overwhelmed by the events of the past month in Rome. Many an evening, late into the night, I have come before the Lord in the rectory chapel in lament for the confusion and chaos in the Church, the Lord’s beautiful bride and our mother. Oftentimes too in the fourth watch of the night, between 3 and 4 a.m., I return to the chapel, for with my cares I cannot long rest.
Reported from Rome are terrible and seemingly impious things at worst, and confusing and ambiguous things at best. In the final document of the synod are included proposals for married priests on a wide scale and women “deacons.” The Church is currently deeply divided and, I would argue, on the brink of schism, if the Pope includes such proposals in his apostolic exhortation and plan. We must pray for him as never before to hold the line, much as Pope Paul VI miraculously held the line in 1968 when he wrote Humanae Vitae, upholding the Church’s perennial view of the nature and purpose of human sexuality and the ancient forbiddance of contraception. He did this against pressure from the spirit of the age — a pressure that was even stronger than the pressure Pope Francis currently encounters. And, like Francis, Paul VI was no conservative and was very friendly with the agents of radical change. This makes Humanae Vitae all the more miraculous, and we must allow this to give us hope now that Pope Francis will issue a document that does not take us over the brink.
Reported from Rome are terrible and seemingly impious things at worst, and confusing and ambiguous things at best. In the final document of the synod are included proposals for married priests on a wide scale and women “deacons.” The Church is currently deeply divided and, I would argue, on the brink of schism, if the Pope includes such proposals in his apostolic exhortation and plan. We must pray for him as never before to hold the line, much as Pope Paul VI miraculously held the line in 1968 when he wrote Humanae Vitae, upholding the Church’s perennial view of the nature and purpose of human sexuality and the ancient forbiddance of contraception. He did this against pressure from the spirit of the age — a pressure that was even stronger than the pressure Pope Francis currently encounters. And, like Francis, Paul VI was no conservative and was very friendly with the agents of radical change. This makes Humanae Vitae all the more miraculous, and we must allow this to give us hope now that Pope Francis will issue a document that does not take us over the brink.
On the longing of Creation to be set free
On the Longing of Creation To Be Set Free - Community in MissionPOPE: Call me a bit sentimental but I have often thought that perhaps, in our interaction with our pets, God is giving us a glimpse of the harmony we will one day enjoy with all creation. Perhaps our pets are ambassadors for the rest of creation, a kind of early delegation sent by God to prepare the way and begin to forge the connections of the new and restored creation. Maybe they are urging us on in our task of making the number of the elect complete so that all creation can sooner receive its renewal and be restored to the glory and harmony it once had. Who knows? But I see a kind of urgency in the pets I have had over the years. They are filled with joy, enthusiasm, and the expectation of something great.
As Synod closes with call for “creativity,” the Pope pledges, “I will pick up the gauntlet”
Whispers in the Loggia: As Synod Closes With Call for "Creativity," The Pope's Pledge: "I Will Pick Up the Gauntlet"PALMO: Six years ago, even as it initially became clear that the Synod of Bishops would emerge as "the key to [Francis'] shake-up" of the ecclesial order, to sense that a bulked-up assembly could give the Pope a mandate to explore the possibility of female clergy and a "universal approach" to married priests would've seemed like a liberal fever dream.
Yet now, here we are.
A far cry from the pre-2013 rote that saw anodyne texts kept within tight "guardrails" from the Curia, given Saturday's complete passage of a Final Document that even hinted at changes to the church's hierarchical makeup and urged a sweeping, ground-up approach to inculturation, it wouldn't seem a stretch to say that, had this text been presented before Francis, its authors – and anyone who voted for it – likely would've risked being removed from office (or placed under CDF investigation). In that light, that each of the document's 120 propositions secured the requisite two-thirds' approval is simply astonishing in itself.
Yet now, here we are.
A far cry from the pre-2013 rote that saw anodyne texts kept within tight "guardrails" from the Curia, given Saturday's complete passage of a Final Document that even hinted at changes to the church's hierarchical makeup and urged a sweeping, ground-up approach to inculturation, it wouldn't seem a stretch to say that, had this text been presented before Francis, its authors – and anyone who voted for it – likely would've risked being removed from office (or placed under CDF investigation). In that light, that each of the document's 120 propositions secured the requisite two-thirds' approval is simply astonishing in itself.
Pope Francis decries ‘predatory models of development’ in Amazon Synod closing Mass
Pope Francis Decries ‘Predatory Models of Development’ in Amazon Synod Closing Mass: Pope Francis denounced exploitation and “predatory models of development” that plunder the poor and wound “sister Earth” in the Amazon synod closing Mass Sunday.
“In this synod we have had the grace of listening to the voices of the poor and reflecting on the precariousness of their lives, threatened by predatory models of development,” Pope Francis said in his homily Oct. 27.
“The mistakes of the past were not enough to stop the plundering of other persons and the inflicting of wounds on our brothers and sisters and on our sister Earth: We have seen it in the scarred face of the Amazon region,” he said in St. Peter’s Basilica.
“In this synod we have had the grace of listening to the voices of the poor and reflecting on the precariousness of their lives, threatened by predatory models of development,” Pope Francis said in his homily Oct. 27.
“The mistakes of the past were not enough to stop the plundering of other persons and the inflicting of wounds on our brothers and sisters and on our sister Earth: We have seen it in the scarred face of the Amazon region,” he said in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Amazon Synod final document calls for married priests and discussion of female deacons
Amazon Synod Document Calls for Married Priests, and Discussion of Female Deacons: The meeting for the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazonian region has approved a final document which calls for the ordination of married men as priests and for women to be considered for diaconal ordination.
The 33-page document, approved Oct. 26, is the result of a three-week meeting in Rome. The synod’s 181 voting members, together with representatives from indigenous communities, religious orders, lay groups and charities, discussed a range of issues concerning the region, spread across nine countries.
In ordinary sessions of the Synod of Bishops, delegates are elected by the world's bishops conferences. In the special session for the pan-Amazonian region, all attendees were by special invitation.
The 33-page document, approved Oct. 26, is the result of a three-week meeting in Rome. The synod’s 181 voting members, together with representatives from indigenous communities, religious orders, lay groups and charities, discussed a range of issues concerning the region, spread across nine countries.
In ordinary sessions of the Synod of Bishops, delegates are elected by the world's bishops conferences. In the special session for the pan-Amazonian region, all attendees were by special invitation.
Analysis: Why Pachamama took a dip...
Analysis: Why Amazon synod's 'Pachamama' took a dipJDFLYNN: Last week, Vatican Media interviewed Fr. Paulo Suess, a German priest who has served for decades among the indigenous peoples of the Amazon. Fr. Suess is in Rome as an official of the Synod of Bishops on the Amazon, and is regarded there as an expert on the region.
The priest was asked about a ceremony held in St. Peter’s Basilica Oct. 7, which seemed to use both traditional Christian symbols and unexplained symbols of indigenous Amazonian culture.
The priest was asked about a ceremony held in St. Peter’s Basilica Oct. 7, which seemed to use both traditional Christian symbols and unexplained symbols of indigenous Amazonian culture.
Amazon synod ends by leaving an awful lot on the Pope’s plate
Amazon synod ends by leaving an awful lot on the pope's plateALLEN: Heading into the much-heralded Synod of Bishops on the Amazon, there was considerable speculation about whether the summit would, or would not, endorse married priests, the so-called viri probati, as a solution to the region’s chronic priest shortages.
Along the way, there was also a fair bit of chatter about ordaining women deacons as a way of recognizing the critical role of women in the Church, as well as creating a special “Amazon rite” of the Mass to recognize the dignity of indigenous cultures. All three ideas generated enthusiasm but also blowback, and they became emblematic of the summit’s importance.
If the measure of the outcome of an event is how it handles such issues, then one has to say of the Amazon synod that its main conclusions appear to leave an awful lot on Pope Francis’s plate.
Along the way, there was also a fair bit of chatter about ordaining women deacons as a way of recognizing the critical role of women in the Church, as well as creating a special “Amazon rite” of the Mass to recognize the dignity of indigenous cultures. All three ideas generated enthusiasm but also blowback, and they became emblematic of the summit’s importance.
If the measure of the outcome of an event is how it handles such issues, then one has to say of the Amazon synod that its main conclusions appear to leave an awful lot on Pope Francis’s plate.
Vatican bank chief says latest scandals are true proof of reform
Vatican bank chief says latest scandals are true proof of reformALLEN: For outsiders, making sense of the latest wave of alleged financial scandals to rock the Vatican is complicated not just by the dollars and cents involved, but also by the fact that they pit two institutions against one another, each carrying enough baggage to invite doubt: Vatican officials and the Italian press.
With the Vatican, it’s the nature of bureaucrats everywhere to deny or play down problems, and ecclesiastical functionaries have a checkered history of doing precisely that, from papal health scares to the early phases of the clerical abuse scandals. As for the Italian press, it can have a soft spot for conspiracy theories, gialli (meaning unresolved mysteries) and sweeping characterizations more akin to extrapolations than explanations.
With the Vatican, it’s the nature of bureaucrats everywhere to deny or play down problems, and ecclesiastical functionaries have a checkered history of doing precisely that, from papal health scares to the early phases of the clerical abuse scandals. As for the Italian press, it can have a soft spot for conspiracy theories, gialli (meaning unresolved mysteries) and sweeping characterizations more akin to extrapolations than explanations.
Claim that Benedict XVI opened path for women deacons is ‘totally absurd,’ says Archbishop Gänswein
Archbishop Gaenswein: Claim Benedict XVI Opened Path for Women Deacons ‘Totally Absurd’PENTIN: Benedict XVI’s personal secretary has said a claim put forward yesterday by a Brazilian synod father that Benedict revised canon law in 2009 to allow the ordination of women deacons is “totally absurd and wrong.”
Archbishop Georg Gänswein, prefect of the Pontifical Household, said he had not spoken to the Pope Emeritus about the matter and his comments to the Register “come only from me.”
His remarks come after Bishop Evaristo Pascoal Spengler of Marajó, Brazil, told reporters yesterday that the synod had opened a path to the ordination of women deacons.
Archbishop Georg Gänswein, prefect of the Pontifical Household, said he had not spoken to the Pope Emeritus about the matter and his comments to the Register “come only from me.”
His remarks come after Bishop Evaristo Pascoal Spengler of Marajó, Brazil, told reporters yesterday that the synod had opened a path to the ordination of women deacons.
Friday, October 25, 2019
Pride and Poverty: The 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time
The Sacred Page: Pride and Poverty: The 30th Sunday of OTBERGSMA: Several years ago, Christians around the world were shocked and saddened by the execution of twenty-one Egyptian Christian men who were in the wrong place at the wrong time, and fell under the power of ISIS. This martyrdom is just one of the more dramatic examples of abuse and oppression that seems so prevalent in the contemporary world. Where is God in all this? Does he pay attention to poor and the oppressed? The Readings for this Sunday dwell on these and related issues.
The biblical symbolism of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
The Biblical Symbolism of the Immaculate Heart of Mary – Building Catholic CultureSTAUDT: The Church gives us moments to focus on elements of our faith and devotional practices so we can carry them with us throughout the rest of the year. As we wind down in October, it’s a good moment to focus on its connection to the rosary, which helps us to treasure and ponder things in our hearts with the Immaculate Heart of Mary (as Luke describes Mary in his Gospel).
October also marks the Miracle of the Sun on October 13, 1917, completing the monthly apparitions that began in May of that year. In the second secret, given in July, Mary pointed specifically to her heart, asking for Russia to be consecrated to her Immaculate Heart and promising that “in the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph.”
October also marks the Miracle of the Sun on October 13, 1917, completing the monthly apparitions that began in May of that year. In the second secret, given in July, Mary pointed specifically to her heart, asking for Russia to be consecrated to her Immaculate Heart and promising that “in the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph.”
The subversive ambiguity of Father Martin and friends
The subversive ambiguity of Father Martin and friends | Catholic CultureLAWLER: Emboldened by an unmistakable sign of papal support, Father James Martin is now escalating his war on the Church’s perennial teaching that homosexual acts are immoral. In his latest foray, the popular Jesuit questions the authority of Scripture, with a deliberately provocative Tweet:
Interesting: “Where the Bible mentions [same-sex sexual] behavior at all, it clearly condemns it. I freely grant that. The issue is precisely whether the biblical judgment is correct. The Bible sanctioned slavery as well and nowhere attacked it as unjust...”
As always, Father Martin is being clever with this Tweet, carefully preserving his own “plausible deniability.” The substance of the comment is not his own; he is quoting Father Richard Rohr, the Franciscan proponent of “alternative orthodoxy.” The Tweet comes from Father Martin, but he contributes just that one ambiguous word: “Interesting.”
Interesting: “Where the Bible mentions [same-sex sexual] behavior at all, it clearly condemns it. I freely grant that. The issue is precisely whether the biblical judgment is correct. The Bible sanctioned slavery as well and nowhere attacked it as unjust...”
As always, Father Martin is being clever with this Tweet, carefully preserving his own “plausible deniability.” The substance of the comment is not his own; he is quoting Father Richard Rohr, the Franciscan proponent of “alternative orthodoxy.” The Tweet comes from Father Martin, but he contributes just that one ambiguous word: “Interesting.”
Standing in need of prayer — A homily for the 30th Sunday of the Year
Standing in Need of Prayer – A Homily for the 30th Sunday of the Year - Community in MissionPOPE: There’s an old saying that goes, “Faults in others I can see, but praise the Lord, there’s none in me.” One is snared in sin by the very act of claiming to have no sin! In fact, it’s the biggest sin of all: pride.
In the Sunday Gospel, the Lord illustrates this through the parable about two men who go to the temple to pray. One man commits the sin of pride and leaves unjustified. The other, though a great sinner, receives the gift of justification through his humility. Let’s look at what the Lord teaches us.
In the Sunday Gospel, the Lord illustrates this through the parable about two men who go to the temple to pray. One man commits the sin of pride and leaves unjustified. The other, though a great sinner, receives the gift of justification through his humility. Let’s look at what the Lord teaches us.
Why paganism and Pentecostalism are so popular
Why Paganism and Pentecostalism are Popular – Fr. Dwight LongeneckerLONGENECKER: You really ought to listen to my podcast on John Allen’s book ‘The Future Church’ if you want to understand what the heck is going on in the Catholic Church in our times. The fact is, we’re going through a time of huge transition in many ways, and you’d better buckle your seat belts because it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
You can listen to the abridged version of the podcasts at BreadBox media. They have most of the basic information, but the full length version of each episode is here on the blog for Donor Subscribers.
One of John Allen’s chapters is devoted to the rise of pentecostalism worldwide–but especially in Latin America. Basically, the Latin American Catholic Church is being decimated by droves of people voting with their feet and heading for the pentecostal churches.
You can listen to the abridged version of the podcasts at BreadBox media. They have most of the basic information, but the full length version of each episode is here on the blog for Donor Subscribers.
One of John Allen’s chapters is devoted to the rise of pentecostalism worldwide–but especially in Latin America. Basically, the Latin American Catholic Church is being decimated by droves of people voting with their feet and heading for the pentecostal churches.
Who (or what) is the Antichrist? Here’s what the Bible says about it...
Who or What Is the Antichrist? A Reflection on the Biblical Teaching - Community in MissionPOPE: There is much lore about the antichrist (especially among certain Evangelicals) that is out of proportion to the attention Scripture pays to the concept, and more importantly is at possible variance from what is certainly taught. It easily becomes fodder for movies and novels: the antichrist figure steps on the scene, deceiving many, and mesmerizing the whole world with apparent miracles and a message of false peace.
But is this really what or whom the Scriptures call the antichrist? I would argue not, for in order to create such a picture one would have to splice in images from the Book of Revelation and the Letter to the Thessalonians that do not likely apply to antichrists.
But is this really what or whom the Scriptures call the antichrist? I would argue not, for in order to create such a picture one would have to splice in images from the Book of Revelation and the Letter to the Thessalonians that do not likely apply to antichrists.
Pachamama carvings recovered from Tiber — Pope says they may be featured at Synod closing Mass
Pope apologizes for theft of Pachamama, says she'll be back on Sunday: It’s become the symbolically defining storyline of the 2019 Synod of Bishops on the Amazon, and on Friday the drama surrounding the “Pachamama,” the indigenous statuettes of a naked pregnant woman that were stolen from a Rome church and tossed into the Tiber River, took yet another turn with an unexpected papal apology.
As he opened the afternoon session of the Oct. 6-27 synod Friday, Pope Francis addressed the theft of the statues on Oct. 21.
Saying he was speaking as the “Bishop of Rome,” meaning the head of the local church in the Eternal City, Francis requested “pardon” from anyone who was offended by the theft of the statues and their being thrown into the river.
As he opened the afternoon session of the Oct. 6-27 synod Friday, Pope Francis addressed the theft of the statues on Oct. 21.
Saying he was speaking as the “Bishop of Rome,” meaning the head of the local church in the Eternal City, Francis requested “pardon” from anyone who was offended by the theft of the statues and their being thrown into the river.
South and East Asia now the hotbed of Christian persecution, report finds
South and East Asia now the hotbed of Christian persecution, report finds: While Christians in Iraq and Syria suffer in the aftermath of Islamic State genocide, a new “hot spot” of persecution has emerged in South and East Asia, a recent report finds.
“The situation for Christians has deteriorated most in South and East Asia: this is now the regional hot spot for persecution, taking over that dubious honour from the Middle East,” stated a report on global Christian persecution by the group Aid to the Church in Need, a pontifical foundation that provides relief to Christians in 140 countries.
ACN released its biennial study of the global persecution of Christians Oct. 23. The 2019 report “Persecuted and Forgotten?” compiled information on acts of harassment, violence, and discrimination committed against Christians over the span of 25 months from July 2017 through July 2019; details on the persecution were gathered by ACN on fact-finding trips.
“The situation for Christians has deteriorated most in South and East Asia: this is now the regional hot spot for persecution, taking over that dubious honour from the Middle East,” stated a report on global Christian persecution by the group Aid to the Church in Need, a pontifical foundation that provides relief to Christians in 140 countries.
ACN released its biennial study of the global persecution of Christians Oct. 23. The 2019 report “Persecuted and Forgotten?” compiled information on acts of harassment, violence, and discrimination committed against Christians over the span of 25 months from July 2017 through July 2019; details on the persecution were gathered by ACN on fact-finding trips.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Mexican beauty queen discerns ‘radical’ move to religious life
Mexican Beauty Queen Discerns ‘Radical’ Move to Religious Life: Esmeralda SolÃs Gonzáles is a young Mexican woman who was crowned last year as a beauty queen in her hometown — and now she’s joined the Poor Clare Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament.
Twenty-year-old Gonzáles has watched her story go viral over the last week on social media over a post on the “Miss Mexico” Facebook page.
Gonzáles was born April 12, 1997, in Valle de Guadalupe, Jalisco State, to a Catholic family. She currently resides at the convent of the Poor Clare Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament of Cuernavaca in Morelos State, after leaving her career as a nutritionist.
Twenty-year-old Gonzáles has watched her story go viral over the last week on social media over a post on the “Miss Mexico” Facebook page.
Gonzáles was born April 12, 1997, in Valle de Guadalupe, Jalisco State, to a Catholic family. She currently resides at the convent of the Poor Clare Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament of Cuernavaca in Morelos State, after leaving her career as a nutritionist.
What working means to women and families
Women: To Work or Not to Work? – Catholic World ReportGRESS: Since the 1960s, women have been encouraged to throw off the shackles of home and dive into careers.
The regnant wisdom has been that a career is far more satisfying than homemaking. As I’ve outlined in my book The Anti-Mary Exposed, five decades later the ramifications of this rush to work are being felt deeply throughout the culture. The absence of women as the heart of the family has led to a sharp decline in personal happiness among men, women, and children, while abuse, neglect, suicide, divorce, consumerism, and narcissism have increased.
In reaction to this, many Catholics are suggesting an opposing view that women shouldn’t do any sort of work outside the home, conjuring up memories of June and Ward Cleaver as the model Catholic family.
The regnant wisdom has been that a career is far more satisfying than homemaking. As I’ve outlined in my book The Anti-Mary Exposed, five decades later the ramifications of this rush to work are being felt deeply throughout the culture. The absence of women as the heart of the family has led to a sharp decline in personal happiness among men, women, and children, while abuse, neglect, suicide, divorce, consumerism, and narcissism have increased.
In reaction to this, many Catholics are suggesting an opposing view that women shouldn’t do any sort of work outside the home, conjuring up memories of June and Ward Cleaver as the model Catholic family.
Fr. James Martin questions “whether the biblical judgment is correct” in warning against homosexual acts
Correcting Fr Martin….Yet Again Again Again – Fr. Dwight LongeneckerLONGENECKER: Let’s be plain. This is a tactic to move opinion in favor of accepting homosexual activity. As I have said before, this post is not about the homosexual condition, nor is it about homosexual actions per se. I have no opinion on these matters other than the teaching of Sacred Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
But let us put Slippery Jim’s duplicitous methods on one side and treat the question itself.
On face value, it is a fair question, it is the sort of question any quizzical ninth grade student might ask.
Margery and Fr Jim seem puzzled. They’re “just asking a question!” They don’t have an answer.
But let us put Slippery Jim’s duplicitous methods on one side and treat the question itself.
On face value, it is a fair question, it is the sort of question any quizzical ninth grade student might ask.
Margery and Fr Jim seem puzzled. They’re “just asking a question!” They don’t have an answer.
We have to resist “gender self-identity” in every sphere of life. Don’t let the law budge an inch on this issue...
Peak…peaking..peaked? | Charlotte was BothWELBORN: This is a bizarre, deeply damaging moment we’re living in, driven by a tiny minority of people suffering various forms of mental illness. And yes, there are various forms. Once you start looking into this world, you come to understand that there is really no such thing as a monolithic gentle group of “trans folks” we’re gently reminded to welcome by gentle Fr. Martin, all gently seeking understanding for their differences.
No – there’s a little more to it than that.
There are different iterations and roots of this type of dysphoria, obviously, like any mental illness, not all understood. There are men who experience this desire, frankly, as a fetish. It’s called autogynephilia, and it’s a thing – a male being aroused by the idea of himself as a woman.
No – there’s a little more to it than that.
There are different iterations and roots of this type of dysphoria, obviously, like any mental illness, not all understood. There are men who experience this desire, frankly, as a fetish. It’s called autogynephilia, and it’s a thing – a male being aroused by the idea of himself as a woman.
How to defeat Drag Queen Story Hour and other dangers at your local library
How to Defeat Drag Queen Story Hour & Other Dangers at Your Local Library ~ The Imaginative ConservativeDEAVEL: The intra-conservative battle over liberal institutions and their relation to liberalism, classical and otherwise, got a little hotter when Sohrab Ahmari tweeted about a drag queen story hour in Sacramento: “If you can’t see why children belong nowhere near drag, with its currents of transvestic fetishism, we have nothing to say to each other. We are irreconcilably opposed. There’s no polite, David French-ian third way around the cultural civil war. The only way is through.” Dr. French was somewhat surprised that in a debate at Catholic University Dr. Ahmari kept returning to this phenomenon of drag queens at the library in a later debate at the Catholic University of America, suggesting that the answer might be local bans on the practice. Dr. French’s argument was that to instantiate this kind of ban is not only unlikely, but could lead to a further evisceration of free speech that would eliminate the access of religious groups to public libraries and schools.[1]
If saving souls is more important than saving face at the Vatican, they must open their ledgers to experts
The Vatican’s new corruption scandalJDFLYNN: Jesus told his disciples: “Nothing is hid that shall not be made manifest, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light.” The teaching is playing out in real time at the Vatican, the heart of the church founded by the Nazarene.
Prosecutors and gendarmerie staged a raid this month into the usually serene offices of the Vatican’s Secretariat of State, seizing computers and caches of documents from archives and employees. Two weeks later, the longtime head of Pope Francis’ security service resigned after leaked reports of alleged financial wrongdoing in the Vatican.
Prosecutors and gendarmerie staged a raid this month into the usually serene offices of the Vatican’s Secretariat of State, seizing computers and caches of documents from archives and employees. Two weeks later, the longtime head of Pope Francis’ security service resigned after leaked reports of alleged financial wrongdoing in the Vatican.
Women cannot be ordained deacons. Whatever ancient deaconesses were, they didn’t receive Holy Orders...
Amazonian Women Deacons? – Catholic World ReportBRUMLEY: The recommendation of some at the Amazon Synod regarding the ordination of married viri probati, proven men, to the priesthood may or may not be a good idea, but in any case it is in the realm of possibility, according to the received, developed, modern teaching of the Church on Holy Orders. Eastern-Rite Catholicism has married priests. There is a tiny number of Latin-Rite Catholic priests. It’s possible.
However, the Church teaches that the ordination of women to the diaconate is not possible. The Church teaches that only a baptized man can validly receive sacramental ordination. Yes, some people reject that teaching and say it is possible. They interpret the ancient practice of deaconesses as the female equivalent of male diaconate. They simply reject as false the developed sacramental teaching of the Church that only men can validly receive the Sacrament of Orders.
However, the Church teaches that the ordination of women to the diaconate is not possible. The Church teaches that only a baptized man can validly receive sacramental ordination. Yes, some people reject that teaching and say it is possible. They interpret the ancient practice of deaconesses as the female equivalent of male diaconate. They simply reject as false the developed sacramental teaching of the Church that only men can validly receive the Sacrament of Orders.
Fly from the New American Bible and its blatant dishonesty about sex
The NAB: Round Three - The Catholic ThingESOLEN: I was looking at 1 Corinthians 6, for quite a different kind of error, and noticed the NAB’s rendering of Paul’s reproof of the church in Corinth for admitting a man who had taken his stepmother to wife.
“It is widely reported that there is immorality among you,” say the NABers. The abstraction renders the Greek porneia, meaning fornication, prostitution; a porne is a whore, a pornos a fornicator, and a porneion a brothel.
Does that occur to you when you hear the word immorality? Me neither.
I grant that the NABers are not alone in the limp translation. The RSV has immorality. My modern Italian Bible, itself a poor version, has immoralitá. But Jerome has fornicatio, King James and Douay have fornication; my French Bible has debauche; the classic Welsh has godineb, adultery; Luther has Hurerei, whorishness. What’s with the sudden delicacy? Immorality is not a charged word in Scripture. Fornication – besides naming via metonymy the kind of sin we are talking about – is.
“It is widely reported that there is immorality among you,” say the NABers. The abstraction renders the Greek porneia, meaning fornication, prostitution; a porne is a whore, a pornos a fornicator, and a porneion a brothel.
Does that occur to you when you hear the word immorality? Me neither.
I grant that the NABers are not alone in the limp translation. The RSV has immorality. My modern Italian Bible, itself a poor version, has immoralitá. But Jerome has fornicatio, King James and Douay have fornication; my French Bible has debauche; the classic Welsh has godineb, adultery; Luther has Hurerei, whorishness. What’s with the sudden delicacy? Immorality is not a charged word in Scripture. Fornication – besides naming via metonymy the kind of sin we are talking about – is.
A swimmer’s journey from Venezuela to Mishawaka
From Venezuela to Mishawaka: A Swimmer’s Journey | Bethel UniversityBECKER: Alfonso Flores had a lot going for him when he graduated from high school in his native Venezuela. Academically at the top of his class, he’d also been a standout on his school’s swim team. But his homeland was reeling from economic collapse and political instability, and his future looked bleak.
“My country was falling apart,” Flores recalls, and his dream of becoming an engineer appeared out of reach.
Even so, he was determined to try. So were his parents. His mother prayed up a storm, and his father, himself an engineer, refused to let his son give up.
After a flurry of applications to U.S. schools with swimming scholarships, Flores accepted an offer from a two-year community college in Iowa. When his application for a student visa was denied, his dad stepped in.
“My country was falling apart,” Flores recalls, and his dream of becoming an engineer appeared out of reach.
Even so, he was determined to try. So were his parents. His mother prayed up a storm, and his father, himself an engineer, refused to let his son give up.
After a flurry of applications to U.S. schools with swimming scholarships, Flores accepted an offer from a two-year community college in Iowa. When his application for a student visa was denied, his dad stepped in.
A former Swiss Guard is now teaching Catholic priests how to manage a parish
A Former Swiss Guard is now educating the clergy | Washington, D.C. | The Busch School of Business, Washington, DC | CUA: The desire and calling to help clergy has always been in Mario Enzler’s heart. From being a former Swiss Guard of Pope St. John Paul II to a successful international banker to teaching at the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America, Prof. Enzler continually aims to live out his vocation and positively impact the lives of those he encounters. “At Catholic University we do not educate to create more efficient workers or more satisfied consumers, but freer – and better – persons. As educators, we accept as axiomatic the ancient view that the purpose of education is first and foremost moral, not utilitarian. We therefore seek not merely to inform our students, to fill their minds, but to form them as persons by holding up for them the classical ideals of the Good, the True, and the Beautiful and that’s why I’m here” said Enzler.
Many environmentalists harbor deep anti-human attitudes, which have no place in Catholic thinking
Anti-Human Themes in Modern Environmentalism - Community in MissionPOPE: When I was a teenager in the 1970s, I enjoyed much of the popular music of the day but paid little attention to the words. It was usually the rhythm and melody that got my attention; the lyrics were more like another instrumental track than something to analyze. As I got older and especially when I became a writer, the words and their message became much more important to me. When I listen to the ’70s music now, I’m surprised by some of the radical, impure, and foolish philosophies we teens of that time “grooved” to.
One of my favorite groups was the Eagles, though I preferred their lyrical songs like “Desperado” to their hard-driving rock songs like “Life in the Fast Lane.” Among their more lyrical offerings was a song entitled “The Last Resort.” It has a beautiful melody and builds from a simple piano accompaniment to a full-on orchestra. I was oblivious at the time to the preachy and even anti-human lyrics.
One of my favorite groups was the Eagles, though I preferred their lyrical songs like “Desperado” to their hard-driving rock songs like “Life in the Fast Lane.” Among their more lyrical offerings was a song entitled “The Last Resort.” It has a beautiful melody and builds from a simple piano accompaniment to a full-on orchestra. I was oblivious at the time to the preachy and even anti-human lyrics.
Tiber tiki tossers and climate change deniers are the ‘black sheep’ of the Catholic family, says Mexico City’s cardinal
Mexican cardinal calls statue thieves 'black sheep' of Catholic familySANMARTIN: According to Mexico’s most important cardinal, the Catholics who stole the small wood statue of a topless pregnant woman and those within the Church who are climate change deniers are the “black sheep” of the 1.3 billion-member family that is the Catholic Church.
Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes of Mexico City, currently in Rome participating in the Oct. 6-27 Synod of Bishops on the Amazon, told journalists on Tuesday that the theft of the statue, which some traditionalist Catholics have labeled a pagan symbol, was “sad, a pity.”
Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes of Mexico City, currently in Rome participating in the Oct. 6-27 Synod of Bishops on the Amazon, told journalists on Tuesday that the theft of the statue, which some traditionalist Catholics have labeled a pagan symbol, was “sad, a pity.”
Hospital loan and Papal Foundation controversy land Vatican bank in regulatory spotlight
Vatican Bank Lands in Regulatory Hot SeatCONDON: The head of the Vatican's central bank appeared to admit this week to a transaction that could be a violation of European regulatory commitments, namely a loan of 50 million euros to finance the purchase of a struggling Italian hospital.
Sources say a controversial grant from the U.S.-based Papal Foundation was requested in order to balance the central bank's books after the hospital was unable to repay the money.
In a statement Tuesday, Bishop Nunzio Galantino, head of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA), acknowledged that the Vatican’s central bank loaned 50 million euros to finance the purchase of the Italian hospital, the Istituto Dermopatico dell’Immacolata (IDI), even though APSA is prohibited from making loans that finance commercial transactions by policies put in place to exempt it from external oversight.
Sources say a controversial grant from the U.S.-based Papal Foundation was requested in order to balance the central bank's books after the hospital was unable to repay the money.
In a statement Tuesday, Bishop Nunzio Galantino, head of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA), acknowledged that the Vatican’s central bank loaned 50 million euros to finance the purchase of the Italian hospital, the Istituto Dermopatico dell’Immacolata (IDI), even though APSA is prohibited from making loans that finance commercial transactions by policies put in place to exempt it from external oversight.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
How to love others better than you do
How to Love Others Better Than You Do | The StreamMILLS: The people that had to talk, they bothered me. My sister was dying, and later died, of a cancer that created hundreds and hundreds of tumors in her spine and long bones. She suffered continuous, deep, aching pain.
I could barely keep control of my feelings, and they forced me to paste on that pained fake smile, the one you have to wear when good people try to help you. But don’t, because they can’t. The chatty ones offered what they thought were Deep Words of Comfort, when no words beyond “I’m sorry” or “I’m praying” or “I’ve been there” helped.
Some of them I came to recognize as grief predators. My sadness they took as a chance to play wise man. And then go home and tell everyone how much they helped me. Others genuinely wanted to help and thought they had something to say.
I could barely keep control of my feelings, and they forced me to paste on that pained fake smile, the one you have to wear when good people try to help you. But don’t, because they can’t. The chatty ones offered what they thought were Deep Words of Comfort, when no words beyond “I’m sorry” or “I’m praying” or “I’ve been there” helped.
Some of them I came to recognize as grief predators. My sadness they took as a chance to play wise man. And then go home and tell everyone how much they helped me. Others genuinely wanted to help and thought they had something to say.
We see through a glass darkly, but Peter now sees what we cannot
We See Through a Glass Darkly, But Peter Now Sees What We Cannot | Hour of Our DeathMILLS: Inside the Church with all the light and joy of the children hovering over it, the Mass was just starting. There were still flowers on the altar and an arch of green studded with carnations over the altar rail made the air fragrant. All around the enthroned white and gold statue of our Lady of Fatima were salmon pink gladiolas with long green stalks not yet budded out; below the altar were banked azaleas.
A hundred or more vigil lights blazed and sent forth the hot sweet smell of wax to mingle with the incense. There were red roses before St. Therese and flowers before St. Anne and a watery sun seeped through the stained glass windows and competed with the candles.
A hundred or more vigil lights blazed and sent forth the hot sweet smell of wax to mingle with the incense. There were red roses before St. Therese and flowers before St. Anne and a watery sun seeped through the stained glass windows and competed with the candles.
Where does parish renewal come from?
Practical Leadership or Pastoral Renewal - Where Does Parish Renewal Come From? - Catholic Missionary Disciples - College Station, TXLEJEUNE: “Timing is everything” is a common phrase and there is a lot of truth to it. If I had met my wife 24 hours earlier than I did, she would have had nothing to do with me. Because we met the same night that I had my primary conversion. Before that, I was a wild college kid and she wouldn't have talked to me. God knew what he was doing there. He also knows what he is doing in terms of renewing the Church in the USA. We are at a pivotal moment.
If we started Catholic Missionary Disciples 10 years ago, there is a good chance it would not have succeeded. It certainly wouldn't have taken off like it has. This is because the Catholic Church in our country is at a pivotal moment. Pastoral leaders, both clergy and laity, are much more open to a renewed vision of evangelization and a much more profound sense that our way of operating hasn't worked.
If we started Catholic Missionary Disciples 10 years ago, there is a good chance it would not have succeeded. It certainly wouldn't have taken off like it has. This is because the Catholic Church in our country is at a pivotal moment. Pastoral leaders, both clergy and laity, are much more open to a renewed vision of evangelization and a much more profound sense that our way of operating hasn't worked.
Yes, Russian interests in Syria are political, but there are centuries of religious ties as well
Yes, Russian interests in Syria are political, but there are centuries of religious ties as well — GetReligionMATTINGLY: As a rule, the foreign desk of The New York Times does high-quality work when covering religious stories that are clearly defined as religion stories, frequently drawing praise here at GetReligion.
However, when an international story is defined in political terms — such as Donald Trump’s decision to abandon Kurdish communities in northern Syria — editors at the Times tend to miss the religion “ghosts” (to use a familiar GetReligion term) that haunt this kind of news.
The bottom line: It’s hard to write a religion-free story about news with obvious implications for Turkey, Syria, Russia, the United States, the Islamic State and a complex patchwork of religious minorities. The Times has, however, managed to do just that in a recent story with this headline: “In Syria, Russia Is Pleased to Fill an American Void.”
However, when an international story is defined in political terms — such as Donald Trump’s decision to abandon Kurdish communities in northern Syria — editors at the Times tend to miss the religion “ghosts” (to use a familiar GetReligion term) that haunt this kind of news.
The bottom line: It’s hard to write a religion-free story about news with obvious implications for Turkey, Syria, Russia, the United States, the Islamic State and a complex patchwork of religious minorities. The Times has, however, managed to do just that in a recent story with this headline: “In Syria, Russia Is Pleased to Fill an American Void.”
How the Soviet Union attacked religious believers with propaganda images
Down with God! How the Soviet Union took on religion – in pictures | Art and design | The Guardian: Marx said religion was the opium of the people – and in the Soviet Union, atheism became government policy, enforced by the state and encouraged by anti-religious posters and magazines. These have been collected in Roland Elliott Brown’s new book from Fuel called Godless Utopia: Soviet Anti-Religious Propaganda
United Arab Emirates to fund rebuilding of Catholic churches destroyed by ISIS
UNESCO, United Arab Emirates pledge to rebuilt Christian churches in Mosul, Iraq--Aleteia: Even as recent geopolitical developments have exacerbated fears of a resurgence of the Islamic State terror group, plans to rebuild two churches in Iraq have emerged, with financial aid coming from the United Arab Emirates.
The churches were destroyed by the Islamic State when it overran Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, in 2014. Christians were scattered from the metropolis and the nearby Nineveh Plain, as ISIS imposed Sharia law. Even after Mosul was liberated, Christians wondered if they could return. Would the city ever be safe again? Could they trust their neighbors, who in many cases took over the properties they had to leave?
The churches were destroyed by the Islamic State when it overran Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, in 2014. Christians were scattered from the metropolis and the nearby Nineveh Plain, as ISIS imposed Sharia law. Even after Mosul was liberated, Christians wondered if they could return. Would the city ever be safe again? Could they trust their neighbors, who in many cases took over the properties they had to leave?
Behold, Christ! 10 ways to increase belief in the Eucharistic Lord
Behold, Christ! 10 Ways to Increase Belief in the Eucharistic LordLANDRY: In Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked who people said he was, and his two polls showed that only one person — Peter — said he believed Jesus was who he truly was, the Messiah and Son of God (Matthew 16:13-20).
In July, the Pew Research Center asked U.S. Catholics who or what they understood the Eucharist to be. The response, like the one Our Lord received in Caesarea, was sobering.
Only 50% of U.S. Catholics said that they knew the Church’s teaching that, after the consecration, the bread and wine are totally changed into Jesus’ Body and Blood; 45% said that the Church teaches that the “bread” and “wine” are only symbols, and 5% didn’t know what the Church teaches.
In July, the Pew Research Center asked U.S. Catholics who or what they understood the Eucharist to be. The response, like the one Our Lord received in Caesarea, was sobering.
Only 50% of U.S. Catholics said that they knew the Church’s teaching that, after the consecration, the bread and wine are totally changed into Jesus’ Body and Blood; 45% said that the Church teaches that the “bread” and “wine” are only symbols, and 5% didn’t know what the Church teaches.
Pope’s Wednesday audience: Acts of the Apostles shows synodality brought pagans to ‘reject idolatry’
Pope Francis: Synodality brought pagans to reject idolatry: Pope Francis said Wednesday that the first Christian evangelization of the pagans opened up “a very lively controversy” as the early Church discerned how to absorb new members from outside the people of Israel.
In the Acts of the Apostles, “a very delicate theological, spiritual and discipline issue is addressed,” Pope Francis said Oct. 23. “That is, the relationship between faith in Christ and the observance of the Law of Moses.”
“They proposed not to impose circumcision on the pagans, but only to ask them to reject idolatry and all its expressions,” Pope Francis said in his weekly catechesis in St. Peter’s Square.
In the Acts of the Apostles, “a very delicate theological, spiritual and discipline issue is addressed,” Pope Francis said Oct. 23. “That is, the relationship between faith in Christ and the observance of the Law of Moses.”
“They proposed not to impose circumcision on the pagans, but only to ask them to reject idolatry and all its expressions,” Pope Francis said in his weekly catechesis in St. Peter’s Square.
Byzantine church of unknown ‘glorious martyr’ uncovered in Israel
Byzantine church of 'glorious martyr' uncovered in Israel: The remains of a sixth-century Byzantine church dedicated to an unnamed "glorious martyr" with elaborate mosaics, a rare crypt and a large collection of lamps were unveiled in central Israel on Wednesday.
The complex, which spans over a third of an acre, was found during salvage excavations ahead of the construction of a new neighbourhood for the city Bet Shemesh, west of Jerusalem.
The mosaics in the church depict themes from nature, such as leaves, birds and fruit, as well as geometrical elements, with imported capitals topping pillars, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority, which carried out the excavation.
The complex, which spans over a third of an acre, was found during salvage excavations ahead of the construction of a new neighbourhood for the city Bet Shemesh, west of Jerusalem.
The mosaics in the church depict themes from nature, such as leaves, birds and fruit, as well as geometrical elements, with imported capitals topping pillars, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority, which carried out the excavation.
The ideological hijacking of Pope St. John XXIII
The ideological hijacking of Pope St. John XXIII - Denver CatholicWEIGEL: With his liturgical memorial (October 11) falling on the fourth full day of the Special Synod for Amazonia, which sometimes seems bent on recycling every tried-and-failed nostrum from 1970s, it was inevitable that certain portside Catholic commentators would continue their effort to spin Pope St. John XXIII into a smiley-face, chubby Italian grandpa whose approach to the future of the Church was somewhat Maoist: “Let a thousand flowers bloom!”
Don’t see ‘Joker.’ I invite you to sit this one out with me...
Don’t See Joker | Alexi Sargeant | First ThingsSARGEANT: Don’t see the new Joker film, directed by Todd Phillips and starring an Oscar-starved Joaquin Phoenix. I invite you to sit this one out with me. Don’t see it to gain insight into the minds of radicalized young men or burgeoning mass killers. The movie teases insight there, but offers only a shallow reiteration of another generation’s social crisis. And don’t see it as a Gotham City completionist. The filmmakers themselves have played coy about whether this is a movie about the Joker of Batman lore, or simply a joker of another sort altogether. “Maybe Joaquin’s character inspired the Joker,” Phillips said in an interview. “You don’t really know.” But we kind of do. This movie cannot be about the Joker because it doesn’t have Batman in it.
An image of the Kingdom and the beauty of inner silence in a tango
An Image for the Kingdom and the Beauty of Inner Silence in a Tango - Community in MissionPOPE: At a past parish gathering there was a demonstration of different dance styles. One of our young adults, Lola, is a student of classical and ballroom dance. She, along with her dance partner, danced a modest tango in a most elegant way.
What was most fascinating to me was that Lola kept her eyes shut during the entire dance; I wondered how it was even possible to dance with closed eyes. So I asked her why she did that. Lola responded that it was easier for her to dance that way; it was less distracting. “I close my eyes so that I can better follow his lead.” She says that this is common in this form of dance.
What was most fascinating to me was that Lola kept her eyes shut during the entire dance; I wondered how it was even possible to dance with closed eyes. So I asked her why she did that. Lola responded that it was easier for her to dance that way; it was less distracting. “I close my eyes so that I can better follow his lead.” She says that this is common in this form of dance.
Elementary pastoral sense absent from Amazonian statue controversy
Elementary Pastoral Sense Absent From Amazonian Statue ControversyDESOUZA: The disputed Amazonian statue might be dismissed as a small distraction, but it is an important thing made more significant by a lack of elementary pastoral sense.
As Catholics ought to know better than anyone else — all the more so Vatican officials — symbols convey much more than words. That’s why the liturgy is a ritual employing symbols rather than an essay employing syllogisms.
That provides the proper lens through which to see what will become a lasting image of the Amazon synod, the wooden statue of the naked pregnant Amazonian woman, first deployed in the curious tree-planting ceremony in the Vatican gardens, latterly resident at the church of Santa Maria in Traspontina and carried in procession during the Amazonian via Crucis, and now floating out to sea in the Tiber, where it was thrown by anonymous thieves who thought it had no place in a Catholic church.
As Catholics ought to know better than anyone else — all the more so Vatican officials — symbols convey much more than words. That’s why the liturgy is a ritual employing symbols rather than an essay employing syllogisms.
That provides the proper lens through which to see what will become a lasting image of the Amazon synod, the wooden statue of the naked pregnant Amazonian woman, first deployed in the curious tree-planting ceremony in the Vatican gardens, latterly resident at the church of Santa Maria in Traspontina and carried in procession during the Amazonian via Crucis, and now floating out to sea in the Tiber, where it was thrown by anonymous thieves who thought it had no place in a Catholic church.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Whatever you think the destruction of those statues was, it wasn’t a “stunt”
Whatever that was, it wasn’t a ‘stunt’ | In the Light of the LawEDPETERS: A few days ago men removed some female figurines (centerpieces for several weird ceremonies in Rome the last few weeks) from a church and tossed them into the Tiber River. Vatican spokesman Paolo Ruffini dismissed the act as a “stunt.” Regardless of how one assess this act, however, I think it not accurate to describe it as a mere “stunt.” A “stunt” is a gesture that calls attention to a problem but does not itself solve the problem. For example, chaining oneself to a lamppost could call attention to the plight of the unjustly imprisoned but does not itself free the imprisoned. Standing on the corner with one’s mouth duct-taped might call attention to the suffering of the voiceless but does not itself give them a voice. Such acts are stunts, good stunts or bad, but in the end, stunts. What the Tiber men did was different.
Facing fresh charges of financial scandal, all the Pope’s men strike back
Facing fresh charges of financial scandal, all the pope's men strike backALLEN: Back in 2009, a frenzy broke out around the then-editor of the newspaper of the Italian bishops, a layman named Dino Boffo, with lurid media accounts first of his alleged homosexual misconduct, and then, when the charges turned out to be bogus, speculation about who’d set him up. Many theorized a complex plot involving the Vatican’s Secretary of State, the head of the Vatican gendarmes, and the editor of the Vatican paper.
Vatican denies risk of default over structural deficit
Vatican denies risk of default over structural deficit: A top Vatican administrator is denying the Holy See risks default over its structural deficit, saying claims in a new book about possible financial ruin are overblown.
Archbishop Nunzio Galantino, president of the office that manages the Vatican’s real estate and other assets, told the Avvenire newspaper of the Italian bishops’ conference Tuesday that all that is needed is a “spending review” to bring down costs.
Archbishop Nunzio Galantino, president of the office that manages the Vatican’s real estate and other assets, told the Avvenire newspaper of the Italian bishops’ conference Tuesday that all that is needed is a “spending review” to bring down costs.
Abortion legalized in Northern Ireland, after deadlock in devolved legislature
Abortion Legalized in N. Ireland, After Deadlock in Devolved Legislature: Northern Ireland’s devolved legislature failed Monday to block a change to the region’s law imposed by the British Parliament. As a result, both abortion and same-sex “marriage” will now be legal in the region.
Same-sex marriages are expected to begin taking place in Northern Ireland by February 2020, while the new abortion law is set to take effect by April 2020.
Previously, abortion was legally permitted in Northern Ireland only if the mother’s life was at risk or if there was risk of permanent, serious damage to her mental or physical health.
Same-sex marriages are expected to begin taking place in Northern Ireland by February 2020, while the new abortion law is set to take effect by April 2020.
Previously, abortion was legally permitted in Northern Ireland only if the mother’s life was at risk or if there was risk of permanent, serious damage to her mental or physical health.
Monday, October 21, 2019
Yes, Russian interests in Syria are political, but there are centuries of religious ties as well
Yes, Russian interests in Syria are political, but there are centuries of religious ties as well — GetReligionMATTINGLY: As a rule, the foreign desk of The New York Times does high-quality work when covering religious stories that are clearly defined as religion stories, frequently drawing praise here at GetReligion.
However, when an international story is defined in political terms — such as Donald Trump’s decision to abandon Kurdish communities in northern Syria — editors at the Times tend to miss the religion “ghosts” (to use a familiar GetReligion term) that haunt this kind of news.
The bottom line: It’s hard to write a religion-free story about news with obvious implications for Turkey, Syria, Russia, the United States, the Islamic State and a complex patchwork of religious minorities. The Times has, however, managed to do just that in a recent story with this headline: “In Syria, Russia Is Pleased to Fill an American Void.”
However, when an international story is defined in political terms — such as Donald Trump’s decision to abandon Kurdish communities in northern Syria — editors at the Times tend to miss the religion “ghosts” (to use a familiar GetReligion term) that haunt this kind of news.
The bottom line: It’s hard to write a religion-free story about news with obvious implications for Turkey, Syria, Russia, the United States, the Islamic State and a complex patchwork of religious minorities. The Times has, however, managed to do just that in a recent story with this headline: “In Syria, Russia Is Pleased to Fill an American Void.”
A rare and fascinating interview with Archduke Rudolf of Austria, head of the legendary Habsburg family
Prayers — and Royalty — Never Die: The Habsburg DynastyGAETAN: Archduke Rudolf of Austria, 69, is a very busy man. Having worked in the financial sector for decades, he now concentrates on holiness: promoting the cause for beatification of his grandmother, Servant of God Zita, the last empress of Austria; monitoring progress toward sainthood of his grandfather, Blessed Charles I (or Karl), the last emperor of Austria and the last king of Hungary (who reigned from Nov. 21, 1916-Nov. 11, 1918); being a father to eight children, including four in religious life; and supporting favorite charities, including sitting on the board of directors of the U.S. Magnificat Foundation and co-founding the Zermatt Summit, dedicated to “humanizing globalization” and projecting the Catholic Church’s social teaching as an antidote to the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland.
What I saw while serving on a Grand Jury
What I Saw While Serving on a Grand Jury (part two) - Community in MissionPOPE: In yesterday’s post, I wrote about my experience serving on a grand jury, describing in particular the darkness we jurors had to face each day as we listened to testimony about and video of some horrible crimes. In today’s piece, I’d like to point out some light I saw in the midst of that darkness, some positive elements of my experience.
For much of my life I have looked somewhat askance at lawyers, despite the fact that my father was a lawyer, and a good one at that. (I also enjoy lawyer jokes – all in good fun, of course.) I had this vague impression that lawyers just make everything difficult. The lawyers with whom I come into contact in the Church warn us about so many things that I sometimes cynically remark that if we took every one of their precautions, we’d never open our doors. However, their cautions are usually well-founded given our litigious society. Then, too, there are the ambulance chasers whose advertisements seem to be everywhere. There are also lawyers who file frivolous lawsuits knowing that it’s easier for companies to settle out of court than to fight back. Such things give the profession a bad reputation even though most attorneys do not engage in such practices. Those were some of the biases I harbored when I was summoned.
For much of my life I have looked somewhat askance at lawyers, despite the fact that my father was a lawyer, and a good one at that. (I also enjoy lawyer jokes – all in good fun, of course.) I had this vague impression that lawyers just make everything difficult. The lawyers with whom I come into contact in the Church warn us about so many things that I sometimes cynically remark that if we took every one of their precautions, we’d never open our doors. However, their cautions are usually well-founded given our litigious society. Then, too, there are the ambulance chasers whose advertisements seem to be everywhere. There are also lawyers who file frivolous lawsuits knowing that it’s easier for companies to settle out of court than to fight back. Such things give the profession a bad reputation even though most attorneys do not engage in such practices. Those were some of the biases I harbored when I was summoned.
Ironic collision of two Sunday stories raises question of what a “poor Church” means
Ironic collision of two Sunday stories raises question of what a "poor Church" meansALLEN: When James Joyce used the phrase “here comes everybody” to describe the Catholic Church, he wasn’t kidding. The glorious, and also maddening, thing about Catholicism is that it contains both everything and the logical opposite of everything.
Two headlines on Crux yesterday make the point anew: “Amazon bishops pledge poverty,” alongside “Leaked documents detail $200 million Vatican deal for swanky London property.”
On Sunday morning, roughly 40 bishops taking part in the Oct. 6-27 Synod of Bishops on the Amazon trekked out to the Catacombs of St. Domitilla in Rome in order to renew a pact originally signed at the Second Vatican Council in 1965, pledging themselves, among other things, to a “happily sober lifestyle” in contrast to what they called an “avalanche of consumerism,” vowing to live in a manner that’s “simple and in solidarity with those who have little or nothing.”
Two headlines on Crux yesterday make the point anew: “Amazon bishops pledge poverty,” alongside “Leaked documents detail $200 million Vatican deal for swanky London property.”
On Sunday morning, roughly 40 bishops taking part in the Oct. 6-27 Synod of Bishops on the Amazon trekked out to the Catacombs of St. Domitilla in Rome in order to renew a pact originally signed at the Second Vatican Council in 1965, pledging themselves, among other things, to a “happily sober lifestyle” in contrast to what they called an “avalanche of consumerism,” vowing to live in a manner that’s “simple and in solidarity with those who have little or nothing.”
The radical equality of Christianity
The Radical Equality of Christianity ~ The Imaginative ConservativeBIRZER: In our world of recriminating hatreds—in which we desire more to label those we don’t like as sexist, imperialist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, and, simultaneously, mark ourselves as victims—we often forget some important historical truths. Here’s one we conveniently ignore, dismiss, or mock: Nothing in the world has brought about more equality and justice than has the Christian religion.
To be sure, various paganisms—such as the Heraclitan Logos, Socratic ethics, and Stoic philosophy—had sought the universal as well. Each, however, hit understandable walls of resistance and fierce competition from non-egalitarian Gnostic systems.
To be sure, various paganisms—such as the Heraclitan Logos, Socratic ethics, and Stoic philosophy—had sought the universal as well. Each, however, hit understandable walls of resistance and fierce competition from non-egalitarian Gnostic systems.
The Amazon Synod and 10 learning points from St. John de Brebeuf
The Amazon Synod and Ten Learning Points from St John de Brebeuf – Fr. Dwight LongeneckerLONGENECKER: The current Amazonian synod is a reminder that the struggles of Catholic missions to indigenous peoples is nothing new. Today is the memorial of St John deBrebeuf and his companions. The Jesuit missionaries to North America endured the most amazing hardships to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to tribal people who were locked in superstition, in bondage to repulsive demons and trapped in a cycle of revenge, torture cannibalism and violence of the most unimaginable kind.
A few months ago I read St Jean de Brebeuf- Saint Among the Hurons– the best biography of the great Jesuit missionary. Learning about his work and martyrdom along with his companions, Isaac Jogues, Gabriel Lalemant and others sheds genuine light on the church’s mission to indigenous peoples.
A few months ago I read St Jean de Brebeuf- Saint Among the Hurons– the best biography of the great Jesuit missionary. Learning about his work and martyrdom along with his companions, Isaac Jogues, Gabriel Lalemant and others sheds genuine light on the church’s mission to indigenous peoples.
Why did Marvel Comics create a biography of St. John Paul II’s life in 1982?
How John Paul II's visit to Japan led to a Marvel Comics biography of his life - Voyage Comics & PublishingKOSLOSKI: Here is the story behind the remarkable comic book that has captivated millions since its first publication.
The story is recounted on the final page of the printed issue. Here is a brief summary, along with some added details.
John Paul II was on a tour of the Pacific in 1981 and spent 3 days in Japan, February 24-26. During that visit he had several major appearances in a country that has a very small Catholic minority.
At the same time, Father Julian Różycki, a Polish missionary living in Tokoyo, was a close friend of Gene Pelc, whom Stan Lee called “Marvel’s Man in Japan.”
The story is recounted on the final page of the printed issue. Here is a brief summary, along with some added details.
John Paul II was on a tour of the Pacific in 1981 and spent 3 days in Japan, February 24-26. During that visit he had several major appearances in a country that has a very small Catholic minority.
At the same time, Father Julian Różycki, a Polish missionary living in Tokoyo, was a close friend of Gene Pelc, whom Stan Lee called “Marvel’s Man in Japan.”
What should Sunday Mass look like in a “missional” parish?
What does the Sunday liturgy look like in a missional parish? — L'Alto Catholic InstituteGLEMKOWSKI: Full disclosure: I do not want to write this blog.
I do not want to write this blog because most people read things on the Internet, not to seek genuine dialogue in pursuit of the Truth, but to see which ideological camp you fit in and whether, based on that designation, they can applaud or discredit you off-handedly.
I also do not want to write this blog because liturgy conversations online are a hornet’s nest and, frankly, in terms of The Liturgy Wars I do not really have a dog in this hunt. I grew up with traditional Latin Mass liturgies, (mainly still Novus Ordo though some TLM), was formed as a disciple on guitar masses, and my personal favorite Mass experience is the quiet stillness of a 30 minute daily Mass at the monastery near my hometown.
I do not want to write this blog because most people read things on the Internet, not to seek genuine dialogue in pursuit of the Truth, but to see which ideological camp you fit in and whether, based on that designation, they can applaud or discredit you off-handedly.
I also do not want to write this blog because liturgy conversations online are a hornet’s nest and, frankly, in terms of The Liturgy Wars I do not really have a dog in this hunt. I grew up with traditional Latin Mass liturgies, (mainly still Novus Ordo though some TLM), was formed as a disciple on guitar masses, and my personal favorite Mass experience is the quiet stillness of a 30 minute daily Mass at the monastery near my hometown.
Santa Muerta, don’t pray for us
Santa Muerta, Don't Pray for Us - Crisis MagazineFITZPATRICK: When godlessness reigns, it’s not surprising to see false gods rise in response to the human hunger for spiritual fulfillment. It is surprising, however, to see people turn to death to fulfill their lives. In recent decades, a cult has risen out of Mexico with an unholy rival to the Virgin of Guadalupe: Nuestra Señora de la Santa Muerte—Our Lady of Holy Death.
One of the fastest-growing religious sects, the Santa Muerte cult venerates a female Grim Reaper holding a scythe and a globe, whose image and power are honored by ever-increasing devotees. The devil, as Pope Francis once said, has never forgiven Mexico for loving Our Lady of Guadalupe, and is seizing control of the country’s spiritual void with a vengeance. Santa Muerte may well be one of his hiding-in-plain-sight snares to seduce people away from religion with something that looks unsettlingly like religion.
One of the fastest-growing religious sects, the Santa Muerte cult venerates a female Grim Reaper holding a scythe and a globe, whose image and power are honored by ever-increasing devotees. The devil, as Pope Francis once said, has never forgiven Mexico for loving Our Lady of Guadalupe, and is seizing control of the country’s spiritual void with a vengeance. Santa Muerte may well be one of his hiding-in-plain-sight snares to seduce people away from religion with something that looks unsettlingly like religion.
Amazon Synod’s controversial carved figures taken from church, thrown into Tiber River
Amazon Synod’s Controversial Carved Figures Thrown Into Tiber River: A video uploaded to YouTube on Oct. 21 shows two men taking several wooden figures of a nude pregnant woman from a church near the Vatican and throwing them into the Tiber River.
The figures have been present at several events connected to the Vatican’s Amazon synod and have been the subject of considerable controversy: Some have characterized them as images of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and others say they depict the indigeneous religious figure “Pachamama,” while Vatican spokesmen have characterized them more vaguely as symbols of “life.”
From the four-minute video it appears the event took place around dawn Oct. 21, when a person holding the video camera appears to enter the Church of Santa Maria in Traspontina. The Church is in the immediate area of the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica and has been the location of events at which the controversial carved figure has been present.
The figures have been present at several events connected to the Vatican’s Amazon synod and have been the subject of considerable controversy: Some have characterized them as images of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and others say they depict the indigeneous religious figure “Pachamama,” while Vatican spokesmen have characterized them more vaguely as symbols of “life.”
From the four-minute video it appears the event took place around dawn Oct. 21, when a person holding the video camera appears to enter the Church of Santa Maria in Traspontina. The Church is in the immediate area of the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica and has been the location of events at which the controversial carved figure has been present.
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Where do Communion hosts come from?
The Bread of Heaven: Where Do Communion Hosts Come From?PRONECHEN: When the sisters at the Monastery of the Sacred Passion in Erlanger, Kentucky, walk into their bakery several days a week, they are going to work at one of the most important physical labors in the Church. The cloistered sisters more than 745 miles north in Westfield, Vermont, and those 542 miles west in Clyde, Missouri, and others in a handful of monasteries from Brooklyn to Arizona will do the same.
These sisters are going to bake altar bread — the Communion hosts that will be consecrated at Masses every day.
These sisters are going to bake altar bread — the Communion hosts that will be consecrated at Masses every day.
6 things every Christian should know about prayer
The Practices of Prayer - Community in MissionPOPE: This Sunday’s readings speak to us of the power of persistent prayer. The first reading (Exodus 17:8-13) in particular depicts prayer quite powerfully. In it, we can discern six fundamental teachings on prayer. None of us like problems, but one good thing about them is that they help to keep us praying. Israel was at war and her enemies were strong; it was time to pray.
The Gospel concerns a widow who is troubled about something, and this problem keeps her coming back to the judge. Sometimes God allows us to have problems in order to keep us praying. Problems also keep us humble and remind us of our need for God and others.
Problems aren’t the only reason we pray, but they are one important motivator. It shouldn’t be necessary for us to have problems, but they certainly have a way of summoning us to prayer.
The Gospel concerns a widow who is troubled about something, and this problem keeps her coming back to the judge. Sometimes God allows us to have problems in order to keep us praying. Problems also keep us humble and remind us of our need for God and others.
Problems aren’t the only reason we pray, but they are one important motivator. It shouldn’t be necessary for us to have problems, but they certainly have a way of summoning us to prayer.
Vatican II’s forgotten apostle of the poor stages comeback at Amazon synod
Vatican II's forgotten apostle of the poor stages comeback at Amazon synodALLEN: Because Pope Francis so often cites both the substance and the spirit of Vatican II as an inspiration for his papacy, there’s a tendency to assume he’s sort of the Latin American reincarnation of St. John XXIII, the pope who convened the council and who was canonized by Francis in 2014.
In reality, however, one could make the argument that the Vatican II figure to whom Francis is closest actually isn’t John XXIII but rather Cardinal Giacomo Lercaro of Bologna, Italy, the council’s leading apostle of the “option for the poor.”
This very day, Lercaro’s vision is staging a comeback during the Oct. 6-27 Synod of Bishops on the Amazon.
In reality, however, one could make the argument that the Vatican II figure to whom Francis is closest actually isn’t John XXIII but rather Cardinal Giacomo Lercaro of Bologna, Italy, the council’s leading apostle of the “option for the poor.”
This very day, Lercaro’s vision is staging a comeback during the Oct. 6-27 Synod of Bishops on the Amazon.
Presumption and anxiety can lead to disaster. Only trust in the Lord can help you endure a storm of destruction...
Beginning to Pray: Fighting Against LethargyLILLES: There are periods of prayer that must endure "storms of destruction" (Psalm 57:1). These storms can be exterior events - whether meteorological or else political, sometimes familial. Currently, it seems we are in the midst of an ecclesial storm. There are also internal storms. There are tempests of temptation that, if you ever timed them, you would find last about 30 minutes - less than fifteen minutes of which are really intense (if resolutely resisted). Sometimes, an external storm and internal storm converge with demonic force. What does a person of prayer do against such fierce threats to interior peace?
The real reason why planes don’t fly over the Himalayas
New Advent: The real reason why planes don’t fly over the Himalayas: Wouldn't it be amazing to see the tallest mountain on the planet from an airplane window? Just imagine yourself nestled in your seat, sipping on a coffee and admiring that snow covered mountain peak! The only problem is that planes don’t fly over Mount Everest, or the Himalayan range, for that matter. But why?
The secret to Sriracha hot sauce’s success
New Advent: The secret to Sriracha hot sauce’s success: David Tran is the man to thank for the Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce you douse your scrambled eggs with every morning. You know the stuff. Red bottle with a green cap and a rooster on the front—plus five languages on the bottle—this simple sauce connects people from different cultures and backgrounds...
Leaked documents detail $200 million Vatican deal for swanky London property
Leaked documents detail $200 million Vatican deal for swanky London propertyALLEN: Against the backdrop of a Synod of Bishops on the Amazon dedicated to the defense of some of the world’s most impoverished people, the Vatican finds itself rocked by yet another financial scandal after publication Sunday of seamy details about a $200 million purchase of a swanky 183,000-square-foot apartment building in the Chelsea district of London.
“Hundreds of millions of Euro destined for the least and the poor are still administered opaquely and with no transparency, as if the Vatican were a merchant bank in an offshore country,” the report claims.
For Pope Francis, who came to office in 2013 on a reform mandate and who launched a sweeping reorganization of Vatican finances early in his papacy, the revelations are the latest index of how much remains to be done in terms of injecting accountability in terms of money management.
“Hundreds of millions of Euro destined for the least and the poor are still administered opaquely and with no transparency, as if the Vatican were a merchant bank in an offshore country,” the report claims.
For Pope Francis, who came to office in 2013 on a reform mandate and who launched a sweeping reorganization of Vatican finances early in his papacy, the revelations are the latest index of how much remains to be done in terms of injecting accountability in terms of money management.
Friday, October 18, 2019
How an Amazon pagan rite brought 48 years of demonic torment, until Jesus Christ and His Church freed me
How an Amazon Pagan Rite Brought 48 Years of Demonic Torment, Until Christ Freed Me: In 1968, Jane Porter, a British Catholic, was living as an undergraduate student in Brazil but after contracting an illness, she fell victim to a “false” healing carried out by an indigenous, pagan religion in a “Catholic” setting. The effects, she says, led to “far greater suffering” that lasted for decades.
In this interview with the Register, Porter recounts her traumatic experience and expresses her concern that the Amazon Synod’s working document — and therefore the synod itself — risks introducing into Catholic life a practice similar to the one she experienced in Brazil.
In this interview with the Register, Porter recounts her traumatic experience and expresses her concern that the Amazon Synod’s working document — and therefore the synod itself — risks introducing into Catholic life a practice similar to the one she experienced in Brazil.
On imperfection, as seen in an animation
On Imperfection, As Seen in an Animation - Community in MissionPOPE: There are different ways to look at life, and two of these are captured in a couple of seemingly contradictory sayings. The more famous aphorism is this one: “The perfect is the enemy of the good,” but you’ll also hear its converse: “The good is the enemy of the best.” The second expression cautions that we sometimes settle for something that is merely good enough when we should be aiming higher; excellence is certainly something for which to strive. In today’s blog, though, I’d like to concentrate on the original: “The perfect is the enemy of the good.” In striving for the perfect thing, we can miss the good. We live in a fallen world, less than perfect. Likewise, you and I are incomplete, unfinished, imperfect. Yet this does not mean that we lack anything good at all or that this imperfect world has nothing to offer.
The Art of Manliness: How to open a can without an opener
How to Open a Can Without an Opener | The Art of Manliness: Do you remember the scene in The Road where the boy and his father discover an untouched, perfectly stocked survival bunker? The hungry nomads happily gape as they take in crate after crate of canned goods, an unbelievable oasis in an otherwise desolate, apocalyptic landscape. The pair liberate the contents of the cans with an opener, and make a dinner of canned pears and peaches; “They licked the spoons and tipped the bowls and drank the rich sweet syrup.”
The little-known ‘slow fire’ that’s destroying all our books
The Little-Known 'Slow Fire' That's Destroying All Our Books | Literary Hub: How to fix a book: first, gather your tools. The bone folder that feels familiar in your hand, the knitting needles still sticky with glue, the X-Acto knife, the tiny Tupperware of glue.
Then, diagnose the damage. If there’s scotch tape, grab the lighter fluid. If the book is on its last leg, worn out, prepare to make a box. Check that the guillotine is free.
Then, diagnose the damage. If there’s scotch tape, grab the lighter fluid. If the book is on its last leg, worn out, prepare to make a box. Check that the guillotine is free.
A million people are jailed at China’s gulags. I managed to escape. Here’s what really goes on inside...
A million people are jailed at China's gulags. I managed to escape. Here's what really goes on inside - World News - Haaretz.com: Twenty prisoners live in one small room. They are handcuffed, their heads shaved, every move is monitored by ceiling cameras. A bucket in the corner of the room is their toilet. The daily routine begins at 6 A.M. They are learning Chinese, memorizing propaganda songs and confessing to invented sins. They range in age from teenagers to elderly. Their meals are meager: cloudy soup and a slice of bread.
Torture – metal nails, fingernails pulled out, electric shocks – takes place in the “black room.” Punishment is a constant. The prisoners are forced to take pills and get injections. It’s for disease prevention, the staff tell them, but in reality they are the human subjects of medical experiments. Many of the inmates suffer from cognitive decline. Some of the men become sterile. Women are routinely raped.
Torture – metal nails, fingernails pulled out, electric shocks – takes place in the “black room.” Punishment is a constant. The prisoners are forced to take pills and get injections. It’s for disease prevention, the staff tell them, but in reality they are the human subjects of medical experiments. Many of the inmates suffer from cognitive decline. Some of the men become sterile. Women are routinely raped.
Missionaries who have “dis-evangelized” the Amazon: Stats from a Church reduced by half
“Dis-evangelized” Amazon. The Numbers of a Catholic Church Reduced By Half - Settimo Cielo - Blog - L’EspressoMAGISTER: At the press conference on Monday, October 14 Paolo Ruffini, prefect of the Vatican dicastery for communication, was asked why updated statistical data have not been released on the religious affiliation of inhabitants of the Amazon, seeing the impetuous growth of the Evangelical and Pentecostal Churches, at the expense of the Catholic Church.
Ruffini replied that all the information in the possession of the Vatican offices has been made available to the accredited journalists, and that in any case the synod has to address rather more important questions than statistical data on religious affiliation.
Ruffini replied that all the information in the possession of the Vatican offices has been made available to the accredited journalists, and that in any case the synod has to address rather more important questions than statistical data on religious affiliation.
This genius trick will change how you fry eggs
Why Ideas in Food's Caramelized Cream Eggs Are Genius: I’ve promised a number of times to revolutionize the way you make eggs—soft-scrambling in 15 seconds, spiking your frying oil with smoky spices, pouring beaten eggs into boiling water and ending up with a fluffy omelet and not egg confetti.
But for the first time, I’m here to tell you about an egg recipe that’s changed both the way I think about cooking eggs and just about everything else, too. It’s changing how I grocery shop and the pans I reach for; it’s opening up secret rooms in the dusty mansion of my brain to meals that are ethereally, almost unknowably delicious. All with one simple, genius little idea.
But for the first time, I’m here to tell you about an egg recipe that’s changed both the way I think about cooking eggs and just about everything else, too. It’s changing how I grocery shop and the pans I reach for; it’s opening up secret rooms in the dusty mansion of my brain to meals that are ethereally, almost unknowably delicious. All with one simple, genius little idea.
The Blessed Virgin Mary can help you in your mental prayer
The Role of Mary in Mental PrayerLILLES: Popular devotion is very important for contemplative prayer. Holy images, beautiful churches, holy shrines, rosaries, and Eucharistic Adoration are given to us to dispose us to a deeper encounter with God. Mary is of special importance.
Different cultures have developed different expressions of Marian piety. These sources of contemplative prayer need to be rediscovered and promoted now more than ever. Her witness to maternal love and obedience to God keeps before us all that is good, noble, and true.
Different cultures have developed different expressions of Marian piety. These sources of contemplative prayer need to be rediscovered and promoted now more than ever. Her witness to maternal love and obedience to God keeps before us all that is good, noble, and true.
In the Synod debate over married priests, is the Rhine flowing into the Amazon?
In synod debate over married priests, is the Rhine flowing into the Amazon?ALLEN: Back in the mid-1980s, rebel Brazilian Franciscan Leonardo Boff was the enfant terrible of Latin America’s liberation theology movement, and he had a couple of celebrated run-ins with then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the Vatican’s doctrinal czar under St. John Paul II and the future Pope Benedict XVI.
At one point, Ratzinger jokingly said of Boff that his problem was that he’d “read too much German theology.”
Boff was indignant, insisting that the origins of liberation theology were in the experience of the Latin American poor, especially the comunidades de base, or base communities, and the movement was therefore autochthonous rather a colonial import.
At one point, Ratzinger jokingly said of Boff that his problem was that he’d “read too much German theology.”
Boff was indignant, insisting that the origins of liberation theology were in the experience of the Latin American poor, especially the comunidades de base, or base communities, and the movement was therefore autochthonous rather a colonial import.
The Pachamama or the Virgin: which does the Synod revere?
The Pachamama or the Virgin: which does the Synod revere? | Catholic CultureLAWLER: Questioned about the Pachamama icon that has become the most visible symbol of the Amazon Synod, Father Giacomo Costa told reporters that it was an image of “an indigenous woman who brings life.” The Synod spokesman added: “Nobody said it was the Virgin Mary.”
I beg to differ. Browsing the internet during the past week, I have seen dozens of people defending the use of this apparently pagan symbol, the Inca goddess of fertility, by saying that it was a representation of the Blessed Mother. The woman who presented the image to Pope Francis said that it was “Our Lady of the Amazon.”
To be fair, there were many different interpretations of this inscrutable image. Peruvian Bishop David Martinez told a Roman news conference that: “we all have our own interpretations… the Virgin Mary, the Mother Earth... wishes to reflect fertility, to women, to life...” Paolo Ruffini, the Vatican’s top spokesman, said that “it is a statue that represents life; that’s it.”
I beg to differ. Browsing the internet during the past week, I have seen dozens of people defending the use of this apparently pagan symbol, the Inca goddess of fertility, by saying that it was a representation of the Blessed Mother. The woman who presented the image to Pope Francis said that it was “Our Lady of the Amazon.”
To be fair, there were many different interpretations of this inscrutable image. Peruvian Bishop David Martinez told a Roman news conference that: “we all have our own interpretations… the Virgin Mary, the Mother Earth... wishes to reflect fertility, to women, to life...” Paolo Ruffini, the Vatican’s top spokesman, said that “it is a statue that represents life; that’s it.”
10 things to know and share about St. Luke
St. Luke: 10 Things to Know and ShareAKIN: Oct. 18 is the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist.
Who was he and what do we know about him?
Here are 10 things to know and share. First, who was St. Luke?
St. Luke is mentioned by name in three passages of Scripture:
In Colossians 4:14, St. Paul writes: “Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.”
In 2 Timothy 4:11, Paul writes: “Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you; for he is very useful in serving me.”
And in Philemon 23-24, Paul writes: “Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.”
Since Luke is mentioned in three letters, we can infer that he was a frequent companion of St. Paul.
He also shared in Paul’s labors, since he is referred to as one of Paul’s “fellow workers.”
Who was he and what do we know about him?
Here are 10 things to know and share. First, who was St. Luke?
St. Luke is mentioned by name in three passages of Scripture:
In Colossians 4:14, St. Paul writes: “Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.”
In 2 Timothy 4:11, Paul writes: “Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you; for he is very useful in serving me.”
And in Philemon 23-24, Paul writes: “Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.”
Since Luke is mentioned in three letters, we can infer that he was a frequent companion of St. Paul.
He also shared in Paul’s labors, since he is referred to as one of Paul’s “fellow workers.”
Are you tormented by scrupulosity? Be at peace. Intellectual conversion is a huge step toward overcoming it...
Overcoming Scrupulosity With Intellectual Conversion - Magis CenterCLARK: In the 1957 movie, “12 Angry Men,” a dozen jurors are assembled for the purpose of determining whether a boy, accused with the murder of his father, is guilty of the alleged crime. The first ballot, though one-sided, lacks the required unanimity to convict: 11 guilty; 1 not guilty.
And so, the arguments begin.
Juror no. 4, who seems motivated purely on the facts—maintains that the boy is guilty. However, after much deliberation, Juror no. 4 removes his glasses, revealing marks on his nose. Reminded of similar marks on one of the eyewitnesses, Juror no. 9 asks Juror no. 4, “Can those marks be made by anything other than eyeglasses?”
And so, the arguments begin.
Juror no. 4, who seems motivated purely on the facts—maintains that the boy is guilty. However, after much deliberation, Juror no. 4 removes his glasses, revealing marks on his nose. Reminded of similar marks on one of the eyewitnesses, Juror no. 9 asks Juror no. 4, “Can those marks be made by anything other than eyeglasses?”
Pro-Abortion Ford Foundation identified as major funder of key organizations behind Amazon Synod
Pro-Abortion Ford Foundation Major Funder of Key Synod OrganizationsPENTIN: A missionary council for indigenous peoples run by the Brazilian bishops’ conference has received almost $2 million from the pro-abortion Ford Foundation since 2006, a Brazilian journalist has revealed.
Bernardo Küster, who publishes largely through YouTube and on the website OsLeigos.com, said two other organizations participating in the synod have also received funding from the foundation, which has actively lobbied for abortion rights and gender ideology.
Bernardo Küster, who publishes largely through YouTube and on the website OsLeigos.com, said two other organizations participating in the synod have also received funding from the foundation, which has actively lobbied for abortion rights and gender ideology.
‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’ doesn’t live up to its title
SDG Reviews ‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil,’ Which Doesn’t Live Up to Its TitleGREYDANUS: It’s tempting to suppose that Maleficent: Mistress of Evil opening in the wake of Columbus Day isn’t a coincidence.
Each year Columbus Day brings another round of controversy pitting what was originally intended as a way to validate Italian American and Catholic identity against increasing resistance to celebrating a pivotal figure in a thorny story marked by slavery, theft, rape and genocidal violence.
The 2014 film Maleficent offered a feminist allegory of patriarchal rape culture. The sequel depicts a genocidal conflict with a technologically superior Renaissance-era European civilization moving against the noble, magical Moor-folk.
Each year Columbus Day brings another round of controversy pitting what was originally intended as a way to validate Italian American and Catholic identity against increasing resistance to celebrating a pivotal figure in a thorny story marked by slavery, theft, rape and genocidal violence.
The 2014 film Maleficent offered a feminist allegory of patriarchal rape culture. The sequel depicts a genocidal conflict with a technologically superior Renaissance-era European civilization moving against the noble, magical Moor-folk.
Thursday, October 17, 2019
“I asked thousands of biologists when life begins. The answer wasn’t popular...”
I Asked Thousands of Biologists When Life Begins. The Answer Wasn't Popular - Quillette: Shortly after being awarded my Ph.D. by the University of Chicago’s department of Comparative Human Development this year, I found myself in a minor media whirlwind. I was interviewed by The Daily Wire, The College Fix, and Breitbart. I appeared on national television and on a widely syndicated radio program. All of this interest had been prompted by a working paper associated with my dissertation, which was entitled Balancing Abortion Rights and Fetal Rights: A Mixed Methods Mediation of the U.S. Abortion Debate.
St. John Henry Newman and the scandal of Catholic classical education
St. John Henry Newman and the Scandal of Catholic Classical Education | Classical Catholic EducationLANGLEY: Saint John Henry Newman, speaking of the unique status of Western Civilization in the history of the world, emphatically asserts,
I think it has a claim to be considered as the representative Society and Civilization of the human race, as its perfect result and limit…I call then this commonwealth preeminently and emphatically Human Society, and its intellect the Human mind, and its decisions the sense of mankind, and its disciplined and cultivated state Civilization in the abstract, and the territory on which it lies the Orbis Terrarum, or the World.
Now if it wasn’t for the fact that this Cardinal was just canonized, I think we could all brush this statement off as an overly zealous defense of Western Civilization. After all, sometimes people get carried away and say things that they don’t really mean. For example, I will often say things like,
I think 100% arabica coffee beans may be considered as the representative coffee bean of civilization and of the human race. Nay even the preeminent coffee bean and even the bean in virtue of which all other beans merit the name “coffee bean.”
I think it has a claim to be considered as the representative Society and Civilization of the human race, as its perfect result and limit…I call then this commonwealth preeminently and emphatically Human Society, and its intellect the Human mind, and its decisions the sense of mankind, and its disciplined and cultivated state Civilization in the abstract, and the territory on which it lies the Orbis Terrarum, or the World.
Now if it wasn’t for the fact that this Cardinal was just canonized, I think we could all brush this statement off as an overly zealous defense of Western Civilization. After all, sometimes people get carried away and say things that they don’t really mean. For example, I will often say things like,
I think 100% arabica coffee beans may be considered as the representative coffee bean of civilization and of the human race. Nay even the preeminent coffee bean and even the bean in virtue of which all other beans merit the name “coffee bean.”
What is the wrath of God?
What Is the Wrath of God? - Community in MissionPOPE: In Tuesday’s Mass there was a reference to the wrath of God: The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness. What is God’s wrath? It is spoken of often in Scripture but is a concept with which we must be careful. On the one hand, we cannot simply dismiss it as contrary to the fact that God is love, but on the other, we cannot deny that God’s wrath is unfit in terms of His love. Let’s consider some aspects of the complex reality of the wrath of God. There is not enough space to cover the topic fully in a single post, so I welcome your additions and subtractions in the comments section, as always.
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