When my husband and I had a chance to attend a First Profession at the Monastery of Our Lady of the Rosary, in Summit, we saw that the professing nun, Sister Mary Magdalene was radiant with joy, but one impression that remained with me for a long time after was her small but constant smile of delight. To me it seemed eloquent of the intimacy of this moment of espousal to Christ. The declaration of vows is public, and yet it is all interior, as well. As I wrote, then: One expects a … [Read more...]
Priestly Celibacy and Earthbound Thinking
February 27, 2013 By
Father Emil Kapaun is going to receive a posthumous Medal of Honor, and that's a very good thing. His cause for sainthood has been opened, as well, and that's a good thing, too, for all of us and for the Catholic priesthood, which being pelted and sometimes willfully misunderstood, by many, especially those who cannot see a priest without thinking, "that person is not having sex. How weird, and unhealthy." There is great power in celibacy, which is why Taoists and Buddhists practice it to … [Read more...]
Of He-Men, Fathers and Popes who Do Not Swagger
January 17, 2013 By
If you are not subscribing to The Catholic Answer, you're missing a lot of good stuff. My column for the Jan/Feb issue jumps off an interesting piece on the Feast of the Throne of Peter, to ponder why it is that the Vicar of Christ--beginning with Peter, himself--does not swagger: For competitive purposes, our fathers were invested with outsized swagger, but, in truth, we held them in a bit of awe and wonder. If our mothers were so familiar to us that we went running to them interchangeably … [Read more...]
Elite Women Do Not See This Abortion Reality – UPDATE
January 14, 2013 By
(photosource) Recall that the only reason we ever heard about monster-abortionist/baby-feet collecting Kertmit Gosnell was because of an investigation into drug charges. Absent that investigation, we'd never have known about the filth, incompetence and reckless disregard for human life that comprised his profitable "services" to "women in need." And here, again, we discover abortion mill squalor, only because of a peripheral investigation: the Muskegon Fire Department has posted … [Read more...]
Does Church Suppress God’s Will? That’s Wicked, Right?
December 4, 2012 By
Like Mark Shea, I too thought the National Catholic Reporter had endorsed female ordination years ago. I actually had no intention of writing about it for my First Things column, today. Yet somehow -- and though I had intended to write more about Calah Alexander and the idea of a Ministry of Succor to young mothers, I ended up at female ordination, asking a few questions about NCR's stand: The overbearing men of Rome, most particularly Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, are depicted as … [Read more...]
Benedictines of Mary: EWTN Gives a Glimpse of Ephesus
November 30, 2012 By
The Benedictine in me is a little giddy in anticipation of this Advent gift! EWTN – the Eternal Word Television Network – has announced multiple broadcasts of a 30-minute special on the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, and the making of Advent at Ephesus, which is available now worldwide from De Montfort Music and Decca Records. The special debuts at 11 a.m. ET on Dec. 2, the first Sunday of Advent. Other broadcasts are set for 4 a.m. and 10 p.m. ET on Dec. 5, 6 p.m. ET on … [Read more...]
It’s Norbertine Nun Wreaths, Gift Ideas Time!
October 17, 2012 By
My project today -- and I am sadly later to it than usual -- is to remind you that once again, the Norbertine Nuns of Tehachapi, California are taking orders for their incredibly fresh and long-lasting Christmas Wreaths (pdf) I can only tell you that I have bought these wreaths for the last couple of years and they outlast any wreath I've ever purchased from a retail outlet, or mail-order house. For the last two years we've left the wreaths up throughout January, until my husband … [Read more...]
Nun News for Autumn 2012
October 1, 2012 By
I was surprised to receive an email, and a couple of tweets, from people wondering why I had not perpetrated my annual "Nun News" post, focusing on vocations. To be honest, I have just been too busy, but I have been amassing a HUGE list -- so large that each time I look at it, I feel too tired to begin. But today is the feast day of St. Terese of Lisieux, so, it seems a good day to get to it (and as ever, thanks to Brian J for the cool logo!): Let's start with the Sisters of Life for no … [Read more...]
Poor Clare Novices and Professions
September 13, 2012 By
I am internet fasting, and thought it a good time to do some nun news. Here are various Poor Clares in various monasteries being clothed in the habit or profession vows: Twice Sisters: At Our Lady of the Angels monastery, two sisters by blood become sisters in spirit - one clothed, one professed. Also, an earlier profession At Saint Joseph's Monastery: a solemn profession Corpus Christi Monastery clothes a new novice. Bethlehem Monastery: Two new novices … [Read more...]
“Old-Fashioned” Sisters, “Newfangled” Nuns, Numbers and Habits – UPDATED
August 24, 2012 By
RNS photo by Ryan Gladstone In light of ongoing headlines concerning Rome's correction to the leadership of the LCWR, their response, and a recent report on the bare numbers of women entering religious life, Dave Gibson has written a really good piece in which he takes a look at a more "traditional" sort of religious order and how they live out their vocations. It was five o’clock on a hot August afternoon, and vespers, the traditional evening prayer of monastic life for centuries, had … [Read more...]
In honor of St. Dominic and his Sons and Daughters
August 8, 2012 By
I've said before that were I not a Benedictine I would probably be a Dominican. They have so many cool tertiaries (Hello, Pier Giorgio and Catherine of Siena!). So, in honor of the feastday of St. Benedict, let's hear about the meaning of the Dominican habit -- which is essentially unchanged since its beginnings -- from some of his spiritual children who take delight in wearing it: Brother Lew, OP, gives us the garment's history (and the prayers the friars say as they put it on) while … [Read more...]
A New Priest, A New Blog for Patheos
August 1, 2012 By
Longtime Patheos readers are familiar with Father Michael Duffy, although they may remember him best as Seminarian Michael Duffy, who shared with them his thoughts on the clerical collar as both yoke and witness and the seminary as seedbed for lifelong growth. Deacon Greg noted his June 9th ordination for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, and today we welcome him as our newest blogger as he launches "Father, Where Art Thou?"; A Newly-Minted Priest Explores His Fatherhood. By beginning … [Read more...]
Something Joyful
July 21, 2012 By
Since we do like our nun news around these parts, I posted this story of a Franciscan sister before retiring last night; a nice positive close to a busy day. And then of course, we awoke this morning to the dreadful news from Colorado; for most of us, it's been on our minds and hearts all day. So, I am offering something nunly again, this evening. Call it a palate cleanser, or just something joyful to focus on for a little bit; thanks to our friends the Carmelite Sisters of the Sacred … [Read more...]
Former US Olympian Now a Sister Serving UK
July 20, 2012 By
Sister Catherine Holum is a religious with the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal, the female portion of Fr. Benedict Groeschel's gang of merry men and women. She is also a former Olympic speed skater. Her story is not unknown, but with the Olympics coming up, it's nifty to share: “My mother, Dianne Holum, was an Olympic speed skater and Olympic speed-skating coach,” says Sister Catherine. “She has four Olympic medals, and she coached for 25 years, including three Olympic teams. So, very … [Read more...]
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