Hecker like the Flour!

December 20, 2010 By

Illustration by Dr. Pat McNamara, 1993 I somehow neglected to share with you last week this very interesting profile of a very interesting Catholic priest who had an profound impact on the faith in America. Dr. Pat McNamara writes about the Vibrant, Active Piety of Fr. Isaac Hecker, yes, Hecker like the flour that is [...]

Filed Under: Catholic Vocations, Catholicism, Communion of Saints

Most Excellent Vid on Mariology

December 19, 2010 By

Sent along by reader Vicki, who is not Catholic, this video is one of the best brief expositions I’ve ever seen on the theological role Mary plays in this whole pageant of salvation in which we live, and for which we seek understanding. It may seem a little long at 11 minutes, but it moves [...]

Filed Under: Catholicism, Jesus Christ, Mary

A Balm for Fried Brains

December 14, 2010 By

Longtime readers know that when I get over-busy and overworked there is a crash and burn, (strangely enough, it’s often an Crash-and-Burn-in-ADVENT) followed by a period of fried-brains-recovery that involves staring at beautiful fabric and period clothing, because despite my Tomboyish ways, somewhere within me there is a pathetically girly girl who is living in [...]

Filed Under: Catholic Vocations, Catholicism, It's all about me! Me! ME!

Good Cop/Bad Cop For Catholics! UPDATED

December 14, 2010 By

Boston College professor and theologian Tim Muldoon’s column, “Culture at the Crossroads” strikes a daring note this week; in pondering the recent Nobel Prize awarded to Robert Edwards for the development of human in vitro fertilization (IVF) therapy, Muldoon wonders about the morality of it: IVF does not serve the common good — that is, [...]

Filed Under: Catholicism, Culture of Life/Death, Faith

"Are you a woman of God?" UPDATED

December 10, 2010 By

That’s the question Sr. Lisa Doty got from a kid in trouble: “Yes, I am,” I responded, “is there something I can do for you?” Looking down at his feet, he stammered, hardly audible, “I’m not sure what you can do, but I really could use your prayers.” He went on to explain how he [...]

Filed Under: Catholic Vocations, Catholicism, Church hates women, Confession, Culture of Life/Death, Eucharist, Patheos, Prayer

"Hail, Full of Grace!" – UPDATED

December 8, 2010 By

The Annunciation by Waterhouse A little collection of links and videos appropriate to the Holy Day: Start with Deacon Greg, whose affection for Our Lady seems to have blossomed into one of his loveliest homilies: . . . one of the women said, “We’re Jewish, from up in Orange County, and we just don’t have [...]

Filed Under: Catholicism, Church hates women, Communion of Saints, Jesus Christ, Mary

Finding Closure with Jumper Cables

December 1, 2010 By

The latest entry into the Habit of Witness series is a particularly poignant one, written by Carmelite Sister Timothy Marie. When the convent car breaks down, Sister seeks out some help and her need allows kindness to come full circle, putting paid to “centuries of ignorance and prejudice: A lot of big trucks were parked [...]

Filed Under: Catholic Vocations, Catholicism, Communion of Saints, Race in America