Vinegar at the Crucifixion

October 1, 2009 By

Over at Maggie’s Farm, an interesting post about balsamic vinegar: The good Balsamic Vinegar comes from Modena (home of Ferrari, Maserati, and Lamborghini), where they have been making it for a thousand years. It’s called “balsamic” because it was thought to be a good balsam, or balm, for pain and disease. Our North American Balsam [...]

Filed Under: Catholicism, Culture of Life/Death, Jesus Christ, Scriptural stuff

Taking Communion when not Catholic – UPDATED

August 20, 2009 By

Rick at Brutally Honest, for whom I have a deal of affection, and he’s been a a provocative read for years, has been away from the Catholic Church for a long time. He and his wife have now decided to partake of Holy Communion within the Catholic Church, although without the sacrament of Confession or [...]

Filed Under: Blogs and Blogging, Catholicism, Confession, Eucharist, Faith, Prayer, Scriptural stuff, Year of the Priest

Passion, Passion, Passion – UPDATED

August 20, 2009 By

Our friends, the Passionist Nuns of St. Joseph Monastery in Kentucky, (whose joy-filled tribulations we followed through last winter’s media-ignored ice storm) having recently clothed their postulant as a novice were rejoicing last week as they announced the upcoming reception of yet another young aspirant to their cloister. It was lovely to read of their [...]

Filed Under: Blogs and Blogging, Catholic Vocations, Catholicism, Christians in Exile, Communion of Saints, Faith, Monasticism, Scriptural stuff

Ellen Degeneres at Tulane – UPDATED

August 2, 2009 By

UPDATE: I initially posted this video without comment because I didn’t want to influence anyone’s thinking on it. A pal of mine watched and wrote back, “Why do I feel emotional pain after watching that?” I don’t know if she meant it as a good, salutary sort of pain, or a bad one, but I [...]

Filed Under: American Genius, Crucible of Faith, Culture of Life/Death, Scriptural stuff, video faves

"I Love My Life"

July 30, 2009 By

I don’t know why it is but my nightstand drawers routinely get filled and then overfilled with the weirdest, most random stuff, until finally I cannot close them anymore. This morning became “clean up” day, and aside from finding scores of broken pencils and no sharpeners, a paper I’d written for an Anthropology class 15 [...]

Filed Under: 'Remaking' America, American Genius, Benedictine, Buster, Chesterton, Crucible of Faith, Culture of Life/Death, Monasticism, Politics-free zone, Prayer, Scriptural stuff

Genesis, Evolution the Sistine Chapel

July 22, 2009 By

White Dwarf Lost in Planetary Nebula “There are two forms of excess; to exclude reason and to admit nothing but reason.” – Blaise Pascal “I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “Plans of fullness, not of harm. To give you a future, and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11 “Sufficient unto the [...]

Filed Under: Catholicism, Crucible of Faith, Faith, Pop Culture, Scriptural stuff, TV/Pop Culture/Music

Dreaming strange dreams

June 17, 2009 By

In 8 years of Bill Clinton’s presidency, I dreamed about the man once, and it don’t remember feeling good or bad about it. In 8 years of Bush’s presidency, I may have dreamed of him once. I think I did, but don’t really remember. I know it is not unusual for people to dream of [...]

Filed Under: 'Remaking' America, Alternative Media, Barack Obama, Crisis & Opportunity, Scriptural stuff