Thanks For Donating to Help Make “All That Remains”

Just a quick note at the beginning of the day to say thanks to everyone who has donated to help make the film All That Remains. A Phase 3 funding drive is happening now, and I see $315 sitting in the kitty ==>> as of now, with 41 days to go. Have you check out the new All That Remains website yet? Head on over there. While you’re strolling around with your mouse, buy a t-shirt, coffee mug, or mouse pad at the Store. [Read more...]

Because the YOUCAT Helps My Children and Me

You may have missed the fracus a few years back when I killed Santa Claus, but his memory still lives on. In our house now, “Santa” means “unexpected gifts from Mom and Dad.” This past Christmas, see, Santa gave each of my children a copy of the new Youth Cathechism, also known as the YOUCAT. [Read more...]

Justin Bieber: “I Don’t Think I’m Religious. I Am Spiritual” UPDATED

On the heels of the faith affirming appearance of Mark Walhlberg on yesterday’s CBS This Morning show, where he talked of prayer, and the New Translation of the Mass, etc., here is another celebrity Christian whose breaking-news faith story is not as satisfying. [Read more...]

Happy Birthday to St. Joan of Arc

600 hundred years ago, the Maid of Orleans was born. True, her Feast Day is on May 30th, but today is her birthday all the same. Happy Birthday Joan…I’m glad you were on the planet!

Many of us can’t get behind “crazy” people who hear voices and form impromptu armies and such, can we? But that is what Joan did. She must have been at the right place and at the right time, God willing, because folks listened to her and followed her into battle. [Read more...]

Merry Christmas!

A Blessed Christmas to all, from my family to yours. May the miracle of the Incarnation kindle within you the everlasting light of Our Lord and Savior. Here are some thoughts to share from my patron saint, and a song.

From the Thirty-First Homily of St. Macarius the Great (aka, “my” Abba), [Read more...]

To Cultivate the Desert in this Jungle of Words

Words can be tricky things. Words spoken. Words written. Words thought of. Words acted upon. Words seemingly written in clarity. Words being read in a fog of misunderstanding. Words with only one meaning. Words with many meanings. A writer’s or blogger’s stock-in-trade is words. And words are the ultimate double-edged swords. [Read more...]

For All the Saints: John of the Cross

Today is the feast day of St. John of the Cross, Doctor of the Church. Born in 1542, he was a contemporary of St. Teresa of Avila and a practitioner of contemplative prayer. He is considered one of the foremost poets of Spain. And yet, it is said that he only wrote about 2500 lines of verse. He died on this date at the age of 49 in the year 1591. [Read more...]

Because the Saints are “Hard Corps”

For Conspicuous Gallantry and Intrepidity in Action at the Risk of Life, Above and Beyond the Call of Duty . . .

As a kid growing up, I had a lot of daydreams floating through my head. Daydreams of Glory! The lines above (from the beginning of the citation for the Medal of Honor) would be read to throngs of adoring, thankful citizens as my exploits and heroic feats of daring-do and close-combat were read and celebrated throughout the land.

Is it any wonder that I was drawn to the vocation of a warrior? [Read more...]

Because St. Ambrose Could Write Such A Hymn

Today is the Feast day commemorating Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan and one of the first four Doctors of the Church. The painting above depicts St. Ambrose with Emperor Theodosius of Rome. The reason they got together? The Emperor had ordered the massacre of 7,000 people in Thessalonica, and Ambrose demanded that he do public penance. [Read more...]

Because St. Barbara is the Patron Saint of Artillery

Yes, yesterday was Sunday but you know what else it was? It was the Feast of St. Barbara. As a former member of November Battery, 5th Battalion, 14th Marines, let me tell you something: This is a feast day celebrated throughout the entire US Armed Forces in the Artillery Community. Knowing that, doesn’t this prayer intention make more sense? [Read more...]