Cheap Grace and Other Thoughts of Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Last updated on: March 23, 2025 at 12:11 pm By Mark Wilson

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (February 4, 1906 – April 9, 1945) was a German Lutheran pastor, theologian, participant in the German resistance movement against Nazism and founding member of the Confessing Church. 80 years ago he was executed in Flossenbürg concentration camp by hanging at dawn on April 9, 1945, (source Wikipedia) On the anniversary of his death here are some of his thoughts on the Christian life that is perfect for Lent or anytime of the year. Time is the most precious gift in our possession, for it is the most... Read more

So This Is How I’m Going To Die

Last updated on: April 7, 2025 at 8:14 am By Mark Wilson

“So this is how I’m going to die.” These are the words my wife, Kristin Wilson, thought as she was choking on her salad. She hadn’t chewed it correctly and it was lodged in her throat. She couldn’t swallow and she couldn’t cough it up. She couldn’t breath and was starting to feel lightheaded. That is when the thought came to her, “This is how I’m going to die.” And now I am to die. – Daniel 13: 43 She... Read more

Jesus the Greatest of Poets

Last updated on: March 21, 2025 at 12:32 am By Mark Wilson

In a previous post ‘Mysterious Lives of Christ’, I quoted from LIFE OF CHRIST (1923) by Giovanni Papini That book is in the public domain. Here is another passage from this book that you can freely download, and copy, and reuse and do whatever you want with, without restriction as it is once again in the public domain. That is the joy of the public domain and there are lots of good Catholic books forgotten about for years that you... Read more

Anniversary Of When Prehistoric Monsters Invaded Chicago

Last updated on: March 22, 2025 at 9:27 am By Mark Wilson

April 1 will be remembered by historians and Chicagoans as the day the prehistoric monsters invaded Chicago. It is known as Pesce d’aprile Day in Italian. Plus some other related and nonrelated things happen on that day as well. Click on the links to read the fuller stories of the events of that day. Starting off with memorable events a couple of Happy Birthdays’ are owed to Wallace’s. 1875 – Happy Birthday to Edgar Wallace, British writer of sensational detective,... Read more

The Mysterious Lives of Christ

Last updated on: March 21, 2025 at 12:31 am By Mark Wilson

Matthew, Mark Luke and John give us in their writings the life of Jesus Christ, the founder of the Catholic Church and the main protagonist of the Bible. Through the centuries many individuals have recounted the live of Christ with their own individual outlook on the man and his mission. Each book is a commentary on the gospels in a fresh creative way that helps us see the gospels more clearly. Pope Benedict XVI, in his book. Jesus of Nazareth:... Read more

When Freedom and Love Were One: The Annunciation

Last updated on: March 21, 2025 at 12:31 am By Mark Wilson

Lent is full of high holy feast days. St. Patrick is honored among the Irish. The patron of the universal church, St. Joseph, is honored by the whole church and especially Italians. And during this month of penance and sacrifice his wife Mary is remembered for her fiat to God. It is now 9 months of shopping days before Christmas. Here is Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen sharing with us some thoughts on that event. The Worlds First Love (1952)... Read more

Pope Leo XIII on Devotion to St. Joseph

Last updated on: March 19, 2025 at 7:07 am By Mark Wilson

This encyclical is in the Public Domain. And I share it with you on St. Joseph’s Day QUAMQUAM PLURIES ENCYCLICAL OF POPE LEO XIII ON DEVOTION TO ST. JOSEPH 3. The special motives for which St. Joseph has been proclaimed Patron of the Church, and from which the Church looks for singular benefit from his patronage and protection, are that Joseph was the spouse of Mary and that he was reputed the Father of Jesus Christ. From these sources have... Read more

Let Every Irishman Read It! Poems For St. Patrick’s Day

Last updated on: March 17, 2025 at 7:16 am By Mark Wilson

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day here is a public domain collection of Irish poems. LET EVERY IRISHMAN READ IT! (1 8 7 O) Written by-P. M. KING, And must thy lyre, so long divine, Degenerate into hands like mine.” A POEM St. Patrick’s Day, To-day ; Irishmen! once more our day has come round. This day our people greet where’er they’re found, Whether in the palace, or the humblest cot, To them ’tis all the same. It matters not.... Read more

What True Devotion Is

Last updated on: March 14, 2025 at 8:09 am By Mark Wilson

For your spiritual edification Here is a selection from St. Francis de Sales classic work of spirituality Introduction to the Devout Life. Perfect for Lent or any other time of the year. Let all our employment be to know GOD: the more one knows Him, the more one desires to know Him. And as knowledge is commonly the measure of love, the deeper and more extensive our knowledge shall be, the greater will be our love: and if our love of GOD were great, we should love Him equally in pains and... Read more

Embracing Lent: Love, Mercy, and Welcoming the Least

Last updated on: March 11, 2025 at 10:11 am By Mark Wilson

Here we are in Lent! Listen to us for a moment.-Paul VI Listen to the voices of the vicars of Christ as they give us thoughts to meditate and chew upon with our hearts and souls during this great holy season of Lent. We ask you to go out to meet poor Lazarus, in his hunger and misery. Papal Thoughts About Lent Make yourself his neighbour, so that he can recognize in your eyes the eyes of Christ welcoming him,... Read more