“Can you help us?” Those four words, spoken to Chris Bell in 1979, have led to hundreds of babies and young mothers in the ensuing years finding shelter, life skills, compassion and a future. Bell was living and working in New York’s Times Square at the time, helping homeless and runaway kids there. Though he’d encountered a lot of different people in his work, he admitted to me during an interview on Christopher Closeup that he was “taken aback because... Read more
If I told you a statue of the Virgin Mary – specifically Our Lady of Guadalupe – played a role in the plot of a modern sitcom, you’d probably assume it would be the butt of some religious joke. In the case of episode 3 of Matthew Perry’s new show, “Go On,” you’d be wrong. The statue, though played for a laugh initially, actually provides a moment of poignancy and grace in the story. “Go On” is about a sports... Read more
The following was written by The Christophers’ Jerry Costello: It’s that time of year again. Come Oct. 4, or thereabouts, people all over will celebrate the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi by bringing their pets to church for a blessing. This will include not only the “usual” pets–dogs, cats, fish, birds–but some of the more exotic ones as well: hamsters, geckos and the like. (One Franciscan priest even celebrated the feast day by blessing a boa constrictor, and you... Read more
It’s not that unusual for an actor to thank God when winning an award. It was a first, however, when Jonathan Jackson thanked “the monks of Mount Athos for ceaselessly praying for the life of the world” while accepting his fifth Daytime Emmy for his role as Lucky Spencer on “General Hospital.” What was even more unusual was the fact that Jonathan, whose nondenominational Christian background had taught him that “organized religion was oppressive and evil,” had recently joined the... Read more
The following is an entry from The Christophers’ new “Three Minutes a Day” book: “It is [your critics] that are really the losers, for is anything sweeter than the inward joy that comes from thinking well of others.” That quote was spoken by St. Thérèse of Lisieux who placed great emphasis on focusing on people’s positive qualities, even people who aggravated her. It’s an attitude that resonated with Marc Foley, O.C.D., author of the book The Love That Keeps Us... Read more
For four seasons, the TV series “Fringe” has been a family drama under the guise of a sci-fi and horror show, with the themes of man, science and God running throughout. Specifically, it presented viewers with questions about how far is too far when it comes to creating scientific breakthroughs. Can human beings break the laws of physics and nature in the name of scientific progress without negative consequences? The character who originated many of those experiments, Dr. Walter Bishop... Read more
Singer Andy Williams has passed away at age 84 after a year-long battle with bladder cancer. The crooner is best known for his hit, “Moon River,” as well as his TV show which introduced the Osmond family to America. One of his other beloved hits is “The Village of St. Bernadette” which I’m embedding below. Rest in peace, Andy Williams, and may perpetual light shine upon you. Read more
One of the earliest celebrity supporters of The Christophers was the actor Danny Thomas (Make Room for Daddy) who went on to found St. Jude Children’s Hospital, which treats kids with cancer and other diseases at no expense to them or their families. St. Jude’s is one of the most respected charities in the United States, and it has been a godsend to so many people during one of the darkest periods of their lives. To raise funds and awareness,... Read more
I’m busy proofreading the new “Three Minutes a Day” book and also packing because The Christophers are relocating to different office space in our building, so no time for big blog posts right now. But here’s some lighter fare for people who like “Star Wars” and/or baby videos. John Williams “hath charms to soothe the savage breast.” A little background from ABC News: The “Star Wars” theme song as a lullaby? For 7-month-old Sebastian Leyack of Santa Rosa, Calif., yes,... Read more
Envy, jealousy and murder. All the makings of a good children’s story, no? If you don’t think so, consider the children’s classic Snow White in which the Queen, who is envious and jealous of Snow White’s beauty, tries to kill her with a poison apple. The reason the story is popular, however, is because love conquers all in the end with Prince Charming saving Snow White’s life through true love’s kiss. So there you have a fairy tale addressing some... Read more
Christopher Closeup
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