Rehearsing for the Easter Vigil tonight, a few of us couldn’t help but notice that the new missal translation has altered some of the baptismal rite. No longer do we reject “Satan…and all his empty promises.” It’s now “Satan…and his empty show.” And: the line “This is our faith” has also been removed. I was also underwhelmed by the line in the solemn intercessions for Good Friday that prayed for “loosened fetters” which, to my ear, sounds too much like... Read more
[Click here for readings.] Last year, I had the good fortune to interview a spirited nun from Armenia named Sister Arousiag. She is a Sister of the Immaculate Conception, and the mother superior of a convent in one of Armenia’s largest cities. There is almost nothing she doesn’t do. She’s a fierce, determined little woman who operates an orphanage, as well as a day care center for the elderly, and a summer camp program that serves over 800 orphaned children... Read more
Last night, as is our custom, our parish choir performed the epic “Seven Last Words” by Dubois. It was a stunning performance. Below is a rendition of the finale I found on YouTube. Skip ahead to about the 2:51 mark and you’ll hear the glorious concluding prayer, “We adore you O Christ and we praise you,” which was also sung during communion at my Mass of Thanksgiving five years ago. (Though the version our choir does is in Latin.) It’s... Read more
He was both beloved and derided, but his work was everywhere. I imagine there are very few Americans who have not seen a Kinkade painting, print, calendar, notebook, computer wallpaper, greeting card, potholder, Christmas ornament or coffee mug. He was also a devoted Christian. Details: Artist Thomas Kinkade once said that he had something in common with Walt Disney and Norman Rockwell: He wanted to make people happy. And he won success with brushwork paintings that focused on idyllic landscapes,... Read more
Details: Britain’s most senior Catholic cleric has called on Christians to wear a cross every day as “a symbol of their beliefs” and to combat the marginalisation of religion in modern society. The plea by Cardinal Keith O’Brien, head of the Catholic church in Scotland, to be made in his Easter sermon, comes as the Anglican archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, appealed for more people to attend church this Sunday – even if they are “a bit vague” about... Read more
From the New York Times: NBC News has fired a producer who was involved in the production of a misleading segment about the Trayvon Martin case in Florida. The person was fired on Thursday, according to two people with direct knowledge of the disciplinary action who declined to be identified discussing internal company matters. They also declined to name the fired producer. A spokeswoman for NBC News declined to comment. The action came in the wake of an internal investigation... Read more
I’ve only preached on one Good Friday. Here’s my homily from that occasion, delivered in 2008. Sixty years ago, the psychiatrist Viktor Frankl wrote a best-selling book about his experiences as a prisoner in Auschwitz. “Man’s Search for Meaning,” is considered to be a classic about the worst nightmare of the last century. Frankl describes how men, women and children coped with the horrors of the camp – how they were able simply to survive, day after day, week after... Read more
Ted Neeley, who played the title role in the film “Jesus Christ Superstar,” reprised it for a stage tour three decades later at the age of 63. Here he is in 2006. It’s something to see. Read more
You may remember his story from last week. Now, as Paul Harvey would say, the rest of the story: A few months ago Patrick Greene was an atheist who was threatening to sue Henderson County, Texas, if the county didn’t remove a Nativity scene from its courthouse lawn. Today he is a believer in Christ who underwent a radical change of heart that was catalyzed by the compassion of one Christian woman. In late 2011, Greene joined the fight against... Read more
The beautiful, haunting chant of Holy Thursday. Translation follows the video below. Sing, my tongue, the Savior’s glory, of His flesh the mystery sing; of the Blood, all price exceeding, shed by our immortal King, destined, for the world’s redemption, from a noble womb to spring. Of a pure and spotless Virgin born for us on earth below, He, as Man, with man conversing, stayed, the seeds of truth to sow; then He closed in solemn order wondrously His life... Read more
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