And, it’s the first to have the official blessing of the Catholic Church. From the National Catholic Register: Readers may recall a recent post about the offensive Penance App that came out in December that makes a mockery of the Church. Well, iPhone users now have a Church-approved App that could actually be beneficial to their soul – Confession: A Roman Catholic App – for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Developed in South Bend, Ind. by Little I Apps,... Read more
Well, who’d a thunk? How long until they get their own ordinariate? From the Religion News Service: The Vatican announced a new initiative aimed at promoting dialogue between theists and atheists to be launched with a two-day event this March in Paris. The Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Culture will sponsor a series of seminars on the theme of “Religion, Light and Common Reason,” at various locations in the city, including Paris-Sorbonne University. The events will conclude with a party for... Read more
My friend Pat McNamara tells a story about being at St. Patrick’s Cathedral about 12 years ago. It was the feast of St. Therese of Lisieux, and they had this large portrait of her hanging to one side, over a side altar. After mass, as Pat was getting ready to leave, he noticed an elderly man praying very fervently before the picture. He was distinguished looking, with a shock of white hair. Pat thought he looked familiar, but couldn’t place... Read more
I have to think a lot of this may apply, as well, to the practice of contemplative prayer. From the New York Times: Over the December holidays, my husband went on a 10-day silent meditation retreat. Not my idea of fun, but he came back rejuvenated and energetic. He said the experience was so transformational that he has committed to meditating for two hours a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, until the end of March.... Read more
I’m sure this is raising a few eyebrows around the world: As a young priest, Pope Benedict put his name to a document calling for the Church to seriously investigate the obligation to priestly celibacy. Joseph Ratzinger was one of the signatories of a 1970 document calling for an examination of priestly celibacy which was signed by nine theologians. The memorandum was drawn up in the face of a shortage of priests and other signatories included Karl Rahner and the... Read more
The Wall Street Journal tracked him down in Los Angeles for a brief interview. Details: The film is loosely based on the nonfiction book by journalist Matt Baglio, which details the experiences of Father Gary Thomas, an American priest from San Jose, Calif. who travels to Rome to become a Vatican-certified exorcist. “The Rite” opens nationwide on January 28. The Wall Street Journal: Much of the film portrays a skeptical Colin O’Donoghue having a crisis of faith. Did you have... Read more
“If only 15% of Catholics go to Mass on a given Sunday, look around and see how many of them are old. Even the 15% who are there won’t be there for very long. The solution is simple: we must return to the supernatural realities of the historic faith and evangelize like the Apostles of old. The big difference is that the Apostles knew their targets were pagans and the pagans knew they weren’t Christians. We’re dealing with a huge population... Read more
Another Dolan is making his mark on the Church — this one, from behind microphone. From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Vince Lombardi was the unofficial pope of Green Bay, and Mike McCarthy is a good Catholic boy. And while there is no tangible evidence that God is a Packers fan, it can’t hurt to fill the pews on Super Bowl Sunday. Maybe the efforts of local broadcaster Bob Dolan will help, too. Former WISN-AM (1130) radio host Dolan already had... Read more
That, according to a study by the Pew Research Center. Details: There are about 2.6 million Muslim adults and children in the United States (0.8 percent of the U.S. population) in 2010. That figure is expected to rise to 6.2 million (1.7 percent) in 2030, predicted the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life report released Thursday. Most of the growth will be due to immigration and higher birth rates among Muslims. Christians are, however, expected to still... Read more
Matt Archbold’s got a little list. And it’s worth sharing and spreading around: 1) Whispered by a father in the pew behind me to his children who were being a little noisy: “When we get to the car I’m testing all of you on what the gospel was. And if you get it wrong you’re dead.” 2) Whispered by my daughter minutes before going up for her First Communion: “Dad, I think I’m gonna’ throw up.” (She did. Our parish... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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