Heroism, pure and simple:  Dramatic dash cam video shows a car creep through a red traffic signal at a busy intersection in northern Illinois, forcing other vehicles to slam on the brakes and let it pass. It approached 39-year-old Randy Tompkins, who was driving a pickup truck late last week in Dixon, about 100 miles west of Chicago. Tompkins threw his truck in reverse to avoid a head-on collision, then jumped out of his truck and leapt through the passenger-side window of the moving car, police... Read more

Periodically, people ask me, “What is your favorite part of being a deacon?” Well, first, I think, is preaching. I’m fortunate to have a lot of opportunities to do that here. But my second favorite thing is baptisms. There is a small green book that priests and deacons use for the rite of baptism. It has everything spelled out in there, all the readings and prayers. On the last page of my own copy, I have written “Margaret Flanagan, July... Read more

I was wondering when someone would get around to writing about this, and here it is, from The New York Times: Across the country, religious leaders whose politics fall to the left of center, and who used to shun the political arena, are getting involved — and even recruiting political candidates — to fight back against President Trump’s policies on immigration, health care, poverty and the environment. Some are calling the holy ruckus a “religious resistance.” Others, mindful that periodic... Read more

Some great wisdom from Bishop James Schuerman of Milwaukee: I remember my mother telling me that when she was a little girl growing up in rural Virginia, she was fascinated by the beauty of the goldfinches that would fly around her home. She wanted to catch one to keep as a pet. She would stand very still in the place where the goldfinches frequented and hold out in her hand some seeds of grain to attract the birds. Though she... Read more

From a homily delivered last month at the ordination of deacons by Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, of Vancouver: In the Upper Room Jesus tells his disciples they are not just servants, but invited to something deeper, and more profound: they are called to friendship. “No longer do I call you servants, Jesus said to the twelve, but I have called you friends” (Jn 15:15). The Lord makes us his friends. This is the most beautiful part of being a... Read more

Have you met any yet? Check out this profile of a different kind of priest and seminarian, via TIME: Millennial priests are products of the Church, and the 21st century. They use Facebook and Snapchat, and text their friends funny GIFs. Some brew their own beer, protest at Black Lives Matter rallies, or go to the shooting range with Marine buddies. Some are comfortable with legalizing recreational pot. They are more likely to wear their clerical attire than jeans in... Read more

Note: Today is the feast of St. Ephrem, noted deacon of the Church. The Prayer of St. Ephrem is taken in the Byzantine Church during the Liturgy of the Presanctified (Liturgy of Pope St. Gregory the Great, taken by both Catholic and Orthodox alike during this period), during all services of the Divine Office during Lent and at various other times during the day recommended at morning, noon, evening – upon arising and before retiring for night night—Source.  Read more... Read more

Details:  Over 130 imams from across the United Kingdom have said they will refuse to perform the traditional Islamic funeral prayer for the London and Manchester terror attackers. The ritual is normally carried out for every Muslim, regardless of their actions. In what is a highly unusual move, Muslim religious leaders from different schools of Islam — both Sunni and Shia — issued a statement late Monday saying their pain at the suffering of the victims of Saturday’s attacks had... Read more

This video, uploaded two days ago to YouTube, reportedly shows militants attacking statues in the Philippines. Details from The Daily Caller:  A group of reported Islamic State terrorists destroyed a Catholic church in what appears to be the Philippines, according to footage released by the ISIS-affiliated Amaq news agency Sunday. The video shows several members of the terrorist group entering the church and proceeding to destroy the various icons and vestments inside. They later pile up various pictures, texts and other religious... Read more

From CNA:  As government forces pry apart the Islamic State’s three yearlong grip on Mosul, Muslims and Christians have united to rebuild a damaged monastery. A Facebook page called “This is Christian Iraq” – dedicated to connecting Iraqi Christians and maintaining the faith amid ISIS threat – recently posted a series of photos showing the joint effort. The May 27 post said that young Muslims from the northern neighborhood joined Christians at the Monastery of Saint George, participating in cleaning... Read more