This thread popped up on Twitter Friday, and I think it’s worth noting. A priest from the Archdiocese of Chicago describes a day-in-the-life: It’s my day off and I am getting ready to offer the funeral Mass and cemetery service for a gentleman who died somewhat unexpectedly. This means I have to shift the plans I made with my parents today, which are already shifted because it’s a Friday in Lent so I will be going to our Soup and Stations... Read more
A homily from The Vault: We have just heard the climax of the Greatest Story Ever Told. We hear it every Palm Sunday – and we will hear it again on Good Friday. It is a story of monumental suffering, and love, that has been proclaimed from pulpits around the world for centuries. It speaks for itself. But I would like to share just one thought about something that is a vital and meaningful part of this weekend. It is... Read more
Details: Strolling through St. Peter’s Square, the heart of the Roman Catholic Church, Steve Bannon surveyed the enemy camp. The populist political consultant has a new target in his crusade against “globalism” — Pope Francis. “He’s the administrator of the church, and he’s also a politician,” said Bannon, a former adviser to President Donald Trump. “This is the problem. … He’s constantly putting all the faults in the world on the populist nationalist movement.” Bannon alleges that Francis has mismanaged... Read more
The CNS video is astonishing: The story: At the end of a highly unusual spiritual retreat for the political leaders of warring factions, Pope Francis knelt at the feet of the leaders of South Sudan, begging them to give peace a chance and to be worthy “fathers of the nation.” “As a brother, I ask you to remain in peace. I ask you from my heart, let’s go forward. There will be many problems, but do not be afraid,” he... Read more
A deacon friend writes: Well, this is a first for me. The new pastor at the parish put out the Holy Week and Triduum outlines for himself, the other priest and myself. And lo and behold, he is doing the Exsultet. Now, I do not have a professional voice, but it is passable. And I didn’t challenge him in the meeting, I just asked if that was correct and he said, “Yes, I’m doing the Exsultet.” When he asked me... Read more
It’s only been out there less than a day, but already Benedict XVI’s 6,000-word letter on the sex abuse crisis is stirring reactions. Many are quick takes from social media. A few who have absorbed it have offered more thoughtful analysis. CNN’s Delia Gallagher summed up the reactions succinctly: His comments on the sex abuse crisis seem certain to inflame tensions between conservative Catholics, who largely blame homosexuality and lax sexual ethics for the scandal, and liberals, who say there... Read more
The op-ed editor for The New York Post says he has read the as-yet-unpublished essay and describes its contents: The retired pontiff has drafted a 6,000-word document in his native German and aims to publish it in a monthly periodical for clergy in his home region of Bavaria. Benedict says the document, an English translation of which I’ve reviewed, is meant to assist the Church in seeking “a new beginning” and making her “again truly credible as a light among... Read more
Details from The Hollywood Reporter: The Washington Post has moved to dismiss a defamation lawsuit brought by Kentucky teenager Nicholas Sandmann, who on Jan. 18 quickly found himself the talk of social media when a group of students at Covington Catholic High School came face-to-face with Native American activists at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial. When observers saw a video clip of the confrontation, some focused on Sandmann, wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat and sporting a seemingly smug grin while... Read more
Yes, indeed. I received an email today from my Salesian priest friend Mike Mendl, eager to share some recent statistics about his order: As of 12/31/18, the Salesians are present in 132 countries (depending on how you count “countries”). There are 14,614 confreres (128 bishops, 14,056 professed, and 430 novices), of whom 1,392 are coadjutor brothers and 28 permanent deacons. The Society is divided into 90 provinces that include 1,802 canonically erected works or houses and 113 other presences. Turns out, they aren’t the only ones. From the Dominicans’... Read more
A deacon dropped me a line this afternoon: Something came to mind during our retreat this past weekend. We gathered the members of our ordination class for a photo. Each of us felt the loss of our brother Phil who passed a little over a year ago. We hold an annual memorial service for our brothers who have fallen asleep. It will be part of what we must prepare for. Thinking back over the years, these are not generally well-attended.... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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