If you want a sense of what this feast today is all about, you need to hear the story of Jim Schmitmeyer’s grandmother. Fr. Jim Schmitmeyer is a priest and writer from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, and in one of his books he describes the last days of his grandmother, who suffered from Alzheimer’s. “Everything had grown completely strange to her and nothing was familiar,” he wrote. She no longer recognized anyone, didn’t know where she was, and only spoke... Read more
The New York Times takes note: Religious institutions often see themselves as countercultural — outposts in an increasingly secular society that challenge the culture with views and practices that are no longer mainstream. But inevitably, culture seeps in, affecting how clergy and laypeople dress and pray and behave toward one another. A new study — the latest version of a regularly conducted survey of American congregations — finds that houses of worship, like the broader culture, are becoming increasingly informal, and... Read more
From The New York Times: The Republican-controlled Missouri legislature has enacted one of the most stringent waiting periods for women seeking abortions, overriding a veto by the state’s Democratic governor, Jay Nixon. The bill, which will take effect next month, increases to 72 hours, from 24, the amount of time a woman must wait to undergo an abortionafter first receiving counseling. It does not make exceptions for rape or incest. The vote came late Wednesday night at the end of a... Read more
CNS tweeted this shot this morning, announcing: This is being billed as “first ever #selfie with #PopeBenedict.” Taken by an Italian seminarian, Giuseppe Ricciardi. Read more
From NCR: As part of a series of diocesan changes, the bishop of Bridgeport, Conn., announced Tuesday plans to repurpose his nearly 9,000-square-foot home and possibly relocate his diocesan offices but said he will leave solutions to larger pastoral questions to Fairfield County’s first synod in 33 years. In a “state of the diocese” address at All Saints Catholic School in Norwalk, Bishop Frank Caggiano discussed current administrative challenges ($32 million in diocesan debt), progresses (the 2014 fiscal year is... Read more
From CNS: Among the men and women Pope Francis was set to unite in marriage were Catholics who have been living together as well as couples who already have children.The pope, who is the bishop of Rome, will preside over his first wedding ceremony as pontiff during a nuptial Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica Sept. 14. The event, which will see 20 couples from the Diocese of Rome celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage, was organized by the vicariate of... Read more
Part of my homily for the ten year anniversary, on September 11, 2011: +++ I think perhaps that forgiveness – like conversion – is a journey. The human heart isn’t necessarily converted over night. We don’t all have that electrifying moment on the road to Damascus. For many of us, it grows out of what Flannery O’Connor called “a habit of being.” It happens over a lifetime. Conversion is a daily choice. So, is love. And so, I believe, is forgiveness.... Read more
This may be a first for a pontiff. From the BBC: Argentine football club San Lorenzo has announced it will name its new stadium after Pope Francis. The pontiff has supported the Buenos Aires-based team since he was a boy. San Lorenzo, one of the oldest teams in the Argentine Football Association, is planning to build a new stadium in Boedo, a working-class neighbourhood in the Argentine capital. The new venue will be built on land seized from the club... Read more
The now-famous first fatality of 9/11 delivered these remarks the day before he died, at FDNY Engine 73, Ladder 42, Bronx, NY. *** Good morning, everyone.May the grace of God the Father, peace of God the Son, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.We come to this house this morning to celebrate renewal, rejuvenation, new life. We come to thank God for the blessings over all the years – the good work that’s been done here and especially the last few... Read more
For those who read this story yesterday and saw the poignant video, more details today from The Tennessee Register: As William Carmona lay gravely ill in a San Antonio hospital bed, he repeatedly questioned his classmates from nearby Assumption Seminary: “Where is Bishop Choby?” “When will he get here?” And finally: “How many more hours until he ordains me?” Carmona, a fourth year Theology seminarian entering his final year of preparation for ordination as a transitional deacon this fall and... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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