Image: by Aristides Artal Today is the great saint’s feast. From the Novena to St. Joseph: Saint Joseph, you are the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate you. You know that I have confidence in you and that, after Jesus and Mary, I come to you as an example for holiness, for you are especially close with God. Therefore, I humbly commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me,... Read more
This is almost worth the price of a ticket itself. The geniuses behind this idea describe it this way: On Saturday, March 8, 2014, Quince Imaging teamed up with the Cleveland Cavaliers to produce a one-of-a-kind projection display event. Using a combination of 3D mapping techniques and video content produced by the Cavs own QTV team and Think Media, Quince transformed the court surface and surrounding screens into an immersive video environment. Utilizing the latest revision of Pandoras Box version 5.5 and the... Read more
From CNS: Priests in the Diocese of Rome, led by Pope Francis and organized by a Vatican office, will mark “24 hours for the Lord,” offering eucharistic adoration and the sacrament of penance in St. Peter’s Basilica and three historic churches in the center of Rome March 28-29. The 24 hours will begin at 5 p.m. March 28 when Pope Francis leads a penitential liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica and hears confessions. Then, beginning at 8 p.m., the Basilica of... Read more
Some intriguing possibilities here from Msgr. M. Francis Mannion, via PrayTell: The Church continues to be at a loss as to how to advance the roles of women in its administrative structures. While the Church does not see its way to the priestly and episcopal ordination of women, some responsible scholars have argued that there exist no doctrinal reasons impeding women from being ordained to the diaconate. Likewise, the question of appointing women to the College of Cardinals–since this... Read more
I’ve said it before: this guy slays me. Check out the CNS video below, wherein the pope who likes to ride the bus offers some advice on how to spend your morning commute. The CNS summary: If you get a seat on a crowded bus, you should use your travel time to read a few lines from the Bible, Pope Francis told members of a suburban parish filled with people who commute to Rome for work. “A Christian’s first task... Read more
An interesting observation via Word on Fire, from Dominican Br. Patrick Mary Briscoe: It may well be the case that your parish priest preaches homilies that are—how do we say it gently?—uninspiring. Maybe you’ve come to him to ask a serious question about the faith concerning a teaching or mystery you’ve really struggled with, and he’s failed to offer satisfying answers. Perhaps he lacks charm and charisma, or falls short when it comes to offering the parish visionary leadership. He... Read more
Details from The Star-Ledger in Newark: Acting with uncustomary speed, the Vatican has expelled a New Jersey man from the priesthood for repeatedly defying a lifetime ban on ministry to children. Michael Fugee, 53, who attended youth retreats and heard confessions from minors despite signing a court-sanctioned decree forbidding such activities, has been returned to the lay state, said Jim Goodness, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Newark. “Very recently all the procedures were completed,” Goodness said Monday night. “He... Read more
Details, from Religion News Service: In the American imagination, to be Irish is to be Catholic. The data, however, is clear: most Irish-Americans are not Catholic, and Irish-Americans make up a minority of Catholics in America. Nearly half of Irish-Americans are Protestant; a third are Catholic. The proportions are more equal (roughly 40 percent each) between those that were raised Catholic or Protestant. Many Irish-Americans, particularly in the South, are evangelicals. In fact, Michael P. Carroll, a dean at Wilfrid Laurier... Read more
Some bishops are pushing the idea, according to CNS: Several Australian bishops said they would support re-establishment of year-round Friday abstinence in Australia, following the lead of England and Wales. Auxiliary Bishop Peter Elliott of Melbourne, Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett of Lismore and Bishop Michael Kennedy of Armidale are among prelates who said they support Friday abstinence from meat — without sanction of sin — almost 30 years after it became non-compulsory in Australia. In 2011, the Catholic bishops of England... Read more
He used that now-famous (or infamous) phrase during his homily this morning: In his homily at Holy Mass on Monday, 17 March, Pope Francis preached on mercy. Commenting on the day’s readings from the Prophet Daniel (9:4-10) and the Gospel of Luke (6:36-38), the Pope explained that “Jesus’ invitation to mercy is intended to draw us into a deeper imitation of God our Father: be merciful, as your Father is merciful”. However, he added that “it is not easy to... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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