Check ’em out: As a user of (pick one) Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, Tumblr, Pinterest or whatever has been invented as I’m typing these words, I make the following resolutions for the New Year: 1.) I will treat everyone with charity and give everyone the benefit of the doubt. No matter how rude they are. And no matter how many times they post annoying comments that make me want to stop typing, put on my coat, drive to their town, knock on... Read more
Some inspiration to kick off 2014, from a Filipino writer who distills key teachings of the pope down to 10 resolutions that all of us should try to keep: He preaches against gossip, reminds us to finish our meals, and even tells us not to fear marriage. Described as the “world’s parish priest,” Pope Francis goes beyond abstract theology, and gives us advice we can use daily. What lessons from him can we bring into 2014? Rappler compiles 10 of... Read more
Some remarkable news broke late yesterday: Only hours before the law was to take effect, a Supreme Court justice on Tuesday blocked implementation of part of President Obama’s health care law that would have forced some religion-affiliated organizations to provide health insurance for employees that includes birth control. Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s decision came as Catholic-affiliated groups from around the nation rushed to federal courts to halt the provision. It was the latest of several such efforts. Sotomayor acted on a... Read more
I was here: A friend sent me this shot. I was a freshman in college, attending the wedding of some classmates from high school. If you can’t pick me out, I’m the one who looks like he’s going for a job interview. Yes, those are bell bottoms. And yes, that’s a massive leather band on that watch. And no, I don’t recognize myself, either. Ah, good times. Happy New Year! Read more
From my blog neighbor Frank Weathers: Let me just skip you straight to the Wikipedia citation for champagne, complete with footnotes for you to follow up on: Contrary to legend and popular belief, Dom Pérignon did not invent sparkling wine, but he did make important contributions to the production and quality of Champagne wine.[6][7] The oldest recorded sparkling wine is Blanquette de Limoux, which was apparently invented by Benedictine Monks in the Abbey of Saint Hilaire, near Carcassonne in 1531.[8] They achieved this by bottling... Read more
From the Catholic Review in Baltimore: This Christmas was particularly joyous for Father Albert Scharbach, who celebrated its liturgies just a few weeks after his ordination as a Catholic priest for the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. Photo: Tom McCarthy/Catholic Review “I feel like myself again, but much more,” Father Scharbach said of his Nov. 15 ordination. “I am humbled and grateful to be part of the gracious exception (the ordinariate) in the life of the church.”... Read more
From the vault: my homily for tomorrow’s feast, from 2008… +++ Years ago, my wife and I decided, just once, to spend New Year’s Eve in Times Square. We weren’t brave enough to stand outside in the cold with noisemakers and funny hats. Instead, we got a package at the Marriott, and had dinner in a ballroom overlooking the square, and at midnight, the whole place went crazy. The confetti, the balloons, the blizzard of paper cascading outside our window,... Read more
Yeah, I’m sure I’ll look like that eventually. Meantime…there’s this: Read more
Photo: Bob Brawdy/Tri-City Herald Details from the Tri-City Herald in Washington state: A Muslim exchange student lives with a Mormon family and attends a small private Catholic high school. It’s not a sitcom script. It’s a real-life cultural immersion experience for 16-year-old Muhammad Janjua. Janjua, who goes by Umer, is living, learning and forging new relationships almost 7,000 miles from his home in Islamabad, Pakistan. The people he lives and learns with can’t imagine not having him around. “He made... Read more
From HuffPo: Pope Francis has picked up yet another year-end honor which may be his most surprising yet! Esquire named him “The Best Dressed Man of 2013,” chiefly for the symbolism of his papal style choices. Pope Francis has largely avoided splendor, and is most commonly seen in a plain white robe and skullcap. He chose the simplest papal ring out of those proposed to him, and passed over the red leather shoes that were previously a customary part of papal dress. The magazine explains: ... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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