Details: While many spiritual leaders preach the importance of compassion, Pope Francis gives us all yet another example of what it really looks like to live a compassionate and caring life. Just weeks after a photo of him kissing a man with a rare skin disorder moved many to tears, another picture was taken showing the pope embracing a man with a severely disfigured face. The Pope spoke to him and blessed him after his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican... Read more
From Catholic News Service…Longtime FOB Lino Rulli has a few thoughts on Pope Francis and what the secular media keeps getting wrong about him—and why he’s okay with that. Take a look. Read more
The comedy legend has a new book out, and Tony Rossi has a preview: During his high school years, Tim was playing in a football game when he got hit full force in the center of his back. He writes in his book that he lay on the ground for quite some time, unable to talk or “feel anything below my neck let alone move.” Nobody seemed too concerned about him, though, since they told him to just “walk it off.” When... Read more
From England comes this commentary, with one composer’s reflection on the problem and a solution… I have decided to stop writing congregational music for the Catholic Church. Those who follow these things will be aware that liturgical music can be a war zone in Catholicism. We need not detain ourselves over the reasons and fault-lines in the ongoing debates and struggles, but it is clear to me that there is too much music being created, at the same time as... Read more
Those words, evidently, were among the arguments put forward for letting women serve as bishops in the Church of England. Really? Well, it seems to have worked. Fr. Dwight Longenecker has the whole story. Read more
It’s popping up around Europe, evidently, and this website tells the story of how a quintessentially Irish ad was made by some New Yorkers. For those who are Irish, or who just love great storytelling, this video shows how it is done with style, taste and a wee bit of wit. Read more
Recognize the fellow here? It’s John Lennon. Details: What might some of the rock ‘n’ roll era’s greatest stars have achieved and what might they look like now, if they had not died before their time? To explore these tantalizing questions, Sachs Media Group partnered with photo restoration and manipulation company Phojoe to create this gallery of images. It is a heartfelt tribute to the memory of beloved artists who helped shape generations of music fans, in order to keep their memory... Read more
With the issue of clerical dress and attitudes a hot topic, my blog neighbor Pat McNamara reminds us of this report from The Brooklyn Eagle in 1890: In each parish there is a pastor and one, two or three assistants, according to the size and needs of the congregation. Mass has to be said every morning, beginning generally about 6 o’clock, sometimes twice on Sunday, with a sermon, Sunday school and vespers, after which, during the week, the sick have... Read more
From Catholic News Agency: In an effort to equip future priests to better encounter the mass media, one seminary in Rome now provides a hands-on workshop in social communications. “We need to be part of the world-wide conversation that is happening on social issues, on religion, on faith – and we can do that by being able to give educated and effective responses to the media when asked,” explained instructor Ashley Noronha in an interview with CNA Nov. 19. The... Read more
From his Wednesday audience: Speaking to the the faithful during the weekly General Audience in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis said the Church accompanies us on our journey of conversion for the whole of our lives, calling us to experience reconciliation in its communal and ecclesial dimension. He said that we receive forgiveness through priests who are the servants of this sacrament, and that they must recognise – he said – that they too are are in need of forgiveness... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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