O Mary, Star of the Sea, light of every ocean, guide seafarers across all dark and stormy seas that they may reach the haven of peace and light prepared in Him who calmed the sea. As we set forth upon the oceans of the world and cross the deserts of our time, show us, O Mary, the fruit of your womb, for without your Son we are lost. Pray that we will never fail on life’s journey, that in heart... Read more
From the superlative “Sunday Morning” at CBS, via correspondent David Martin and producer Mary Walsh: a moving look at wounded warriors healing from their past by making music. Watch. This is television to move the heart and stir the soul. Read more
From The New York Times: When Pope Francis was elected in March, Bridget Kurt received a small prayer card with his picture at her church and put it up on her refrigerator at home, next to pictures of her friends and her favorite saints. She is a regular attender of Mass, a longtime stalwart in her church’s anti-abortion movement and a believer that all the church’s doctrines are true and beautiful and should be obeyed. She loved the last two popes, and... Read more
Seeing this image of me and the pope on the blog a couple days ago, a priest writes: “Where can I get one of those?” First option: go to Rome and hope he notices you. Second option: Amazon.com. A company called HistoricalCutouts.com has a wide array of famous people, beautifully rendered in cardboard, including Pope Francis ($49.95 plus shipping). Read more
It could easily qualify as the picture of the week—maybe, of the year. Last Wednesday, making his way through the crowds after his general audience at the Vatican, Pope Francis caught sight of a man. This wasn’t just another face in the crowd. The man was seriously disfigured, his skin covered with tumors. It was later reported that he suffered from neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that causes pain and thousands of tumors throughout the body. It can also cause loss... Read more
From a 30-year-old, Addie Zierman, in The Washington Post: The statistics are in. The millennials are leaving the church, and nobody seems quite sure what to do about it. I am one of them. Born in 1983, I belong to the wispy beginnings of the new generation. I turned 30 this year, and I’m raising two small boys. I hold within me both cynicism and hope. I left the church. I came back. Here is what I can tell you about... Read more
Yes, there is such a thing. An Argentine composer introduced it a number of years back, but it’s gaining new life and new audiences, now that we have an Argentine pope. (It was played in concert at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City about 15 years ago.) Now it’s found its way to Rome. Take a look below. Read more
From CNS: For the first time, the bones traditionally believed to be the relics of St. Peter the Apostle will be on public display for veneration. Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization, said the veneration of the relics at the Vatican is a fitting way to conclude the Year of Faith Nov. 24. Writing in the Vatican newspaper Nov. 8, the archbishop, whose office organized many of the Year of Faith events, said millions... Read more
Kathy Schiffer has taken note of Bishop Jenky having a little fun in the Wild West, hot on the heels of the image of Pope Francis donning a bright red clown nose. Lest we forget, bishops—including the Bishop of Rome—have a long history of this sort of thing. Especially when it comes to hats. They love hats. See below. Read more
Details: According to figures compiled by the Vatican, more than 2,600 priests and consecrated female religious leave their orders every year – and the office that oversees religious life has cited lack of fidelity to the Church’s sexual teachings and disagreement over the reservation of priestly ordination to men as a leading reason. In all, 13,123 men and women were dispensed formally from their vows in religious life, a requirement for returning to the lay state, between 2008 and 2012.... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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