From The New York Times: Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis breezed through her 500-room German palace, keys in hand and a bracelet of rubies and a Virgin Mary charm on her wrist. She stopped to admire the ornate chapel where her great-grandmother-in-law Crown Princess Helene had died in bed and where her friend Benedict XVI, the pope emeritus, once said Mass. Then she headed down to the medieval cloister where she preferred to say her daily prayers. In the crypt... Read more
This isn’t a sermon, but it could serve as a model for great public speaking. Here’s a gorgeous piece of work by the peerless Jon Meacham, beautifully eulogizing George H.W. Bush at Washington’s National Cathedral this morning. Do we realize what we have lost — not just in our leaders but in our public rhetoric? No matter what your political leanings, it can’t be denied that this is a great eulogy, elegantly delivered. Watch and listen to a master at... Read more
Traditional notions of where Jesus was born are probably wrong, according to scholars: Jesus wasn’t born in a stable, and, curiously, the New Testament hardly even hints that this might have been the case. Author Ian Paul goes on to explain where this idea of a stable probably originated, and then deconstructs some other popular ideas: In the first place, it would be unthinkable that Joseph, returning to his place of ancestral origins, would not have been received by family... Read more
Well, writer Michael Arceneaux seems to think so. Let’s hear him out: Almost 25 years after its release, “All I Want For Christmas Is You” is not only her biggest selling single ever, it outpaces holiday staples such as “Feliz Navidad” and “Jingle Bell Rock.” In 1994, Mariah Carey was quoted saying that in recording the song, she meant for it to be “fun.” Fun it is, but the song truly encapsulates what has made Mariah Carey such an enduring hitmaker. But... Read more
The same weekend a shrine was desecrated in Brooklyn, a vandal attacked statues in Phoenix. Details: A homeless man is in jail after police say he walked into a Phoenix church and damaged several century-old statues. “I preached on it yesterday,” said Rev. Michael Weldon of St. Mary’s Basilica in downtown Phoenix. “After the mass, the people came over and knelt and many of them were weeping.” According to Phoenix police, 35-year-old Devon Thomas entered the church around 1 p.m.... Read more
I’ve never heard of a case quite like this. It happened in Russell, Massachusetts: David Baillargeon, a deacon at Holy Family Parish Roman Catholic church in Russell, claims he was reprimanded for saying a prayer during Mass on Sunday for a deacon in Buffalo, New York, who has called for the resignation of that diocese’s bishop. Baillargeon spoke out Monday against the church’s handling of clergy sexual abuse, arguing that more needs to be done to investigate such cases, including in Western Massachusetts. Baillargeon,... Read more
Here’s the first image of the new deacons, ordained by Bishop Robert Baker on December 1, 2018, at the Cathedral of Saint Paul in Birmingham. I can’t think of a better way to begin a new liturgical year than with a big new class of deacons. A complete list of names: Congratulations, brothers, and welcome! Ad multos annos! Read more
Details: A man urinated on and then knocked over two statues of angels guarding the Virgin Mary in front of Our Lady of Consolation Church, Williamsburg, at 4 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 2. The statues broke into pieces, but the figure of the Virgin remains unharmed. Surveillance video caught the violent act as the man, approximately 30 years old, approached the statues, relieved himself on them and then forcefully knocked over the two statues. Police are looking for the suspect in... Read more
Hollywood star Chris Pratt offered some timely wisdom last night at the conclusion of Disneyland’s Candelight Processional — which included Pratt narrating the Christmas story. He’s been outspoken before about his religion — most notably at the MTV awards. But his off-script remarks at the conclusion of this Disney tradition were an unexpected and touching testament of faith. Give a listen below. via ytCropper Read more
I’ve seen this in my own parish in Queens: more women (or varying ages) showing up for Mass with some sort of head covering or veil. A decade ago, you’d almost never see it. Now, you do. The numbers are small — a dozen or so at a Mass — but it’s noticeable. Some insight, from Birgit Jones at CatholicMom.com: A resurgence in the optional devotion of wearing a mantilla, or chapel veil, has many people in the pew scratching their... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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