God and the Machine
Utterly astonishing. Here’s the real thing. Read more
Utterly astonishing. Here’s the real thing. Read more
Thanks for you messages and well wishes. My health’s improving, and I’m hoping to get back to work slowly. What’s been happening since I’m gone? Did I miss anything important? Let’s see, what’s been going on in my life for the past few weeks… I was mostly vegetative on the couch or in bed for two solid weeks, watching a truly epic amount of Planet of the Apes, as in the entire franchise: movies, TV show, and cartoon. You know what?... Read more
Today is two years since my father died. This is what I wrote then, July 10th, 2013. After a long final illness, my father finally passed away early this morning at the age of 90. Although he lived well and died at home, it was an emotional and physical rollercoaster at the end, and I was left trying to figure out the point of it all. Does it mean something, or is it just the final, cruel grinding down of a... Read more
This is “Christ in the House of His Parents,” painted by John Everett Millais in 1849 and one of the landmarks of the -Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood movement. It’s a masterpiece of symbolic naturalism. Everything in it has meaning. At the center of the action is the child Jesus. He’s cut his hand on a nail, and some of the blood has dropped to his foot, prefiguring the wounds of the crucifixion. The Blessed Mother holds out a cheek for him to... Read more
It’s been a rough few weeks here. I was sick, and that turned into pneumonia which I just can’t shake. Just to break things up and keep them interesting, we had a tornado, which knocked out power for days. I’m supposed to do nothing, which isn’t as easy as it should be. Thanks for your patience. God bless. Read more
Here you go, all Storified and everything. I plan to return to the task tomorrow morning. [View the story “Live-Tweeting @LaudatoSi Part I (ThomasLMcDonald)” on Storify] Read more
Tomorrow I will begin reading Laudato Sii, and I plan to tweet as I go. I’m already seeing the overheated freakouts online and it’s a sorry spectacle. Everyone needs to cut the crap, m’kay? It seems like all we do lately is replay the right’s reaction to Mater et Magistra and the left’s reaction to Humanae Vitae. American Catholics need to be a little less American, and a little more Catholic. In case you hadn’t noticed, America hates us. It is the... Read more
Scott Hahn’s St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology has a new publishing arm, and Emmaus Road Publishing has a new lease on life, thanks to their recent merger. To mark the occasion, they’re offering a free Scott Hahn book with your first order, deep discounts, and free shipping. The St. Paul Center produces Catholic Bible study lessons, books, and more. Their goal is to teach Catholic to be more scripturally literate as they read the Bible from the heart of tradition.... Read more
This bust of Pope Paul V by Bernini surfaced two years ago in a private collection after being lost for 100 years. Commissioned by the Pope’s nephew Cardinal Scipione Borghese in 1621, it was the first papal work of the 23-year-old artist. It remained in the Borghese family until 1893, when it was misidentified and auctioned off as the work of Alessandro Algardi. It’s been acquired by the Getty Museum and goes on display this week. Read more
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