So this week at Mass I saw a priest pick a fight with a group of little girls (not mine). He stood up before the final blessing and announced to the congregation that a thing these girls were doing during Mass needed to stop. The behavior in question was one of those liturgical quirks that people like to argue about. If it’s to your taste you argue for a spirit of charity and broadmindness, and point out the many reasons... Read more
Every evening at nine, Fitz kids and parents gather in the living room and talk to each other for an hour, and then we go to bed. It’s not a rule, it’s a thing that happens. There are usually two or three cats present, and always one dog. The dog is not my dog, and I almost never provide any particular dog care. So I was puzzled one evening a few years ago when I realized the dog was standing in... Read more
I live in Gunlandia. My new neighbor phoned the police to inquire about my longtime neighbors, who apparently shoot at the squirrels in their yard with a .22. Law enforcement gently explained that since we live in the county, as long as no one gets hurt and no one else’s property is damaged, it’s perfectly legal. Though weapon of choice varies a bit (we just send out the dog to chase them off), I’d say the neighborhood’s split three... Read more
People ask me writing questions sometimes. This weekend I was reminded of an essential skill that aspiring or frustrated writers often overlook and that you absolutely must possess if you want to get paid for your writing: The willingness to completely re-write your work. When you write for yourself, you can write whatever you like. When other people are paying you to write, you have to write what they like. The way this works is that either you or your prospective employer... Read more
You know you’re raising them right when two different children independently invent these within an hour of getting the fire going in the woodstove: Spekulatius + Chocolate Coins + Roasted Marshmallows = St. Nicholas Day S’Mores. These: Plus these: Plus marshmallows roasted over the heat source of your choice: = Catholic childhood done right. You’re welcome. Photos: Spekulatius via the Aldi blog: https://blog.aldi.us/6-surprising-specialty-holiday-items-you-must-try/ Chocolate coins via the Aldi website: https://www.aldi.us/en/tips-explore/holiday/winter-seasonal-items/winter-seasonal-detail/ps/p/choceur-chocolate-coins-2/ Roasting Marshmallows by Nina... Read more
The other morning I dreamt my editors here at the Catholic Channel had me to dinner, then put on masks and pulled out fake guns (brief moment of wondering: Um, those are fake, right?) and told me to blog something about my life. It was more amusing and complex a dream than just that, but for blogging purposes, that was the essence of it. The reason for my recent absence from the internet is simple: Normal weekly absence for teaching,... Read more
Over at the new FB group for readers of this blog, a couple guys have made tentative stabs at the slippery slope fallacy discussion question. For those who are scratching heads, here’s a quick rundown of what the fallacy is and what it isn’t, and how to tell whether the slope you’re standing on is real or pretend. (If you’re in my class on Friday and you’re reading this ahead, thanks, yes, you’ve just seen the lecture notes, I expect... Read more
There are even ten steps involved, mind the Caravaggio rule. At my editor’s suggestion I’ve gone and created a Facebook group for readers of this blog: https://www.facebook.com/groups/JenFitz/. It’s open to the public, thus allowing you to converse with your fellow readers without having to go so far as to be friends with them. To make it interesting, I decided to throw out a discussion question each week or so. Our inaugural topic concerns the slippery slope fallacy, go take a look... Read more
There is no getting around the fact that the terrorists in Paris took advantage of an assortment of accommodations for refugees and immigrants in order to murder their hosts. Abuse does not disprove right use, but right use doesn’t excuse abuse, either. What’s a civilized nation to do? This is not a new question for the United States. *** My grandmother’s grandmother, sixteen at the time, got on a boat in the late 1800’s and traveled from Germany to visit... Read more
So over at CatholicMom.com I’ve got a Gospel reflection up today, and it’s really good. But here’s the real thing that happened this morning: I opened the readings, and I was all over Maccabees. How timely given recent world events! I really need to sit down and read Maccabees! I really need to review my history of the Greek occupation! What a providential reading, Lord. Then I ran through the psalm, awfully fast, kinda nodding, sure yeah, that fits. Psalm always fits,... Read more
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