So what happens at Mass again? What makes it different? In Christ, time and space open up, like a passage to Narnia. I don’t mean that in some vaguely pseudo-mystical way. I mean it in cold, hard reality. . . . We were made to live with God, to see Him face to face, to walk with Him every evening in the garden. We weren’t made to live so separate. It hurts. We want to see the door, we want to... Read more
Update & thanks to the many people who have prayed for me this spring: We may have a solution. Saw Dr. Maybe on Friday for assorted testing, after which he proposed a trial run of a new prescription. Results so far: Astonishingly effective. We still need to figure out dosages, side effects, see how it goes over the long haul, etc. etc., not to mention the inevitable rehab. But it is, at least, a very strong start. *** Memorial Day.... Read more
This afternoon the IHM Homeschool Conference opens in Charlotte, NC. Carolina-region folks, go to it if you can. It’s free, so you can do as much or as little as you are able. This is a fantastic event — quiet, not overwhelming, with a retreat-like quality you can only get at a site like Belmont Abbey. Fr. Dwight Longenecker has two slots today (Friday) and Dale Ahlquist stars tomorrow (Saturday). How can you not want to go? *** Something cool to... Read more
In your frustration, loneliness, isolation, pain, turmoil, desolation, and death . . . there is nothing God can’t redeem. God who made everything out of nothing is not going to be thwarted. God who turned the ultimate evil into the ultimate good is not going to let your suffering go to waste. Don’t be afraid. Photo by Koustav2007 (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Read more
I got a note from Bryan Murdaugh this morning about my freshly-pressed column up at New Evangelizers, I am totally publishing it. You would, too, you know you would. Your article made its way into my inbox this morning, and once again, bravo! You have such an amazing way of bringing practical truths into the lens of things important for the faithful. It reminds me of who-knows-how-many-million young people (and their accompanying adults) I have reminded that Sunday Mass is... Read more
It’s come to my attention there are some parents of more than one child who do not know this potty-training method. You need to know this method. What you’ll need: A small child ready to be done with diapers. Not “ready” per his decision, but ready per medical advice and mother’s readiness. At least one older sibling who knows how the whole potty thing works. A bag of skittles. What you do: Every time the potty-training child goes potty in... Read more
Over at Amazing Catechists, I wade back into the religious education debates with a piece laying out what might be a philosophy of education, but really it’s just what I see happening. I start with a disclaimer: This isn’t a scholarly piece, and you could take the components I’ve put here and divide them out differently. (I tackled the subject from a completely different angle last summer, when I wrote about the Four Ways of Loving God.) Think of this more... Read more
Today’s topic: What are the pitfalls of the grab-a-priest method of securing a sacramental confession, and if not that method, when should you go to confession? First some basics. You need to go to confession if you’ve committed a mortal sin. And you should do it ASAP. In the meantime, make a sincere act of contrition, that is to say: Pray to God and tell Him you are sorry for committing that sin. Example: God, I am very sorry for... Read more
Julie Davis comments here on the pending execution of a Christian woman for the crime of not adhering to her father’s religion.* I grew up with the usual American public school version of history, which went Greek Democracy, Roman Republic, Magna Carta, Pilgrims, 1776, and look everything’s great! It’s a tempting narrative for good reason. When you have an awareness of the way God is acting in your life, you begin to see at key moments what the Grateful Dead... Read more
UPDATE: I’ve gone and done it. Check the “Satire” category to see the results of my efforts to date. Advise me. Sometimes I fantasize about making an anonymous satire blog, but of course I never do it, since, well, I have enough things to go to confession for without adding, “I published 98% of my uncharitable thoughts on the internet.” I’m keeping it at a cool 10%, thank you very much. Meanwhile, the inimitable Larry D. is back to work at... Read more
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