Three weird ways to practice your French: 1. Siri! Ideal for pronunciation practice. Change the language setting to French (or whatever you want to practice, I suppose). You get a double-confirmation of your pronunciation, because you can see what Siri thought you said (results may amuse), and you get an attempted answer, because Siri’s so helpful that way. Works great for Siri-genre everyday phrases, like Quel temps fait-il, Siri? or J’ai faim, Siri. Plus she’s so much fun to talk... Read more
If you’re running late on saying your Chaplet of Divine Mercy today*, consider offering it for Bishop Jugis of Charlotte, NC. A friend writes: In case you haven’t seen this yet, there’s some serious controversy over in Charlotte. Links at the bottom of the news article also link to the diocesan newspaperI have spoken on the telephone with Bishop Jugis’s administrative assistant, and the first thing she said to me (she actually returned my earlier phone call) was that it... Read more
Yesterday’s post on religious freedom provoked an interesting combox discussion that comes down to a single question: Does a good end (the elimination of a horrible disease) justify xyz coercive measures? It was an ironic debate in so many ways, including the bit about how I have a novel draft sitting on my laptop which features, among other heroic ventures, a benevolent despot implementing all kinds of coercive measures to stop the spread of an epidemic. I’m a hopeless American... Read more
So there are these people at your parish who fail to meet spec. Too much bacon, not enough Mass-going, and sheesh have you seen they way they ______? At New Evangelizers today, I propose that you who have your act together quit whining and make yourself useful for a change. What do you do with a parish full of out-of-shape Christians? Well, you can throw a temper tantrum, but that’ll just tip your hand — everyone will find out you’re... Read more
Let’s not delude ourselves: The United States has never quite lived up to her ideals in the civil liberties department. Compared to the competition, of course, the US Constitution was and remains quite the breakthrough. If we’re going to have to constantly fight the oppressiveness-reflex, give me a country where we can do it via lawsuits any day. But why is it so, so hard to just live and let live? Let’s do a test. I’ll list a contemporary challenge... Read more
Over at the Catholic Writers Guild blog, I follow-up to yesterday’s film recommendation, since I might need to clarify a thing or two before my readers start gasping: I recently recommended a film that, on its face, is exactly the sort of thing I don’t approve. Laden with profanity, the story follows a handful of crass, immature, impulsive boys on a trip through adolescence gone wrong, with no firm moral grounding for a finish. If our criteria for “Catholicity” is... Read more
The feast of the Annunciation is also the feast of St. Dismas, for reasons that Taylor Marshall explains here. “Dismas” is one of the names traditionally ascribed to the penitent thief who was crucified alongside our Lord. It’s only fitting that such a saint be commemorated under all his aliases. On the 19th we observed the solemnity of St. Joseph, the patron of happy death because he died, it is said, with Mary and Jesus beside him. So did... Read more
From my Daily Roman Missal this morning, some thoughts on prayer that were just the kick in the pants I needed: The wonder of prayer is revealed beside the well where we come seeking water: there, Christ comes to meet every human being. It is he who first seeks us and asks us for a drink. Jesus thirsts; his asking arises from the depths of God’s desire for us. Whether we realize it or not, prayer is the encounter of... Read more
Sick here. Not quite ER sick, but definitely Lay down and don’t blog sick. Prayers appreciated. I’ll be back at it as soon as I’m able. Thanks! Read more
Elizabeth Duffy poses the question, “When Will My Work as a Catechist Bear Fruit?” Take a look at her post, and then I’d like to answer that question with a story I first shared a couple years ago, and which is no less true today. In other reprints apropos to Betty Duffy’s post: For those who didn’t see it when it first ran, here’s my answer to the “slacker parents” situation. And here I am again, arguing not just for... Read more
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