2016-09-30T15:55:14-05:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:55 pm   By

It’s been quite a belligerent weekend in the Catholic blogosphere, hasn’t it? First there was the Catholic Answers brouhaha, which was started in part by my post regarding the financial crisis looming at that great Catholic apologetics apostolate. Then there was Michael Voris, chest thumping, publishing the salaries of well known Catholic media personalities, then castigating them for earning wages which are commensurate with their professional achievement and marketplace value, and which are sufficient to support their families. Two seemingly... Read more

2016-09-30T15:55:14-05:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:55 pm   By

The Great Mufti of Syria, Ahmad Badreddin Hassou, would like to travel to Rome to attend Pope Francis’ prayer vigil in St. Peter’s Basilica on September 7. The spiritual leader of Sunni Islam in Syria was “deeply affected by the Pope’s appeal for peace in Syria” during last Sunday’s Angelus address, and sent a letter to the Apostolic Nuncio in Damascus, Mario Zenari, expressing his hope that he will be able to attend the vigil. According to Fides news agency,... Read more

2016-09-30T15:55:15-05:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:55 pm   By

Pope Francis has called on Catholics throughout the world to join in a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Syria, in the entire Mideast region, and throughout the whole world.  Join in prayer and fasting with Pope Francis next Saturday, September 7. Following is the message he sent, in Italian:   And here is the text of the Sunday Angelus address, courtesy of Vatican Radio: Dear Brothers and Sisters, Hello! Today, dear brothers and sisters, I wish to... Read more

2016-09-30T15:55:15-05:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:55 pm   By

What role should religion play in the affairs of the State? Here in the United States, Thomas Jefferson first used the now-familiar phrase in an 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptist Association.  In that letter, Jefferson referenced the First Amendment to the United States Constitution when he wrote: “Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate... Read more

2016-09-30T15:55:15-05:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:55 pm   By

Sometimes ordinary words and grandios ideas put on their Sunday best and go dancing, a tango of poetry and prose, and the journey is as important as the destination. N.D. Wilson’s latest book, Death by Living: Life Is Meant to Be Spent, is like that.  I found myself closing the covers but continuing the conversation, my imagination inflamed by Wilson’s vibrant storytelling. Lacking the denouement of a novel, Death by Living is Wilson’s personal journal, an intimate recounting of life... Read more

2015-05-21T10:53:11-05:00

Last updated on: May 21, 2015 at 10:53 am   By

Last month, I and many of my friends filed a complaint with Facebook against an aggressively anti-Christian Facebook page titled “Virgin Mary Should’ve Aborted”.  Each of us received the following standardized response: “Thank you for taking the time to report something that you feel may violate our Community Standards. Reports like yours are an important part of making Facebook a safe and welcoming environment. We reviewed the page you reported for containing hate speech or symbols and found it doesn’t... Read more

2016-09-30T15:55:15-05:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:55 pm   By

“Selfies” have become mainstream in 2013; and Pope Francis—happy to embrace the communication tools of the culture, and happy to get up-close-and-personal with the people—is not one to be left behind. Just this week, the Oxford English Dictionary announced that they’d added the word “selfie” to their on-line dictionary, along with a number of other new words which reflect society’s evolving love affair with technology and social media:  words like “twerk,” “phablet,” “emoji,” “TL;DR” and “srsly”. And just this week,... Read more

2016-09-30T15:55:15-05:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:55 pm   By

It was 1992 when country singer Billy Ray Cyrus first cradled his newborn daughter, Destiny Hope, in his arms.  She was perfect; and as he counted her tiny fingers and toes, he imagined great things for her future. She was given the name “Destiny Hope” because her parents believed she would do great things.  She acquired the nickname “Smiley” (later shortened to “Miley”) because as an infant, she smiled so much. It was important to Billy Ray that his new... Read more

2015-08-28T11:21:02-05:00

Last updated on: August 28, 2015 at 11:21 am   By

On August 28, we celebrate the feast of St. Augustine of Hippo, the North African convert who became one of Catholicism’s greatest educators after his conversion. I’ve posted several articles about St. Augustine (here and here and here).  I thought I’d round out the series with a few pics from some of his favorite hometown haunts. Back in 2003 or 2004, I had the privilege of leading a group of pilgrims to some of the fun spots in and around Rome.   One... Read more

2016-09-30T15:55:15-05:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:55 pm   By

An exhibit of twelve rare Marian embroideries is currently on display at the Royal School of Needlework in Hampton Court Palace in southwest London.  Called the “Loreto Embroideries”, the delicately crafted pictures came from a convent in Surrey and date from the early 20th century.  They are part of a larger exhibit titled “For Worship and Glory” and will be available for public viewing until November 2013.  In addition to the Loreto Embroideries, the exhibit features ecclesiastical embroidery including depictions... Read more

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