If you’ve never read my friend Amy Ekblad’s blog Blessed By God, may I suggest that you run over there right away and soak in some of the love? Amy is such an inspiration to me. She’s a busy homeschool mom with ten eleven children. Amy’s blog is peppered with photos of smiling children laughing, playing, drawing, dancing, praying, spending happy days together. Amy’s just delivered her eleventh child here on earth (she’s got plenty of them in heaven, too).... Read more
Two-year-old Patrick is battling leukemia—and while his prognosis is good, the treatments have caused him to lose his hair. So Patrick’s dad Jon and all of his friends have shaved their hair, so that they would be bald, too. Patrick’s dad is a member of former President George H.W. Bush’s security detail—and this week, the 89-year-old former president joined the others in going under the razor to show their solidarity with young Patrick. He has been empathetic; the senior Bushes... Read more
A shameless plug, since I’ve spent a lot of time working on this conference. I’d love to have you, if you’re in the neighborhood! Register now to guarantee your seat. On Saturday, August 10, Ave Maria Radio will bring together renowned experts on Islam from around the world to discuss and debate the question, “Is Islam a Religion of Peace?” The one-day symposium will be held in the Student Center at Eastern Michigan University. The Pew Forum on Religion... Read more
The frenetic six-day youth festival that is called “World Youth Day” is going on this week in Rio de Janeiro. More than a million young people have come together for prayer, catechesis, and joyful celebration of their Catholic faith. This is big news—right? The world watched yesterday as Pope Francis arrived in town and addressed the crowd for the first time. The Holy Father was featured on the cover of Time Magazine around the world: in Europe, the Middle... Read more
From what I read in the headlines yesterday, I thought all the pope talked about on the plane en route to Rio de Janeiro was unemployed youth. Oh, and he apologized because he “doesn’t do interviews”, although he doesn’t know why. Today, the Vatican Information Service offers a much fuller report. Of course, down-to-earth as he’s shown himself to be, he took the time to personally greet each of the journalists who accompanied him on the aircraft. He expressed his... Read more
OK, now I’m worried. I did not see the parade which was broadcast live this afternoon, when Pope Francis’ motorcade rode through the streets of Rio de Janeiro; but I saw the concern for his safety which was evidenced on social media sites. “Very poorly done,” said one person, speaking of the Pope’s compact Brazilian-made Fiat Idea wending its way along the crowded streets. “That was exceedingly dangerous.” And then, the already chaotic scene deteriorated, as the exuberant crowd pressed forward... Read more
Here’s what I’m thinking: There’s way too much “Mary” in the mix at my house, and it’s time to start factoring in a little “Martha.” I’ve been spending a lot of time writing and reading and thinking. There’s some doing that needs to get done. I know that Jesus likes me to spend time with Him in contemplation. I’m pretty sure He also likes it, though, when I fulfill my obligations to others: to my husband (with a warm dinner),... Read more
In 2011 Agnieszka Radwanska, Polish tennis star who is ranked fourth in the world, served as ambassador for a Catholic youth group’s campaign, “I’m not ashamed of Jesus.” In a video produced by the group Agnieszka posed on the tennis court with the name of Jesus (“Jezus”) written in tennis balls. Two years later, the star posed again—this time for Wprost, one of Poland’s most popular news magazines—sitting poolside surrounded by tennis balls. This time, though, something was missing: her... Read more
Mount St. Mary’s (Emmitsburg, Maryland) and Ursuline College (Pepper Pike, Ohio) both sustained major damage this weekend: One from a fire, the other from a tornado. * * * * At Mount Saint Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland, a Friday evening lightning strike ignited a fire which damaged the historic Chapel of the Immaculate Conception. A student reported the lightning strike and subsequent fire, which was largely confined to the chapel’s bell tower. The... Read more
Getting a lot of play in the blogosphere today: Father Z’s report that the former Crystal Cathedral has been renamed “St. Callistus.” Father Z has the inside track on a lot of Catholic news—but, uh, not this time. Actually, the Cathedral—once the renovation is complete and it’s converted to a Catholic worship space—will be called “Christ Cathedral.” The new name was announced in June 2012, after a contest to select the best name for the towering glass church. St. Callistus,... Read more
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