Rediscover Jesus

Last updated on: August 12, 2015 at 6:47 am By Kathy Schiffer

Yesterday in this space, I opened the floor for Matthew Kelly–featuring a chapter from Matthew’s new book Rediscover Jesus: An Invitation as part of the Dynamic Catholic blog tour. Today, my own thoughts. Matthew Kelly’s popularity is, no doubt, due to the fact that his writing is so clear, so accessible, so upbeat and true. Rediscover Jesus follows on the heels of his best-selling Rediscover Catholicism, and offers helps to grow in holiness and in closeness to Christ. It works like... Read more

“A Good Invitation Fills Us With Joy” – A Guest Post from Matthew Kelly

Last updated on: August 9, 2015 at 6:18 pm By Kathy Schiffer

Matthew Kelly is an internationally acclaimed speaker, bestselling author, and business consultant. His books have been published in twenty-five languages, have appeared on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestseller lists, and have sold in excess of fifteen million copies. And today, while I’m away at a conference, I’m featuring an essay from Matthew Kelly here on Seasons of Grace. This is Chapter 3 from Matthew’s newest book, Rediscover Jesus. If you like what you’re reading, watch for tomorrow’s post here... Read more

Do You Take God for Granted? This Book Is the Antidote.

Last updated on: August 24, 2015 at 10:23 am By Kathy Schiffer

You “know” that you are loved by God. You know it in the same way that you know grass is green, and water is wet, and you should eat plenty of green leafy vegetables. It’s a message that’s been ingrained, and yet somehow, it’s kind of…. well, dare I say, boring? Not that it’s unimportant, but it’s so easy to regard it as so much religious jargon, or just accept that as fact, and go on with your life. That’s what... Read more

#BlackLivesMatter. And 80% of Babies Aborted By Planned Parenthood Are Black.

Last updated on: August 8, 2015 at 8:47 pm By Kathy Schiffer

You’ve heard that Planned Parenthood offices are most frequently located within a short distance from African-American neighborhoods. You may already know that a large majority of babies aborted in the United States are black. But just in case your next door neighbor doesn’t know about this institutional racism (or doesn’t believe it), I’ve invited Dr. Elizabeth Lee Vliet to explain that scandalous fact to my readers. Dr. Vliet is the recipient of the 2014 Ellis Island Medal of Honor, which pays... Read more

A Song Fit for a Pope: Charles Gounod’s Great Pontifical Anthem

Last updated on: August 8, 2015 at 10:58 am By Kathy Schiffer

So there is such a thing as a “Papal Anthem”? Who knew?! The Papal Anthem–more formally titled the Pontifical Anthem and March–is played to mark the presence of the Pope or one of his representatives, such as a nuncio, and on other solemn occasions. The first eight bars are played whenever the Vatican’s flag is raised. Despite the title of the YouTube video I’ve included here, the Vatican does not call this a “national anthem.” It is a composition, they... Read more

The 2016 Debates: Leadership and Inexperience Shall Kiss

Last updated on: August 7, 2015 at 8:50 am By Kathy Schiffer

Well, the first Republican presidential debate was nothing, if not entertaining! With a field of 17 candidates, Fox News Network divided the contenders into two groups: an early (5 p.m.) assemblage of seven lower-ranking candidates; and a prime-time (9 p.m.) line-up of the top-ranked challengers in recent polls. The Early Debate I was away from home during the 5 p.m. debate, which pitted the lower-ranked candidates against one another; but former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina has been crowned the winner... Read more

Bogus Criminal Charges Dropped Against Pro-Life Counselor

Last updated on: August 6, 2015 at 12:47 pm By Kathy Schiffer

Albany Medical Surgical Center is an abortion clinic in northwest Chicago, part of the Family Planning Associates Medical Group; and according to their website, they provide abortions up to 23.3 weeks. The Center has been in the news for health violations and punitive fines. More recently, the Albany Medical Surgical Center falsely accused a pro-life sidewalk counselor with a criminal battery charge. That charge was tossed out of court yesterday after the State chose not to prosecute charges that even... Read more

Conceiving a Child Via First-Class Mail? That Doesn’t Sound Like Fun!

Last updated on: August 20, 2015 at 7:47 pm By Kathy Schiffer

Making a baby together is fun, right? Not for one Italian couple. The stork is paying them a visit via long-distance: They’re conceiving via a sperm bank in Spain. . According to a report published in Spero News, an Italian man sent his semen to a gamete bank in Spain, where scientists injected it into a female ovum to create a live embryonic human being. That tiny embryo was then frozen and dropped in the mailbox. The frozen embryo was mailed (yes,... Read more

Secretly Filming Animal Abuse Is Okay, Court Rules; But Not Infant Abuse?

Last updated on: August 5, 2015 at 3:35 pm By Kathy Schiffer

Apparently, it’s okay to secretly film abuse of cattle, chickens and other animals at agricultural facilities. But apparently, it’s NOT okay to secretly film abuse of unborn fetuses in Planned Parenthood clinics and research centers. And I’m trying to understand exactly WHY. * * * * * In Boise, U.S. District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill ruled on Monday, August 3, that the First Amendment protects animal rights activists who secretly filmed... Read more

WYD Registration Just Opened–and 45,000 Already Signed Up

Last updated on: August 5, 2015 at 7:33 am By Kathy Schiffer

On July 26, Pope Francis opened the registration for World Youth Day 2016. With a touch to his iPad, the pontiff was the first to register for next year’s event. “Today,” he said, “…we open registration for the thirty-first World Youth Day, to be held next year in Poland. I invite the youth of the world to live this pilgrimage that will be going to Krakow.” L’Osservatore Romano reports that within the first 24 hours, more than 45,000 young people have... Read more