2016-09-30T15:55:39-05:00

In a relativistic, anything-goes and anything-means-anything culture, the demand for gender equality is increasingly strident. First to clarify:  As a woman, I believe fiercely in gender equity.  That is, I believe that a woman who performs a job should receive the same wage as a man who performs the same job.  (This concept must be more clearly explained to the current occupant of the White House, who recently declared “Equal Pay Day” although the Obama Administration pays its male workers... Read more

2016-09-30T15:55:39-05:00

It’s a sad week for French Catholics, as the church of Saint-Jacques falls prey to the wrecking ball. For 140 years the church of Saint-Jacques d’Abbeville—a great Gothic landmark in northwestern France, on the Somme river in the Picardy region—has called people to prayer.  Saint-Jacques was built in the Gothic style in 1868-76; and its tower bell, called “Jacqueline”, is much older—dating back to 1737. During the First World War, the church and its steeple survived many attacks, even while... Read more

2016-09-30T15:55:39-05:00

I’ve seen this photo popping up around the blogosphere today:  Pope Francis’ zucchetto being swept away by a Roman windburst.  It’s pretty funny—Wouldn’t you like to title it? POST YOUR CAPTION IDEAS in the Comments section, and I’ll announce the winner on Facebook.  *    *    *    * Also in the blogosphere, news of the U.S.-based Papal Foundation’s visit to Rome this week.   About 120 members of the charitable group which supports the Pope’s charitable efforts around the... Read more

2016-09-30T15:58:09-05:00

And so it begins:  Pope Francis, following through on discussions which were held before his election to the papacy, sets out to reorganize the Roman Curia. According to a communiqué issued this morning by the Vatican’s Secretariat of State, the Holy Father has appointed eight cardinals from around the world to lead the reform of the Roman Curia.  The plan to review Church government was proposed during the General Congregations which preceded last month’s Conclave; and the group will study... Read more

2016-09-30T15:58:09-05:00

Today, bloggers and others are flooding Facebook, Twitter and other social media with articles about Hermit Gosnell, the Philadelphia abortionist who is on trial for operations at his abortion clinic, which has been called a “house of horrors.” Where, they ask, is the coverage in the mainstream media? If you are discouraged by the biased reporting of many mainstream media outlets, Catholic radio can help with that.  Every week I hear stories about lives changed, vocations awakened, and ordinary folks... Read more

2016-09-30T15:58:09-05:00

Now I ask you, Isn’t this little guy charming? This is an axolotl—a salamander originating from Mexico’s Lake Xochimilco.  Closely related to the tiger salamander, the axolotl is neotenic; that is, even as a mature animal it retains characteristics of youth.  In the case of the axolotl, neotony means it doesn’t undergo metamorphosis, so the adults remain aquatic and gilled. How did I first hear about this winsome and nearly extinct species?  Well, our pastor has two of them as... Read more

2016-09-30T15:58:09-05:00

The news was exciting:  2012 Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum was going to speak to an all-school assembly at Grosse Pointe South High School. Santorum, a Catholic social conservative who opposes same-sex marriage, had been invited by the student group Young Americans for Freedom, an organization of politically conservative students which has active chapters in both of Grosse Pointe, Michigan’s public high schools, Grosse Pointe North and South.  Young Americans for Freedom had raised $18,000 to pay for Santorum to... Read more

2016-09-30T15:58:09-05:00

I subscribe to Google Analytics. That means that I know everything about You, the Readers of this blog:  Where you live, what you read, whether you’ve been here before or you’re a first-time visitor, how many minutes you hover reading “Seasons of Grace” in the morning…. And I’ve come to regard my fascination with statistics as sinful. It’s gratifying to know that more people around the world know about what’s going on in this blogspace than knew, say, a year... Read more

2016-09-30T15:58:10-05:00

Jean Baptiste Lully is the only person ever known to have suffered Death By Conducting. The Italian-born composer who became the Surintendant de la musique de la chamber du roi (the Superintendent of Music to the King of France), Jean Baptiste Lully had a humble beginning:  He was born in Florence, Italy, the son of a working-class miller. From Dishwasher to Guitarist Lully was not well schooled; but with the help of a Franciscan friar, he learned basic techniques on... Read more

2016-09-30T15:58:10-05:00

OK, this is just a puzzle to me.  WHY IN THE WORLD would someone join Facebook, then disguise or hide his or her face? WHY would this elusive entity replace his/her profile pic with a bouquet of flowers, or a rock star, or some saint or public figure of olde, or a photo of his dog? AND WHY would this enigmatic soul mate adopt a fake name like “Padre Pio” or “Lovely Sun” or “IGotRabies” or “CookiesnCream”? AND WHY would... Read more




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