2016-09-30T16:00:00-05:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:00 pm   By

A man’s gotta eat, right? In an economic downturn, that’s sometimes difficult.  Some people who are willing to work find that there are no jobs available.  Stepping in to help put food on the table are a plethora of community food banks, soup kitchens, government assistance programs, and charitable assistance programs. But this week the spotlight has been turned on another type of food program:  the community kitchen. That’s because rocker Jon Bon Jovi and his wife Dorothea have opened... Read more

2016-09-30T16:00:00-05:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:00 pm   By

Facebook users can now follow in the footsteps of Jesus, with help from a new on-line game.  Journey of Jesus:  The Calling—the first-ever video game based on the life of Christ—launched on May 15, 2012.  The new video game, created by Lightside Games, follows last year’s highly successful Old Testament-themed adventure, Journey of Moses.”  To play the game, Facebook users can simply type “Journey of Jesus: The Calling” into the search bar.  Registration is simple and free.  Players can choose... Read more

2016-09-30T16:00:00-05:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:00 pm   By

Awww….  The Detroit Zoo has just introduced its newest attraction, baby Bulgan—a three-week-old Bactrian camel. Weighing in at 102 pounds at birth, Bulgan is the offspring of mom Suren and dad Rusty, both four years old.  Bulgan stands about three feet tall on skinny legs, and his coat is soft and grey.  His twin humps (Bactrian camels have two humps, not just one like their cousin the dromedary) are soft now, composed mostly of skin and hair; but in six... Read more

2016-09-30T16:00:00-05:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:00 pm   By

Well, I’ll bet Mr. Obama is sputtering into his beer.  Just as it seemed things were getting kinda quiet on the religious liberty front, along come the Catholics to stir the pot.  By now, you’ve heard the news:  Forty-three Catholic dioceses and organizations filed suit today, asserting that the HHS Mandate is unconstitutional.  Dioceses including Washington, New York; the Michigan Catholic Conference (representing all the dioceses in the state).  Universities including The Catholic University of America and—yes!!—Notre Dame.  High schools,... Read more

2015-08-17T09:01:09-05:00

Last updated on: August 17, 2015 at 9:01 am   By

It was my privilege last month to attend a Hollywood screening of For Greater Glory, with a talented cast including Andy Garcia, Eduardo Verastegui, Ruben Blades, Eva Longoria and the young Mauricio Kuri.  The film, which opens in theatres on June 1, was screened before an audience of broadcast and print journalists; then the following day, we were given the opportunity to interview actors Andy Garcia, Eduardo Verastegui and 14-year-old Mauricio Kuri, and director Dean Wright. My full review of... Read more

2016-09-30T16:00:00-05:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:00 pm   By

Adoration of the Magi.  The Birth of Venus.  The Mystical Nativity. These are among the most famous of the works of Sandro Botticelli, Renaissance artist who died 502 years ago—on May 17, 1510.  Botticelli was a contemporary of Michelangelo (who enlisted Botticelli to paint part of the ceiling in the Sistine Chapel) and Leonardo da Vinci.  He was considered one of the best painters of the 15th century in Italy, and worked for the House of Medici political dynasty.  Botticelli... Read more

2016-09-30T16:00:01-05:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:00 pm   By

When I was a child, I once heard my mother talking with a friend about sex. Not the “oh my gosh!” kind of sex talk. You see, the woman and her husband were very devout; and her complaint was that after they had sexual relations he would pop up, kneel beside the bed, and pray. Every time. I don’t know whether he intended it to be a prayer for forgiveness, but that’s how she took it. She felt—rightly or wrongly—that... Read more

2016-09-30T16:00:01-05:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:00 pm   By

I am SO PLEASED, and this was not even my story! A few days ago, Patheos blogger and NRO writer Nancy French published an article about her recent visit to Books-A-Million with her children in tow.  Near the children’s section, in plain view, were an assortment of provocative books featuring obscene and near-pornographic covers.  (Click here for the original article, including photos of some of the featured titles. This kind of stuff makes me crazy.  Besides that, I wanted to... Read more

2016-09-30T16:00:01-05:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:00 pm   By

Pope Benedict was scheduled to make a pastoral visit to La Verna on May 13.  The monks and sisters there waited eagerly for his arrival; but inclement weather (a heavy rainfall) necessitated the cancellation of that part of the trip.  I imagine it was the difficult spiral climb up that mountain that could not be negotiated during a heavy rainstorm. *     *     *     *     * St. Francis is most often associated with the Italian village  of Assisi.  And fair enough:  Assisi was... Read more

2016-09-30T16:00:01-05:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:00 pm   By

We spent another grace-filled Mother’s Day with my mother-in-law, Ruth Schiffer. After ninety-four years of hard work, her knees have failed her; but her spirit is vibrant and loving. She never complains, and I know that she spends her days in prayer for all of us, her family. Now that she’s homebound, she watches the Mass on television—once, twice, three times each day. She prays the Divine Mercy chaplet. So on Sunday, we enjoyed her company. We played dominos, ate... Read more

TAKE THE
Religious Wisdom Quiz

What king sought Isaiah's prayers when facing Assyrian invasion?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Browse Our Archives
TRENDING AT PATHEOS Catholic
Faith Like A Child
Of Spirit And Flesh
The Gospel In Action: Healing, Love, And Community...
Great American Media and Great Point Studios Join...
How to Beat Summer Seasonal Affective Disorder
I Care About Other People. It's Terrible that...
view all Catholic blogs