In 1897 Francis Pharcellus Church, who had been a war correspondent during the Civil War, was working as an editor at The Sun, a prominent New York City newspaper. In 1897 an eight-year-old girl by the name of Virginia O’Hanlon asked her father whether Santa Claus really existed. Her father—Dr. Philip O’Hanlon, a coroner’s assistant from Manhattan’s Upper West Side—encouraged her to write to The Sun to ask the question. “If you see it in The Sun,” he said, “it’s... Read more
It’s that time of year–when we sing about the birth of the newborn King…. or else we don’t. If you are irritated this year by the disappearance of Christmas’ religious significance in the public square, you’ll get a chuckle listening to these “Progressive Christmas Carols.” God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen We wish you happy holidays, whoever you may be So merry Christmas, Kwanzaa, Chanukah, or heck all three We’ve modernized these jingles for the massive bourgeoisie Love, The Updated Christmas... Read more
It’s Gaudete Sunday–the Third Sunday of Advent, when we light the rose candle, and the priest wears rose-colored vestments. It’s a symbol of our joy, as Christmas draws near. Just for fun, one perspective on the traditional Advent calendar. More seriously, from the archives: Here’s my explanation of the significance of Gaudete Sunday in the Church’s liturgical season. Read more
Have you seen “Mary of Nazareth”, the latest feature film from Ignatius Press? Last week, Zenit carried my review of the film, which has just been released on DVD, and my interview with Alissa Jung, the German star who played the role of Mary, the Mother of God. Now, though, I want to tell you about the book. Mary of Nazareth: The Life of Our Lady in Pictures by Father Donald Calloway is based on the movie–but it includes much more. It’s a beautiful... Read more
William E. May, moral theologian who taught at The Catholic University of America from 1971 through 2008, has died at the age of 87. Dr. May was the Michael J. McGivney Emeritus Professor of Moral Theology at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at The Catholic University of America. He had taught at the Institute for 17 years, from 1991 to 2008. Before that, he taught moral theology at The Catholic University of America from 1971 to 1991.... Read more
Yes, he is the Vicar of Christ, leader of the Catholic Church in the entire world. But today, Pope Francis is remembering his priestly ordination. It was on December 13, 1969 that he was ordained by Archbishop Ramón José Castellano, Archbishop of Córdoba. This morning, Pope Francis asked for prayer for himself, and for all priests. Here, from Catholic Online, a prayer for a priest: O Jesus, our great High Priest, Hear my humble prayers on behalf of your priest, Father [N]. Give him a... Read more
It is with great pleasure that I welcome my friend Russell E. Saltzman, a former Lutheran pastor and a former journalist, into the Catholic Faith. In the years since we became internet friends, Russ–who has been a columnist for First Things–has shared delightful stories about his friendship with the late Fr. Richard John Neuhaus. I was pleased, a few months ago, to review Russ’s book Speaking of the Dead: When We All Fall Down, a book of funeral homilies which offered... Read more
On Tuesday, President Obama (or his speechwriters) made a mistake that has the Christian world snickering. Speaking about his immigration policy at a town hall meeting in Nashville, the President said, “The Good Book says don’t throw stones at glass houses, or make sure we’re looking at the log in our eye before we are pointing out the mote in other folks’ eyes.” The problem is, the Bible doesn’t say anything about glass houses. Although glass had been invented as... Read more
Excuse me, but isn’t there something special happening in the next couple of weeks? We’re almost halfway through Advent, and you know what I’m missing? Christmas lights! I miss colored lights on all the shops, as we drive through the business district. I miss music–I miss singing along to the strains of “O Holy Night” wafting through the department stores and blaring from speakers along the sidewalks. I miss Santa’s boisterous “Ho, ho, ho!” in the mall, the smiles of shoppers... Read more
I love a beautiful book. And A Year With the Church Fathers is certainly beautiful, with its gilded pages, its ribbon marker, its beautiful art, its presentation page! I could smell the soft leather when I tore the wrapper off the package. I found the meditations easy to read and understand. Author Mike Aquilina explains how he arrived at the very clear, easily accessible translations: “The meditations are taken from classic translations of the Fathers. I’ve modernized the language to make it... Read more
Seasons of Grace
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