She stands 33 feet tall, her body bronze and red in the winter sun, slashed open to reveal her skull, her tissue, and her developing fetus. “The Virgin Mother” is arguably the ugliest statue of Mary ever created. The creation of internationally acclaimed British artist Damien Hirst, the controversial work stands on the historic Old Westbury estate belonging to real estate mogul Aby Rosen; and Rosen’s neighbors are not happy about it. They’re so unhappy, in fact, that a lawsuit... Read more
Joan of Arc was a courageous young Frenchwoman who lived in the fifteenth century–a hero in her native France, and a Roman Catholic saint. Nicknamed the “Maid of Orleans,” Joan claimed to receive visions of St. Michael the Archangel, Saint Margaret of Antioch and Saint Catherine of Alexandria, instructing her to support France’s King Charles VII and recover France from English domination in the Hundred Years’ War. Joan was captured, put on trial for a number of charges including heresy,... Read more
I have just finished reading Elizabeth Ficocelli’s story of the lives of Therese, Faustina and Bernadette; and I have to thank Elizabeth when I see her–for I am somehow changed for having had the opportunity to learn at the feet of these great women of God. I had read two of their stories in my youth: Therese and Bernadette lived in the 19th century, and their stories had been written more than once; so they became favorite and familiar saints... Read more
On May 8, the Leadership Council of Women Religious (LCWR) issued a statement on their April 30 meeting with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The statement is significant in that it’s a hopeful sign that the organization has heard the concerns expressed by Rome and may, in fact, be ready to listen–valuing its canonical status which has been conferred by the Holy See more than it values its autonomy. Because it’s so important a document, I’m permitting... Read more
In 1729, Irish writer Jonathan Swift published a straight-faced satire called A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People From Being a Burden to Their Parents or Country, and for Making Them Beneficial to the Publick. More commonly known by its abbreviated title, A Modest Proposal made the case that the poor in Ireland could kill two birds with one stone, as it were–reducing the number of mouths to feed, and enjoying a hearty repast–by eating their children.... Read more
The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world. Back in January, I reported my first impressions of the movie Moms’ Night Out, after my set visit on location in Birmingham. Before that, in December, I wrote about my earlier interview with Patricia Heaton, who starred in the film but was also co-producer with her husband David Hunt. I told you about Moms’ Night Out‘s sheer wackiness, its humor and pathos. I called it a “frolicking good time”... Read more
What is Counsel? That was the theme of the Holy Father’s catechesis today, in his Wednesday General Audience in St. Peter’s Square. Counsel, Pope Francis taught, is that gift by which the Holy Spirit enables us to make concrete decisions according to the logic of Jesus and the Gospel. Vatican Information Service has the report: The Holy Spirit “helps us to grow positively both inwardly and in the community, and helps us not to fall prey to selfishness or to... Read more
Giovanni Battista Montini, Pope Paul VI, will likely be beatified–the first step toward sainthood–on October 19, according to a report by Andrea Tornielli published today in Vatican Insider. Back in December 2013, I had predicted an October date for the beatification, when a miracle attributed to the intercession of Paul VI was ruled “unexplainable” by Medical Commission of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The Congregation then referred the case to theologians and cardinals for final review, before it could... Read more
No surprise: Fr. Ray Kelly, the “singing priest” from Ireland, has been offered a record deal by Sony and Universal. His surprise for Chris and Leah O’Kane at the conclusion of their wedding ceremony, a personalized version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”, has garnered more than 34 million views on YouTube in only three weeks, catapulting the clergyman to international prominence. The Irish Times reports today that Fr. Kelly has been offered two separate record deals with Sony and Universal, and... Read more
Emily Letts is a patient advocate (or more accurately, an abortion counselor). The 25-year-old works at Cherry Hill Women’s Centre in New Jersey, where she counsels women who are about to end the life of their children. When Emily got pregnant, she made the same decision that she encourages other women to make: to cut short her baby’s life because she “wasn’t ready to be a mother.” I’ve got news for you, Emily: You ARE a mother. You’re the... Read more
Seasons of Grace
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