A normal Lent for American Catholics is drenched in petty personal piety and nonsensical “sacrifice” like giving up chewing gum and going to confession to seek forgiveness for getting wasted at last summer’s Fourth of July party. Lent, American style, has very little to do with the blood-drenched Passion of Our Lord, and even less to do with the reality that the world around us is a butcher shop. We Americans are, on the surface at least, a privileged people.... Read more
Ave Maria. Enjoy. Read more
Children are a gift that keeps on giving. I remember when I was young and the world was green that young women my age talked a lot about how having a baby was a 20-year sentence. This was a response to the way that childbearing had been used as an excuse to discriminate against women in education, career and every other life opportunity. The anger about the discrimination was totally justified. But the conclusion about children themselves was just hyperbole... Read more
What’s all this talk about the “yield curve” and why does it matter to you? The yield curve is a plot line, just like any plot line you would make in a spreadsheet on your computer. It is based on length of time a bond has before it pays out the interest it has promised to pay the person who bought the bond, combined with the price the bond is worth in the open market. “Short-term” bonds pay out sooner... Read more
Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Academy Awards because Chris Rock made a cruel joke about Will Smith’s wife’s hair loss. Will Smith’s wife has Alopecia, and according to reports of those who were watching her reaction, the joke upset her. Ta da. That’s all there really is to that deal that should concern you and me. It was such a stupid story that it took me a while to even know how I felt about it, or if... Read more
These two stories crossed my feed today, a few hours after the Holy Father consecrated Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. I’m not drawing any conclusions, although I do have my thoughts. Make of it what you will. Pope Francis Consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Ukraine news live: Zelenskyy says his troops have dealt Russia ‘powerful blows’ as Moscow hints it may have given up on full takeover Russian forces in Ukraine... Read more
Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat. Jesus Christ, speaking to Peter Pope Francis consecrated Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary today. I believe that Pope Francis is a sincere and good man who is doing his best to follow Jesus and lead us in the Way. I don’t think he’s perfect. I know he has had his sins and failures in his long life, some of... Read more
Pope Francis has released the prayer of consecration he will pray Friday when he consecrates Russia and the Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Please consider joining your prayers with his, both on Friday and every day until then. O Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, in this time of trial we turn to you. As our Mother, you love us and know us: no concern of our hearts is hidden from you. Mother of mercy, how often... Read more
If you watched the Ketanji Jackson Brown confirmation hearings yesterday, you got a snootful of nonsensical grandstanding. I could go long on this and explain in detail why the nonsense was nonsense. But, frankly, if you don’t already know that, you’re not too swift. So, I’ll go short. Here, in list format, is the skinny on yesterday’s Senate confirmation hearing on Ketanji Jackson Brown’s nomination to the United States Supreme Court. 1. The rehash of the Kavanaugh confirmation. 2. The... Read more
I just have to write a brief comment about this. The photo above is a screen shot of a tweet by none other than Republican Congressman Jim Jordan. Evidently, Rep Jordan is still outraged by what Democrats “did” to Brett Kavanaugh. If you’re interested in learning what a nefarious crime this was, just replay the testimony of Christine Blasey Ford. You might also take a brief walk down memory lane and give a look at Congressman Jordan’s history with sexual... Read more
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