Is it the same as making poor people pray?  No, but it’s just as tricky. Read more

Don’t. Read more

You can memorize the Summa backwards and forwards, but you’re still at the bottom of the class until you know . . . CATHOLIC ETIQUETTE. Read more

Jen’s excellent post about being too careful in marriage made me think of two things: 1.  I once went to a wedding at which, during the ceremony, a duo sang “All I Ask of You” from Phantom of the Opera, including references to Christine and Raoul.  The bride and groom were named neither Christine nor Raoul.  It made me feel uncomfortable. 2.  People are passing around a thing about how to tell you’re marrying the right person, to which I... Read more

And this is why I have so many friends. Read more

Today at the Register:  it’s not that I can’t take my wedding ring off, it’s that I won’t.  Of course, 3/4 of the way through writing this, something (presumably an Irony Bug) bit me on the finger, and I had to take my wedding ring off.  First time in almost fourteen years. This makes me a little nervous about what to write about for tomorrow. Read more

Thanks SO much for all your thoughtful and sincere responses to the “screen time” survey!  I’ve taken the post down now, and I will let you know when the article will be available. Read more

Today at the Register, this would have been the perfect illustration:                 . . . but I didn’t have the noive.  (I believe this is a depiction of the sixth mysterious mystery:  Christ Considers Just Starting Over.) (photo source — warning:  lots of yucky and obscene stuff at this site)                       Read more

I’m working on an article about kids and screen time, and would love to hear from you sensible folks.   We already know what the experts say about how to manage screen time, but how does that play out in real families?  The more specific and honest your answers, the more helpful they will be (and the better chance your comment has of making it into the article!). By answering these questions, you are giving me permission to quote you.... Read more

We’ve had a lot of doctor’s appointments lately, so I’ve been reading a lot of dumb magazines.  My favorite features are the ones that show some enviable tableau from someone’s home, and then glibly explains how to achieve this effect. I don’t mean to promote envy, but it occurs to me that my house is full of uncommon little scenes which you may or may not want to recreate in your own home, depending on how much crack you’re smoking.... Read more