Here’s a review of the new Brideshead Revisited film, saying it is soul less and superficial. Seems to be the general consensus. I think  I’ll go see the new Batman film instead and stay home to watch the old Granada series again. Read more

Here is Cardinal Levada’s reply to the Traditional Anglican Communion’s request for formal reconciliation with the Church. (H/T Jeffery Steel) It’s not much more than a ‘thanks, we’re working on it’ letter. Read more

This article tells us that the Archbishop of Canterbury urges Anglicans to resolve the tensions and seek unity. Not exactly a show stopper… One of the things that made me join the Catholic Church was the realization that the Anglican Church never did have unity. It had the appearance of unity. Have you ever been to one of those family meetings where some renegade uncle turned up who had run off with someone else’s wife, and there they were pretending... Read more

Here I am at Camp Granada.  Or at least was….and it was Camps Kahdalea and Chosatonga This week I: Said Mass daily for campers and staff Heard a good number of informal, “Could you please hear my confession father…” confessions. It’s always a joy when a young person actually asks for confession. Played Santa Claus in camp’s Christmas in July celebration Read lots of Flannery O’Connor Read a biography of St Maximillian Kolbe Led Eucharistic Adoration for the camp staff... Read more

Damian Thompson reports on some sharpish truth telling going on at Lambeth. Only it’s not the Anglicans who are speaking clearly and forthrightly, its one of the Catholic cardinals. He’s said that there is such a thing as spiritual Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and makes a not so subtle hint that the Anglicans suffer from it. Damian’s report is here. Read more

Why is Flannery such a Catholic writer and not just a writer, or not just a writer who’s Catholic? I think it’s the tough little girls in her stories. The tough little girls are the wise ones. They’re survivors. They see the two contradictory elements of truth that sum up the Catholic vision: on the one hands the supernatural present everywhere, and on the other hand, the gritty no nonsense hardness of the real world. So O’Connor endorses the miraculous,... Read more

My time as Camp chaplain is part retreat, part vacation and part work. On Monday I went with a van load of kids to take part in a rock climbing competition. Lots of enthusiasm, sweat and skill. I managed to get on the wall myself and it was not a pretty sight. Anyway, we won. In the priest’s cabin I found a complete collection of Flannery O’Connor’s stories. There are a good number I hadn’t read, so I stayed up... Read more

In the end, life is not about accumulation. It is much more than success. To be truly alive is to be transformed from within, open to the energy of God’s love. In accepting the power of the Holy Spirit you too can transform your families, communities and nations. Set free the gifts! Let wisdom, courage, awe and reverence be the marks of greatness! Benedict XVI – Homily for Vigil of Closing Mass – World Youth Day 2008 Read more

Went out for dinner with some friends last evening and was told the story of how (we’ll call him Brian) who was an Anglican priest, fell and hurt his head. He was seriously disabled, with inability to do his job, lack of balance, inability to read, amnesia and various other symptoms. His young wife had reconciled herself to the fact that she would probably have to look after the man for the rest of her life. She was going out... Read more

Some time ago I read a book by a guy who says he lost his Catholic faith when he began to study science and discovered that there was no evidence for the existence of angels. Duuh. Angels are non materialistic beings. Trying to devise a trap for an angel is like trying to make a potted fern receive radio waves. Another area of scholarship which never interested me much is modern Biblical scholarship. The main problem with 99% of modern... Read more