Some years ago I went to a seminar about relationships. The speaker’s mantra was, “Avoid the drains.” By “drains” he meant a certain type of negative person in your life. A “drain” is a person who, like a drain, sucks you into a downward spiral. A drain sucks you dry. A drain leaves you empty. A drain drains you. They drain your emotions, drain your peace, drain your spiritual life, drain your mental life, drain your time, drain your money.... Read more

Here’s what I liked best about both Mother Angelica and Margaret Thatcher: They both beat the liberals at their own game. In an age when feminists were burning their bras Margaret Thatcher had her hair done, put on her hats and grabbed her handbag. Mother Angelica not only kept her habit, but reverted to a more traditional habit. When the feminists were protesting about inequality and being suppressed by a patriarchal male club, Margaret Thatcher stepped up and took control... Read more

All powerful and ever-living God Your only Son went down among the dead And rose again in glory. In your goodness Raise up your faithful people buried with him in baptism to be one with him in the eternal life of heaven where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit One God, for ever and ever.   Read more

I know. I know. This is not really politically correct. You’re supposed to pretend that all religions are equal. The comparative religions professor (who has comparatively no religion) teaches that all religions are human inventions based on interesting and unique historical circumstances and cultures. The theory is that religions developed from animism when cavemen grunted at the sun, moon and stars and made up stories about the people who lived there. Then these stories became myths and they started making... Read more

This week’s article for Aleteia gives a brief outline of the arguments for the resurrection of Jesus Christ and why that is the best evidence for the existence of God. Atheists like to say, “Where is the evidence for the existence of God?,” and philosophical arguments aren’t really evidence as such. They work well enough, but they remain abstract head games. I’m hearing the atheists when they say they want evidence, and I’ve asked in response, “What kind of evidence... Read more

Tonight’s liturgy is the most poignant and tender of the year. We gather to commemorate the Lord’s Supper, and at the heart of the liturgy is the solemn ceremony of washing feet. The ceremony adds weight to the Chrism Mass earlier in the day when the priestly ministry is re-affirmed because the twelve men whose feet are being washed represent the twelve apostles. The other  (and more important) emphasis is on Christ the servant. To show that he is among... Read more

My latest article for Aleteia explains why we give up meat on Good Friday and the Fridays in Lent (and I’d suggest every Friday) A Protestant friend who lived in Philadelphia once said, “You know why those Catholics eat fish on Friday? They’re all Italians, and the Italians have the fish market downtown. So they got the Italian pope to make that rule so they could all sell their fish on Friday so it wouldn’t go off over the weekend.” Well, not... Read more

What is it with bigotry? This week I’ve had people blaming whole groups for the crimes of a few. I’ve had Christians saying, “The Jews killed Jesus.” I’ve had Jews saying, “Catholics hate Jews because they say Jews killed Jesus.” I’ve had Christians saying, “Muslims are terrorists.” Stop. These accusations are stupid and dangerous. The Jews didn’t kill Jesus. Some bad Jews killed Jesus. Muslims aren’t terrorists. Some bad Muslims are terrorists. Christians don’t hate Jews. Some bad Christians hate... Read more