James Martin has a lovely write-up on the late Cardinal. Last June, in Pittsburgh, the Catholic Press Association honored him at a lovely dinner which is mentioned about ten minutes into this video. Deacon Greg and I were there. Though clearly dealing with illness, Foley was smart, funny and remarkably humble. It was a privilege to experience a little of his straightforward faith and optimism. He reminded me of another great and humble Cardinal who was a personal hero, the... Read more
Doctors said her infant son was dead. Her touch brought him back. Read more
The annoying Christmas commercials began way too early this year, and repeated viewings have already blurred their edges, but there is one commercial in particular that fries my beans every time it comes on — the Audi commercial featuring baby-boomer parents making their opulent house ready for a visit from their grown son. The mother is dressing the table; the father is hanging the son’s stocking on the mantel. And when the son pulls up to the house…they don’t even... Read more
Mentioned yesterday that my First Things post today would be joining in on the multitude of words being written about Tim Tebow. Patton Dodd has given a terrific overview of Tebow in WSJ and in his ebook, but I was interested in one small aspect of his phenomenon: how terrifying Tebow must be to those busy elites in politics and media who are so determinedly constructing the ungainly “profits-gained-outside-of-government-or-other-approved-venues-are-evil” narrative and the more subtle but insidious “you-can-be-religious-just-not-in-the-public-arena” one meant to... Read more
A Bronx mugger steps out of an idea, into wonder: Julio Diaz has a daily routine. Every night, the 31-year-old social worker ends his hour-long subway commute to the Bronx one stop early, just so he can eat at his favorite diner. But one night last month, as Diaz stepped off the No. 6 train and onto a nearly empty platform, his evening took an unexpected turn. He was walking toward the stairs when a teenage boy approached and pulled... Read more
Holy Smokes! (H/T) Read more
I saw this yesterday and wondered if it was a hoax: The designers of the towers, Dutch architectural firm MVRDV, have responded to the controversy by quickly publishing an apology in English. “It was not our intention to create an image resembling the attacks,” the designers insist, “nor did we see the resemblance during the design process.” They did not see the resemblance during the design process? The problem with this assertion – apart from its inherent implausibility – is... Read more
Honestly, I haven’t been paying much attention. I mean, I love the Muppets but once I stopped having to read bedtime stories in Elmo’s voice to the kids, Muppet headlines stopped resonating (although the whole family does very much enjoy rewatching The Muppet Family Christmas Special each year — a classic, sadly unavailable, anymore). But I’m hearing some suggestions that the new Muppet movie is a covert action by the socialists, hellbent on denigrating capitalism and especially conservatives. I really... Read more
I love this month’s cover of Magnificat Magazine — Madonna and Child, by Marianne Stokes (1855-1927), Wolverhampton Art Gallery, West Midlands, UK. (© Bridgeman Giraudon) — it captures the simple youth and energy of Mary, who would have been about 14 years old: her gaze is direct and open, and so is the child’s. It almost harkens to Christ’s ministry, and his command, “Ephphatha, be opened!” We are living in urgent times, where illusions are swirling all about, making it... Read more
Drudge links to this story: Doing your holiday shopping at the pawn shop? WWJ’s Sandra McNeill reports that’s not so odd anymore. Tom Blaine owns the Garden City Exchange and says his business though October is already up 49 percent over December of last year. The bad economy means he’s getting people selling new and high-end electronics like iPads and he says the popularity of reality shows mean people aren’t as embarrassed to shop there. If you know a good... Read more
The Anchoress
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In