When my son Buster was a small toddler he would make up these epic, anthemic songs that made sense only to him. One of them, as I recall, had a refrain that went, “bear’s not, bear’s not, bear’s not dead…” Sing it to Amy Grant’s “Every Heartbeat.” Somehow it works. Another of his songs — and it was the show-stopper, full of emotion and broad, dramatic arm gestures — included the interesting sentiment that there was “one more innocent to... Read more
When I first began this blog, its header read, “Religion, Politics, Baseball; the Important Stuff!” > (Photosource) I haven’t written about baseball much these past few years. My new favorite Yankee is Curtis Granderson, and I am fond of Nick Swisher, but otherwise I haven’t had much to say about the game since arguing against instant replay in baseball after the Galarraga-Joyce incident. But my column at First Things, today, is about baseball, and how love can sometimes lead us... Read more
(Illustration by Pat McNamara) Tomorrow is the feast day of St. Vincent de Paul, and if you’re not familiar with his story or why he matters, you’ll want to avail yourself of Doctor-now-Professor Pat McNamara’s excellent and informative profile of this enterprising and surprising saint, who started on his path for all the wrong reasons: “An intelligent child from a poor family, he initially saw the priesthood as an escape from poverty. Once he acquired a wealthy parish, he planned... Read more
And a little behind the eightball! I know I promised something surprising getting posted while I was away, but I seem to have lost that piece and am going to have to find it and reclaim it or re-write from scratch if I can’t get my mitts on it. Will try to post it in a bit! Read more
There is a great scene in A League of Their Own: Tom Hanks is railing at Geena Davis for quitting the Women’s Baseball League just when they need her the most. “It got too hard,” Davis says. “Of course it’s hard; that’s what makes it great!” Hanks responds. For most writers, opening up a wound and pouring it out for a reader is a very difficult thing. It’s easy to opine, and it is easy to instruct when the opinions... Read more
As you read this, I am on retreat until Monday, September 26, but do check back, because I have posts scheduled to come up, including one this weekend that may will surprise you. Read more
Recently I posted the first of what are bound to be many, many posts raving about Catholicism; A Journey to the Heart of the Faith and urging you to purchase the book, read it and — you won’t be able to resist — give it to everyone you know. My husband and I are giving it to our priests and the parish DRE, and we’re not waiting for Christmas! And I haven’t actually even written my rave review, yet. But... Read more
While in Rome for the Church Up Close seminar, last September, it was a great and lasting pleasure to meet Ashley Noronha and her husband, John, brilliant people of faith who exude joy and warmth. It was a real grief that a return to Rome for the Beatification of John Paul II and the Vatican/Blogger Meet-up was so busy that I was not able to catch up with them for a cappuccino. As we say in New York, “they’re the... Read more
I like this. A lot. In [Flannery] O’Connor’s description, what Parker goes back to is “the haloed head of a flat, stern Byzantine Christ with all-demanding eyes.” Parker decides it’s for him. Once completed, the tattooed image affects people in the most alarming ways. A single glance, with the help of an angled mirror, is enough to drive Parker himself to the corner for a pint of whiskey. Later, when he shows it off to his old cronies, their laughter... Read more
Start here with Robert Royal’s piece on the “anti-Catholic moment” Are we living in one? Maybe. But I’ll get back to that, later. The hatemail and disgusting threats being made against Stacy Trasancos are reprehensible and cannot be justified. They can’t. Don’t try. Don’t say “well, she…” and then prattle on that her expressed frustration and the hurt feelings of others justifies wishing that her children be “kidnapped, raped and murdered.” Don’t say, “but…” because there is no but. There... Read more
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