In the comments section of another thread, I wrote in response to a commenter: “. . .it is extremely distressing to me that so many Catholics are willing to make a decision about our fellows, stick a label on them and figure they know all about them and can ever-dismiss them as “that sort” of Catholic, or not as good a Catholic or the wrong sort of Catholic than you know…”better” Catholics.” To that another commenter wrote: This is where... Read more
We’ve talked a lot around here about how joy is unattainable without gratitude — that it needs a perspective grounded in an awareness of all the things one has to be grateful about. Clearly, this man wasn’t waiting until the end to take stock Read more
Via New Advent, Msgr. Charles Pope gives a glimpse of the joy he finds in his priesthood, particularly in conferring sacraments among the faithful — worshiping with them, communing with them, receiving them, anointing them. It is a look at one day in his life, an atypical one, surely, which also happened to include his own birthday celebration. His pleasure in all of it, his gratitude for the ability to confer these sacramental gifts, is evident in every word as... Read more
Nice to see a kid having fun Read more
I have concluded that Max Lindenman’s job in life is to be faithfully irreverent. He does it brilliantly, and hilariously in this response to a review in the NY Times: Keller must be paying too much attention to the Church’s cheering section — people like George Weigel (at the top) and Bill Donahue (at the bottom), who spill gallons of sweat and ink in defense of her good name. Well, it’s a living, I guess, but it’s never made any... Read more
My column at First Things. You know I can’t stand it when people get stupidly unfair and abusive: American’s sad ideological balkanization is most obviously exposed for the sickness it is whenever this woman’s name is mentioned. Thanks to cable news and the social media echo-chambers that invite us to pledge allegiance to a stark perspective and then hiss “enemy” at anyone who thinks differently, Americans are being conditioned to absorb The Daily Outrage on cue; we are one nation,... Read more
Today is the feastday of St. Benedict of Nurcia, who is regarded the Father of Western Monasticism. He is also one of the Patron Saints of Europe, and our dear Holy Father Benedict XVI, who made a retreat at the saints own Subiaco monastery just before his elevation to the Papacy. Although I am a very bad Benedictine, I do my poor Oblate best to honor our founder, today, whose Holy Rule has shaped and defined monasticism for both Benedictines... Read more
I wrote about the film here, and in the comments Manny pointed out that Fr. Robert Barron had written about the film and also talked about it in video. Well, a weekend after seeing the film, I am still haunted by its beauty and challenge. Barron, like me, is impressed with Brother Luc’s statement that he is “a free man.” And yeah, it’s all about detachment — the discipline that frees us. Read more
And he homered into it! One of the greatest ever played the game. And I missed it because I always forget weekend day games! Arghghg. Thank God for video, but it’s still not the same as seeing it as it happens! Read more
The remarkable film Of Gods and Men is out on Netflix, and if you haven’t seen it yet, I urge you to put it on your queue and move it to the top. It is one of the best films I seen in years — gripping, moving, enlightening and insightful. I can’t think of a film in recent memory that so truly and respectfully portrays the life of faith, the religious life, and most especially the value, use and meaning... Read more
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