Well, the little I’ve managed to read of it today, I’ve loved, and you will likely love it, too, because in my skimming, I’m finding it gorgeous. In my skimming, my eyes landed on this bit, which is rather glorious, and a true challenge to all of us. It more or less explains what Pope Francis meant when he called proselytism “solemn nonsense”: Loving others is a spiritual force drawing us to union with God; indeed, one who does not... Read more
Because my mother was a waitress who worked for mainly for tips, when my husband and I dine out we will very often strike a line through the “tips” portion of the bill, and leave our gratuity in cash. We do this for a couple of reasons — because often food-servers need the cash to pay the babysitter when they get home; because keeping track of what tips should show up on a paycheck is difficult; because why not let... Read more
Unless you’re deeply reading into the Catholic blogosphere, it’s unlikely you’ve ever come across Tod Worner before, but I’m pretty sure that once you begin, you’ll be quick to bookmark his blog, A Catholic Thinker, which I am very happy to be bringing into the mix, over here. Why am I so happy? Because the only thing I like better than a good writer is a good writer who likes to really think, and is able to write well on... Read more
Julie Davis beat me to it, but as usual, I have some Advent Reading ideas — and more than one of them would also make terrific Christmas gifts: Topping the List, because I just think it’s so cool to have music specific to Advent to access at this time: The Benedictines of Mary’s must-have recording, Advent at Ephesus. If you didn’t get it last year, do yourself a favor and gift yourself with this glorious music, which is the antidote... Read more
Apparently while I was on vacation, I missed a wee brouhaha about a US Postal Service ad that managed to promote “Holiday” stamps without including the Christmas-themed ones, and nary a Christian image in sight. Well, if you haven’t seen them, yet, here they are: I love this year’s Madonna selection, “Virgin and Child” by Jan Gossaert — I like how Mary presents her son and Lord to with a casual open gesture, while also resting her head on her... Read more
That’s the question currently being bandied about over at Patheos’ Public Square page, where a Druid, an Evangelical and others are piping up. From the Catholic side, Joseph Bottum — whose book An Anxious Age will be out in the spring of 2014 — picks up more or less where he left off, last August, when he argued that our social condition is such that we’ve moved beyond the question. Sounding a bit exasperated, Bottum writes: Read the Creed, for... Read more
It’s been quiet around here for the past few days, I know; I forgot to post that my husband and I were taking a time away to celebrate anniversaries. We’re not quite back — we’re going to try to take the rest of the weekend off — but we’re at home, now and I am very much looking forward to going to confession in a few hours, in anticipation of the end of the liturgical year, the end of the... Read more
My column at First Things this week was written on the energy of annoyance: Currently the Internet is abuzz with the news that Pope Francis, upon hearing that Catholic Traditionalist Mario Palmaro was ill, picked up the phone and called this vociferous critic of his papacy, assuring him that there were no grudges being held, only prayers being offered. I was astonished, amazed, above all moved [by] one of the most beautiful experiences in my life. But I felt the... Read more
Okay, heinous language and a general sensitivity warning. If you are heinous language sensitive, or super-sensitive in general, don’t watch this. You’re warned. If you watch it anyway, and find yourself offended, please don’t complain to me about it, because you’ve been warned. This brilliantly Irish rant of a routine was sent to me from a priest friend. I almost had a spasm from laughing. I’m not sure what sort of spasm, but I almost had one. Although I must... Read more
Sometimes readers who have heard me speak live or on the radio will tell me that I speak very quickly, which is a very New York thing — and I guess a nice change, since when I first moved here people thought I talked. Too. S-l-o-w. I can be a motor-mouth, especially when I have worked too long in the office and haven’t actually been social for a while. At a luncheon last week, I’m pretty sure my companions wondered,... Read more
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