The Anchoress
Heh. So cool! When my kids were young they loved DC Comics. I need to let them know about this one! The Batman Annual #2 is apparently being released today. RELATED: DC Comics Introduces the Anchoress Read more
Heh. So cool! When my kids were young they loved DC Comics. I need to let them know about this one! The Batman Annual #2 is apparently being released today. RELATED: DC Comics Introduces the Anchoress Read more
Okay, this made me weep, and I am no weeper. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Jul 30, 2013 / 02:54 pm (CNA).- Nathan de Brito brought Pope Francis to tears during one of his motorcades through the streets of Rio de Janeiro on Friday, when he broke past barriers to deliver an important message to the Pontiff. “Your Holiness, I want to be a priest of Christ, a representative of Christ,” de Brito whispered in the ear of Pope Francis July... Read more
“To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is not the acme of excellence.” — Sun Tzu In my column over at First Things today, I hope to lay a calming hand on a few shoulders that had nearly gone spastic yesterday, in response to early reports of Pope Francis’ chat with reporters as he flew home from World Youth Day. A great many voices on social media were yelling that the pope was... Read more
While traveling to Rio de Janairo to preside over his first World Youth Day, Pope Francis declined to do a formal interview with the press pool. “It’s true I don’t give interviews. I don’t know why. . . It’s tiresome. But I enjoy your company.” On the return to Rome, the Holy Father–perhaps feeling energized by a spectacularly successful event that saw an estimated three million souls gather for Mass at Copacabana Beach–surprised the media with an 80-minute Q-and-A that... Read more
Lots of exploding heads on the internet today, thanks to this headline, which will, naturally, be over-emphasized by the press. But it is certainly worth noting: Pope Francis says he won’t judge gay priests Pope Francis reached out an olive branch to the gay community Monday, saying that he won’t “judge” gay priests. “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” The pope’s predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, authored a... Read more
Yeah, I’m not even going to excerpt it. Just do yourself a favor and read this. Austen Ruse did a series about three young Catholics who gave cheerful and heroic Christian witness during their short lives: Brendan Kelly, seen above, Audrey Stevenson and Margaret Leo. Each story is humbling; each one makes you grateful, and makes you want to…do better in your own life of faith. He rounds it out, here. Do yourself a favor, this weekend, read and share... Read more
For years, I have been saying that each pope — each iteration of Peter — has his own style, which is why comparisons are always imperfect; a man’s nature informs his outreach. John Paul II was a trained actor and his papacy was like a giant, dramatic, nation-shaking pipe organ that could not be ignored. The shy and introverted Pope Benedict XVI, on the other hand, was like a tinkling piano, inviting you to come in be quiet and find... Read more
In today’s Office of Readings (my favorite Office, go figure) comes this marvelously relevant, important and instructive excerpt from Thomas a’Kempis’ classic, The Imitation of Christ: Turn to the Lord with your whole heart and leave behind this wretched world. Then your soul shall find rest. For the kingdom of God is the peace and joy of the Holy Spirit. If you prepare within your heart a fitting dwelling place, Christ will come to you and console you. His glory... Read more
Today is the feast day of the fascinating and excellent Saint Sharbel Makhlouf, who really needs to be better-known than he is, particularly in an age where Eastern Christians are being challenged and persecuted to rather vague notice. Charbel Makhlouf was born on 8th May, 1828, in the small village of Biqa-Kafra in the high mountains of Northern Lebanon. His parents were poor but religious, and their fifth child was attracted at an early age to prayer and solitude. In... Read more
I’m sorry, but something about this woman just creeps me out. Perhaps it is because her beauty seems incongruous to her person, which screams “perpetual 14 year old”. You have to go here to watch her and hear her. It’s so bizarre: “When a pregnancy is wanted…it is easy to think of the bump as a baby.” As opposed, I guess to something vegetative, or lupine? I’m perfectly aware that “the bump” is a trendy bit of word-play — the... Read more
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