I am generally bored by “flash mob” videos, but you have to go over to Tony’s blog and watch this one. Wedding guests serenading a bride and groom with an absolutely spectacular rendition of “One Day More.” You have to see it. Go. Watch. Be amazed. Read more
If I were not already feeling sick this story found by Mark Shea would get me there. Mark calls it a “monstrous evil” and he is correct — this is nanny-statism and bureaucracy out-of-control, and it’s only going to get worse: Even after Marie Freyre died alone in a nursing home 250 miles from the family in North Tampa that loved her, Marie’s mother had to fight to bring her home. In March 2011, state child protection investigators took 14-year-old... Read more
Anyone who thinks that Benedict XVI’s foray into Twitter is not, in its own way, shaking the earth, needs to pay attention. If you check out the #AskPontifex you see a roiling energy — the feed is teeming with it — aggression and curiosity and timid love and preening hatred are crashing into each other. It reminds me of dark water a few hours before a storm. I like what Sam Rocha has written about it, here: Why would he... Read more
Marie Claire Magazine is featuring an online profile of a young Dominican nun (one of them Dominican Nuns of Summit, NJ), Sister Maria Teresa. Given that it is a secular publication that seems truly perplexed by much of the religious life (they seem unable to wrap their minds about the distinction between “not being allowed” vs “voluntarily sacrificing”) and given the marveling that a full and joyful life may be lived without sex (which is just part-and-parcel on any article... Read more
A lot of you have been asking for this annual post, and it feels like I am much later with it than usual, but in looking at my archives it seems that with one glaring exception, I’m pretty much on schedule, so let’s get to it. To start with, be aware that it’s getting towards the deadline to order gifts made by monastic houses. It’s already too late to order the wreaths, but I think you can still squeeze in... Read more
So, two days ago the Vatican announced the Pope’s new Twitter handle and relative hashtags. Since then, Pope Benedict XVI has amassed about half a million English-speaking followers (he will tweet in 8 Languages) and there are innumerable (and sometimes irreverent, often downright hateful) questions awaiting him at the #AskPontifex feed. The pope is not at a loss for reaction or, for that matter, advice. Our friend Brandon Vogt offers His Holiness Five Suggestions as he becomes a Tweeting Pope.... Read more
Like Mark Shea, I too thought the National Catholic Reporter had endorsed female ordination years ago. I actually had no intention of writing about it for my First Things column, today. Yet somehow — and though I had intended to write more about Calah Alexander and the idea of a Ministry of Succor to young mothers, I ended up at female ordination, asking a few questions about NCR’s stand: The overbearing men of Rome, most particularly Popes John Paul II... Read more
So, the big news this morning is the rollout of Pope Benedict XVI’s new twitter handle, which is @Pontifex. You can also follow feeds using the hashtags #HabemusPapam and even #AskPontifex, because His Holiness will be taking the occasional question. The man has written bajillions of brilliant, instructive, eye-opening and mind-blowing words, and now he is going to tackle the 140 character theology challenge of twitter! Huzzah, sez I! This is the logical and savvy next step in the Vatican’s... Read more
To everyone, and also to no one in particular: “Yeah? So what? What are you going to do about it? Cry me a river, pally! First. World. Problem.” There. I just had to release the inner curmudgeon, for a second. It’s like a dyspeptic burp of the spirit. Thankfully God is not done with any of us, yet. Read more
The Benedictine in me is a little giddy in anticipation of this Advent gift! Photo used with permission. EWTN – the Eternal Word Television Network – has announced multiple broadcasts of a 30-minute special on the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, and the making of Advent at Ephesus, which is available now worldwide from De Montfort Music and Decca Records. The special debuts at 11 a.m. ET on Dec. 2, the first Sunday of Advent. Other broadcasts are set... Read more
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