Abba John [the Eunuch] said, ‘Our Father, Abba Anthony, said he had never put his own personal advantage before the good of a brother.’[1] If we want to be Christ’s friends, we must be people of love. We are not told this story of St Anthony the Great in order to be shown how great a saint he was, even if this saying does so, but rather, to show the kind of example he set for us all who want... Read more
The Irish Church has been devastated by the abuse crisis. It’s reputation and moral standing has never been lower. Fortunately, there is light at the end of the tunnel. The Irish bishops are regaining their moral voice, and it is a loud, prophetic, voice. A week before the election, they have issued a document on the economy, combining the grace and wisdom of Benedict XVI with the strident and urgent tone taken by Pius XI to denounce the financial sector during the Great Depression. It is... Read more
According to the National Catholic Register, Dr. Bernard Nathanson has died at the age of 84 in New York after suffering from cancer. For those not familiar with Dr. Nathanson, he helped legalize abortion in America and was one of the founding members of what is now known as NARAL- National Abortion Rights Action League. He (edited: is responsible for) 75,000 abortions in his life. Two of his own children died from abortion, one of which he performed. It was... Read more
I don’t particularly like talking directly about myself, but to tell this story I have to. I was walking to work yesterday (which is my usual custom) when I had an accident. It was snowing and there was an inch or two on the ground. This was not a problem, but I discovered, the hard way, that on one stretch of sidewalk it covered a sheet of ice. I slipped, recovered, and slipped again. I fell, hard. It turns out... Read more
She [Amma Syncletica] also said, ‘There is grief that is useful, and there is grief that is destructive. The first sort consists in weeping over one’s own faults and weeping over the weakness of one’s neighbours, in order not to destroy one’s purpose, and attach oneself to the perfect good. But there is also a grief that comes from the enemy, full of mockery, which some call accidie. This spirit must be cast out, mainly by prayer and psalmody.’ [1]... Read more
[Michigan] State education officials have ordered Robert Bobb to immediately implement a financial restructuring plan [for Detroit schools] that balances the district’s books by closing half of its schools, swelling high school class sizes to 60 students and consolidating operations. –The Detroit News Stories like this make me question the honesty of people that claim they really do care about the children. Eliminating illiteracy and providing universal health care were goals of the Cuban Revolution and were provided. Can our... Read more
There is a large number of sociological studies of Catholics over the past several decades, with some distinguished scholars building entire careers around such studies. They have made and are making important contributions to our understanding of what’s happening on the ground among Catholics, former Catholics, and non-Catholics. They have enhanced our recognition that there are generational differences in Catholic belief patterns, they have highlighted the different approaches of men and women in matters of faith, they have pointed to... Read more
A brother questioned an old man saying, ‘What good work should I do so that I may live?’ The old man said, ‘God knows what is good. I have heard it said that one of the Fathers asked Abba Misterus the Great, the friend of Abba Anthony, and said to him, “What good work is there that I could do?” He said to him, “Are not all actions equal? Scripture says that Abraham was hospitable and God was with him.... Read more
She [Amma Sarah] also said, ‘It is good to give alms for men’s sake. Even if it is only done to please men, through it one can begin to seek to please God.’[1] Amma Sarah is telling us that we should give alms, because in doing so, we are helping people in need, and therefore, we end up doing good. She knows that we might do it because we want to hear praise from others, either from those we help,... Read more
Republicans love to seize the mantle of fiscal austerity, and to stress the urgent need to reduce government debt. Let’s set aside the fact that, despite the rhetoric, they have no record of actually doing anything to curb deficits, especially during good times when a prudent steward stores up the wealth. Time and again we see it – large tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the wealthy and the ramping up of military spending. We see it again today. The claim... Read more
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