April 28, 2014

Contrary to popular opinion, either/or ways of living are not the hallmark of Christianity. Both/and pathways to holiness, on the other hand, are.

The Catholic Church is big on third ways, if you think about it. Ever since Jesus died, was buried, and rose again, a different way of being, of living, and of thinking, was made manifest in the world. The early Christians embraced the Way, the Truth, and the Life, without any help from civil authorities, and from a position of complete powerlessness. And yet the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, changed the world through them.

The Holy Spirit still calls us to do the same today. (more…)

April 24, 2014

I introduced readers to my Catholic friend, John C.H. Wu, a long time ago. What prompted John, a distinguished jurist, and drafter of the democratic constitution of the Republic of China (back when it was mainland China),  to swim the Tiber? Truthfully, I should have said “who” prompted him, not “what.” Blame it all on Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, “the Little Flower.” It is all her fault that my new friend John became a Catholic.

Around the year 1917, when he was 18 years old, John had made the first leap towards Rome when he became a Methodist, in Shanghai mind you. (more…)

March 31, 2014

Because it will come up in the questionnaires, see?

You can call it a sign of the times if you like. Most likely it’s because many states don’t recognize same-sex marriages, and income tax preparers are trying to help folks navigate the shoals of their state and local tax codes.

Oh, since we’re on the subject of homosexuality, a couple of the bloggers here at the Patheos Catholic Channel are talking about gay-related subjects. (more…)

October 3, 2013

That’s what it looks like to me. They’ve done stuff like this to boost pageviews before, you know.

And what, pray tell, is the cause of the supposed rancor? (more…)

September 28, 2013

Pope Francis is leading us by example

Thus the Holy Spirit can use the humblest to enlighten the learned and those in the highest positions.

That was the last line from the Catechism that I shared yesterday. It probably got lost in the shuffle so it’s worth reading and re-reading again. (more…)

July 22, 2013

Catholic bloggers “r” us…

A few feet away from the grocery store where I once stumbled upon Stephen Hawking, I got to meet Joanne McPortland and Will Duquette. My family and I met them yesterday after mass at our former parish, and we introduced them to the gastronomic delights of one of our favorite local restaurants. (more…)

April 28, 2013

All the buzz a few months back was the cause for the sainthood of Dorothy Day. The New York Times even weighed in on her cause, though they don’t quite know what to make of her, and of Catholics who admire her for being, how can I put this…Catholic. I daresay that they would probably have the same problem figuring out any of the saints, come to think of it. (more…)

April 21, 2013

I remember well how it felt when I first came across these words written by Blaise Pascal. It was like reading the story of my life. It was as if I was the character Neo in movie The Matrix and I had unwittingly taken the red pill that Morpheus promised would lift the veil. (more…)

January 19, 2013

This originally ran back when Spring Break was just getting underway in 2011, and he had just been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. But tonight, I just learned that “Stan the Man” has passed on to eternity. Pray for his soul and for the consolation of his family. Then, have a look at the life and example of this good man.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. 

I saw a press release today from the Catholic News Service about three Catholics who were awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House.

Pardon me if I ignore the other two, because as a baseball dad, the only part of the announcement that I saw was the one that was about the Hall of Famer. Stan “the Man” Musial was one of the honorees! (more…)

December 21, 2012

Folks are leaving town for the holidays, and I am now on holiday as well. And what that means for a blogger like me is that there are two things that are certain. 1) I will probably have time to write a number of posts over the next few days, and 2) most of them will go unread. This is likely one of those times. (more…)


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