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The Humble God

The Humble God

Nov 8 11 • 3 comments

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth (Isaiah 53:7). Perhaps the most stunning revelation of Christianity is the deep humility of God.  In Jesus of […]

Daily Mass: Medicine for a Sick Culture

Daily Mass: Medicine for a Sick Culture

Nov 8 11 • 1 comment

Rosie grabbed my arm as I walked into Mass one weekday morning. Whispering in a hushed tone she asked:  “Can you help me measure the candle?   I can’t reach the top of it to measure it.  I was helping to set up for a funeral, and I dropped the candle and broke the glass that […]

The Myth of Homeschooling

The Myth of Homeschooling

The other day, I was half-jokingly trying to talk my friends into doing a reality show about homeschooling moms. Unfortunately, they weren’t buying the idea. As one put it, “I’d much rather have people believe the myth.” The Sept/Oct 2011 issue of the HSLDA Home School Court Report features an article by Michael O. Farris […]

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Ten Good Reasons to Get Excited About the New (Revised, that is) Mass

It’s almost here!  The new Mass — from the revised Roman Missal — is coming November 27, so we should not just get prepared but excited too.  I do admit, however, that I have a preference to stick with what I already know.  For instance, every new computer program and most of the technology in my world, […]

Here We Go Again

Here We Go Again

Nov 8 11 • 1 comment

Why do I act shocked every time the stores pull out the Christmas merchandise before I’ve purchased Halloween candy (which has been sharing shelf space with the Back to School supplies since August)? Why do I let it gross me out year after year? I know it’s going to happen. But still…. I wandered into […]

Win One of Five Copies of the <em>Little Angels</em> DVDs by Roma Downey

Win One of Five Copies of the Little Angels DVDs by Roma Downey

Nov 8 11 • 13 comments

Beautiful Irish Catholic actress and mother Roma Downey has produced a new series of DVDs for children called Little Angels. I recently interviewed Roma about the new series, her favorite charity and her devotion to the Blessed Mother. To celebrate the release of Little Angels, Grace Hill Media, a company that promotes quality entertainment for faith-based […]

Poem: "Adoration"

Poem: “Adoration”

Nov 8 11 • 0 comments

Adoration A mass of people on a plain All those who live and ever lived Face the everlasting A plain of such immense extent That souls from the beginning to the end Will not fill it all Around them and behind them Refulgence of the everlasting Fills eternity We who faced the light-creating sun The […]

Is Agrarianism Just for Hippies?

Is Agrarianism Just for Hippies?

Nov 7 11 • 0 comments

Ever since the industrial revolution and the mass migration of Americans from rural areas to cities, there have been periodic fledgling back-to-the-land movements.  Each of these trends was a reaction to the low wages and exploitation of factory workers.  Nostalgia for “simpler times” and the desire for more self-determination inspired many to move back to […]

Planned Parenthood Proves that Death and Lies Go Together

Planned Parenthood Proves that Death and Lies Go Together

Nov 7 11 • 0 comments

Incredible as it seems, there is more gore spewing from Planned Parenthood’s inner sanctum each passing day.  Let’s begin in Kansas where documentation is destroyed and late-term abortionists are held in the highest esteem. It seems that all of the records required by law to ensure that Planned Parenthood was complying with the law, regarding […]

On Thanksgiving: Eat. Pray. Love. Do Not Watch Lady Gaga.

On Thanksgiving: Eat. Pray. Love. Do Not Watch Lady Gaga.

Nov 7 11 • 3 comments

ABC has just announced that on Thanksgiving Day, as Americans sit back to digest the turkey and stuffing, the network will air a 90-minute prime-time special “A Very Gaga Thanksgiving.” Call me a cynic, but I’m thinking this won’t be your typical “Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” kind of show.  Hopefully, the pop star won’t be wearing […]

Personhood Begins when Life Begins

Personhood Begins when Life Begins

Most news reports about Mississippi’s proposed “personhood amendment” have cast the measure’s pro-life sponsors as the aggressors in a brand-new phase of the abortion wars, one in which abortion opponents rely on clever linguistic tricks to launch an unprecedented attack on abortion rights. That storyline omits one important fact: Abortion-rights advocates are the ones who […]

The New Roman Missal: "And with Your Spirit"

The New Roman Missal: “And with Your Spirit”

Nov 7 11 • 0 comments

Catholics are very familiar with the parts of the Mass—perhaps too familiar. Sunday after Sunday, we recite certain words such as, “Amen…Thanks be to God…Alleluia…Holy, Holy, Holy Lord….”  These words are so ingrained that we often say them robotically, out of simple routine. Indeed, if someone poked us in the middle of the night and […]

Media calls Cain’s Comments on Planned Parenthood Racist Roots a Lie

Media calls Cain’s Comments on Planned Parenthood Racist Roots a Lie

Nov 7 11 • 0 comments

Several mainstream media “fact checkers” piled on to GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain after the latter reaffirmed his statements condemning Planned Parenthood’s eugenic roots. They downplayed founder Margaret Sanger’s eugenicist philosophy and accused Cain of a “pants on fire” lie. In what became one of the highest-profile attacks on the group’s eugenic history in recent […]

<em>Little Dorrit</em> and the Debt Crisis

Little Dorrit and the Debt Crisis

Nov 7 11 • 1 comment

With the name of the great author Charles Dickens, titles such as A Christmas Carol or Great Expectations frequently come to mind. Otherwise, Hard Times and A Tale of Two Cities will leap to the lips of those more literate. Yet one of his lesser-known works highly deserving of attention is Little Dorrit, written in the […]

They Are People, Too!

They Are People, Too!

Nov 7 11 • 0 comments

Protecting immigrants from oppression is a centuries old duty of both Jews and Christians. “You shall not oppress or afflict a resident alien, for you were once aliens residing in the land of Egypt. Exodus 22: 20.” Most, if not all, of the people with whom I work in the pro life apostolate take that […]

No Regrets: Frank Kravetz’s Story

No Regrets: Frank Kravetz’s Story

Nov 7 11 • 0 comments

“Just existing became what was important,” says 87-year-old Frank Kravetz of Pittsburgh, captive of the “hell-hole” that was Nuremberg Prison Camp. “Yet even as I struggled with the day-to-day sadness and despair, I never once had any regrets that I signed up to serve.” An extended tour of Nazi camps as a wounded POW scratching […]

Poem: "Harmonies of Heaven..."

Poem: “Harmonies of Heaven…”

Nov 7 11 • 0 comments

Harmonies of Heaven… Have you heard what Strauss has written of late? His ‘Space Odyssey’ just a Prelude To fresh scores Inspiration derived from heaven’s wonders Soaring melodies among celestial subjects Musicians of old performing for the banquets of paradise His harmonies now enchant the angels As they tend to their earthly charges Their graceful […]

Poem: "Disrespectful Flesh"

Poem: “Disrespectful Flesh”

Nov 6 11 • 0 comments

Disrespectful Flesh As I walked along the river In the spate of rushing spring, I gave it voice and heard it lecture: You must die by summoning Man, remember you must die As I must hurry down to rest, The burning of the sun must dry My curvedness, so it confessed You and I must […]

Poem: "The Luckiest Tree"

Poem: “The Luckiest Tree”

The Luckiest Tree I am just a simple tree Though prouder you could never be, For near the outskirts of Bethany I hosted the Holy Family. Exhausted from their jaunting journey To Bethlehem town, by Caesar’s decree The woman with Child and husband, three Fleeing the sun sought me, sought me! That day still lurked […]

Foolish and Wise Bridesmaids

Foolish and Wise Bridesmaids

“The religion thing can wait. After all, I believe in God and am basically a good person. I really did intend to go to church this morning, but last night’s dancing took a lot more out of me than I thought and I had one drink too many. I’ll catch it next week. I’ll pray […]

Sexy in Context Is Holy

Sexy in Context Is Holy

Nov 5 11 • 3 comments

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—for your love is more delightful than wine. Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the young women love you! Take me away with you—let us hurry! Let the king bring me into his chambers. (Song of […]

Ireland Closes its Embassy to the Holy See: Details and Analysis

Ireland Closes its Embassy to the Holy See: Details and Analysis

Yesterday evening came a surprise announcement: Ireland will  close its Embassy to the Holy See in a move the Irish governement says is needed to cut government costs. The Irish embassy to the Holy See, located on the Janiculum Hill near to the residence of the American Ambassador to the Holy See and near the […]

Memoirs of the Apostle II: The Second Epistle of Saint Peter

Memoirs of the Apostle II: The Second Epistle of Saint Peter

The Second Epistle of Saint Peter is the twenty-second book of the New Testament and included in the collection known as the Catholic or universal epistles.  The author claims to be Simon Peter, apostle of Jesus, an eyewitness to the transfiguration, and a dear brother of the Apostle Paul.  Second Peter is as immeasurable as […]

Down Syndrome and the Unalienable Right to Life

Down Syndrome and the Unalienable Right to Life

Nov 4 11 • 0 comments

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” I often think of these words from The Declaration of Independence as I look into the eyes of my beautiful […]