Monthly Archives: April 2013

Sandro Magister has an interesting piece on Pope Francis’ honeymoon with the media.  He lists a number of otherwise controversial remarks that were largely met with discreet silence.   Here’s his list: It is a popularity that acts as a … Continue reading →

The money quote: The Enlightenment was all about “freeing” the individual from the institutions, beliefs, and practices the philosophers of the eighteenth century in particular thought held them back from expressing themselves and achieving their own, self-directed lives.  Of course, … Continue reading →

How silky and appealing to itching ears! I believe that using Communion as such a manipulative tool surely profanes the sacrament. Perhaps these Catholic leaders should revisit their church’s theology of the Eucharist. Reception of the body and blood of … Continue reading →

Jeffrey Tucker asks:  Is Chant Like Folk Music Maybe people forget that Gregorian chant is premodern in its origin. It was not somehow invented in the age of winged collars, top hats, and mutton chops. It arose from the world … Continue reading →

Here’s an interesting story from La Stampa’s Vatican Insider: Born in Brazil 1938, Leonardo Boff joined the Franciscans in 1959 and was ordained priest in 1964. After gaining doctorates in theology and philosophy at the University of Munich, Germany, he … Continue reading →

Here’s the news.  Pictures at the link.  H/T Fr. Smuts. Richard Garnaut Multimedia Outline of Story The ordination of Fr Gordon William Barnier by Bishop James Foley DD – Bishop of Cairns was described as a historic event during the … Continue reading →

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, delivers a homily on Easter III for the bishops of England and Wales.   Here’s an excerpt (my emphases): What happens in the personal encounter with Jesus on the shore? We … Continue reading →

Since I read that Pope Francis prays fifteen decades of the Rosary a day, I thought I would try it, at least during Holy Week. Now it is over a month that God has given me the graces to do … Continue reading →

I haven’t had time to read it in great depth, but it has some interesting portions for sure. But this is kind of strange: Deborah’s transition, in solidarity with most of the community in which she worshipped, involved a rupture between her … Continue reading →

Just as there are debates over the definition over who is truly Catholic—and I hold to the view that unless you are officially in communion with the Bishop of Rome you are not Catholic—there are debates about how one defines … Continue reading →