Several weeks ago, I wrote about my memorable visit to Denver, where I got to meet a few luminaries in the local church. Now Deacon Keith Fournier has reported on his visit there, and posted a speech delivered recently by Deacon Joseph Donohoe, the Director of Deacon Personnel for the Archdiocese of Denver, outlining developments in the diaconate therer. A snip below: A renewed emphasis has been placed on Deacons to study scripture and know the Gospels intimately, so that when... Read more
CNBC host Lawrence Kudlow—a Catholic convert—wonders if Pope Francis is opposed to the free market. Take a look at the clip below. Source. Read more
Details, from The Telegraph: Near death experiences in which people report “seeing the light” could be explained by increases in electrical activity in the brain after the heart stops, scientists have found. The first study to examine the neurophysiological state of the dying brain in animals has identified surges in activity, which suggest a level of consciousness after “clinical death” – when the heart stops beating and blood stops flowing to the brain. Researchers analyzed the recordings of brain activity... Read more
Thursday marks the Solemnity of the Assumption—n.b., a holy day of obligation—and an occasion for some memorable traditions, most notably the blessing of sea water. This is a custom we started at my parish several years ago (even though we are a long subway ride from the Atlantic Ocean). One of the priests collects some sea water in bottles and blesses it during Mass; it’s then used for sprinkling. (This being New York, the water is sometimes rather, um, fragrant.... Read more
CNBC host Lawrence Kudlow—a Catholic convert—wonders if Pope Francis is opposed to the free market. Take a look at the clip below. Source. Read more
That’s the provocative headline to this post by Msgr. Charles Pope, who raises some compelling points about the priest’s orientation during the celebration of Mass. Snip: There are many factors that have fed the crisis of the leadership among the clergy. But I propose that liturgical orientation is both emblematic of the crisis of leadership and also fuels it. While a priest is called to love his people, speak to their hearts and even to learn form them, he is most... Read more
Details, from AP: A judge in Tennessee changed a 7-month-old boy’s name to Martin from Messiah, saying the religious name was earned by one person and “that one person is Jesus Christ.” Child Support Magistrate Lu Ann Ballew ordered the name change last week, according to WBIR-TV (http://on.wbir.com/1cDOeTY).The boy’s parents were in court because they could not agree on the child’s last name, but when the judge heard the boy’s first name, she ordered it changed, too. “It could put him at... Read more
That’s the provocative headline to this post by Msgr. Charles Pope, who raises some compelling points about the priest’s orientation during the celebration of Mass. Snip: There are many factors that have fed the crisis of the leadership among the clergy. But I propose that liturgical orientation is both emblematic of the crisis of leadership and also fuels it. While a priest is called to love his people, speak to their hearts and even to learn form them, he is most... Read more
Thursday marks the Solemnity of the Assumption—n.b., a holy day of obligation—and an occasion for some memorable traditions, most notably the blessing of sea water. This is a custom we started at my parish several years ago (even though we are a long subway ride from the Atlantic Ocean). One of the priests collects some sea water in bottles and blesses it during Mass; it’s then used for sprinkling. (This being New York, the water is sometimes rather, um, fragrant.... Read more
This will change my life forever … Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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