Kyrie Eleison

Jeff Mirus at Catholic Culture, whom I have the greatest respect, has recommended an article from First Things on immigration called Our Muddled Masses.  Catholic Culture is an outstanding source for an authentically Catholic perspective on issues, but I think Jeff misses the mark on this article. Jeff”s take is that the original article provides [...]

I know that The Biggest Loser is not the height of TV excellence, but I was watching it a couple days ago (Jan 5).  While it won’t win any TV awards and there is a sense in which the misery of others is exploited as entertainment, there is also an element that is good and [...]

Does society have a common vision? Is a common vision needed for a society to survive? Can we maintain a union if we are not united? What unites us? What does it mean to be united? Is trust needed to be united? What does it mean to trust? Whom do we trust? Whom do we [...]

Imagine a garbage collector strike in Toronto.Imagine a little girl picking up litter in the park.Now imagine the strikers teaching the little girl a lesson.Imagine no more, the video is here: There is nothing like Christian charity, and that union workers display certainly was nothing like Christian charity. It kind of reminds me of someone [...]

I was visiting my sister-in-law and her husband this past weekend in Arizona.  Both are graduate students at Arizona State, and we took some time to walk around the campus.  It was a nice enough campus – nothing that really stands out as good or bad.  There was one thing I noticed that got me [...]

This is the third of a three part series. The first part (Names Part I: The Illogic Of The Term Pro-Choice) discussed the term “choice” as used by abortion proponents.  The second part (Names Part II: What Do You Mean By Progress?) discussed the illogic of the term progress or progressive when used to promote [...]

This is a post that I also published to Catholic Dads. I thought fellow dads might be interested in a list of items on how to be a great dad from The Art of Manliness. I have reproduced just the list part, without the additional explanation. You can go to the article for the details. [...]

click here for a larger image Yesterday, I discussed how human fulfillment develops in regards to three universal needs – work, love, and God. A society can be diagnosed according to how well it hinders or fosters development in terms of these needs. It is important to realize that these ideas stem from a realist [...]

click here for a larger image There are three basic needs each man must satisfy for fulfillment, to achieve his potential. Freud identified two of these (though he is not the first nor is he alone) when he talked about love and work. Saint Benedict had a more complete picture with “ora et labora” or [...]

Being anointed doesn’t mean having it easy. Sunday’s readings struck me about this idea of anointing. The reading was on how David was finally accepted as King after Saul’s death (2 Sm 5:1-3). David was anointed king when he was a boy, but he did not become king until much time and pain had passed. [...]

Two stories that caught my attention in the past 24 hours: Marinovich arrested in Newport – OCRegister.com: “NEWPORT BEACH – Onetime standout USC quarterback Todd Marinovich faces the latest in a long run of legal troubles after being charged with felony drug possession and resisting a police officer. Marinovich, 38, allegedly ran from police who [...]

When I had finished all of my schooling, I remember talking politics with my father – I think it was about welfare and helping the poor in our society. I was saying that everyone has the same opportunity and that why should those of us who have struggled and created a place for ourselves be [...]

I have been reading much of the reaction that the American (and other) bishops and the entrenched liturgical establishment has to say about the Moto Proprio, Summorum Pontificum, that Pope Benedict released 10 days ago. Fr. Z has a listing of these, with intelligent commentary (far more intelligent than most of the original pieces). His [...]

I have some thoughts on pride especially when found in Christians, and particularly the Catholic variety. This is the first of at least two parts. The concept of Christian Pride or Catholic Pride is an oxymoron. I am glad I am Christian. I am grateful to God most high that I am Catholic. It is [...]

Tomorrow is the 4th of July. The day we Americans celebrate the birth of our nation. I have always been patriotic, and that increased after the 9/11 attacks. But what does it mean to be an American, and how does that fit in with being a Catholic? I would consider myself patriotic, and believe that [...]

I finally got to watch Champions of Faith. It is a DVD of Catholic professional baseball players sharing their faith and how it has impacted them in life and in the game. It intermingles baseball as a metaphor for life with real world life examples from these players lives. Before I was offered the opportunity [...]

I would bet that many of you who were raised Catholic can remember getting the cardboard “rice bowls” at Lent (I don’t remember seeing them in a while). The nuns at my school would make sure that each of us had one. I remember sacrificing just a bit to fill that bowl. As an adult, [...]

Me monk. Me meander.: Public Liturgical Roles: Lectors, Cantors, Extraordinary Ministers of Communion, Cantors and PROPER CLOTHING Check out Fr. Stephanos’ thoughts on attire at mass. It is important to keep in mind the profound reasons behind the simple things we do – like dress “up” for Mass.

Check out:Me monk. Me meander.: Spirituality and Men This is an excellent list of Fr. Stephonos posts on authentic Christian masculinity. Highly recommended.

Click on picture for larger image At Catholic Dads, there has been some discussions on the pluses and minuses of NFP (Natural Family Planning – for those who don’t know it is an effective way to plan when children are born without resorting to artificial contraceptives). I don’t want to comment directly on that discussion, [...]