Recent Comments
Liam on Sacramentum Caritatis 57: Part… Liam on Las Vegas, Moving On Up Liam on Las Vegas, Moving On Up Liam on Readings for the Conferral of… Todd Flowerday on Readings for the Conferral of… Liam on Readings for the Conferral of… Teiborlang Malngiang on Paschale Solemnitatis Outline Todd Flowerday on Sacramentum Caritatis 47:… Liam on Sacramentum Caritatis 47:… Liam on Sacramentum Caritatis 46: The…
Monthly Archives: August 2021
Legislating a Pope Emeritus
The NCReg is musing with its sources about what a pope emeritus is. Until now, Pope Francis has never wanted to define the figure of Pope Emeritus from a juridical point of view. However, he had maintained a cordial relationship … Continue reading
Posted in bishops, Church News
Leave a comment
Post-Conciliar Psalmody, A Gelineau Interlude
Liam was right to point out my omission of the Gelineau Gradual in post-conciliar psalmody. The shift from performance music to dialogue in the revised Roman Missal was tough on some folks, like this one. Wouldn’t you think there … Continue reading
Posted in Liturgical Music, Liturgy, Scripture
4 Comments
Fratelli Tutti 263: The Death Penalty
Today, we begin a look at the “death penalty.” It is a difficult topic. Many Christians and others consider its targets deserving of death, and so a difficult topic to defend and advocate. But many others consider it a sign … Continue reading
Posted in Fratelli Tutti
Leave a comment
Boycotting the Cheater
It’s a game I love to play. Honest. In 2016, the bridge federations of Italy and North America found an Italian world champion credibly accused of cheating while playing for Monaco in 2014 and banned him. He was cleared on … Continue reading
Posted in Games
Leave a comment
Fratelli Tutti 262: Last Thoughts On War
262. Rules by themselves will not suffice if we continue to think that the solution to current problems is deterrence through fear or the threat of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons. Deterrence has worked somewhat during the Cold War era. … Continue reading
Posted in Fratelli Tutti
Leave a comment
JP the First on the Beatification Trail
I was in college when we had the year of three popes. Who knows what the Church would have been like with a few years of John Paul in the see of Peter. Beatification up next on his and our … Continue reading
Posted in Church News, Saints
1 Comment
Fratelli Tutti 261: Leaving Things Worse
Some original thoughts from the Holy Father: 261. Every war leaves our world worse than it was before. War is a failure of politics and of humanity, a shameful capitulation, a stinging defeat before the forces of evil. This assessment … Continue reading
Posted in Fratelli Tutti
Leave a comment
Podcasting The Psalms
They gave me the keys to the parish podcast this summer. What do I know? Basic Scripture stuff. The Psalms. Last week’s on the 34th was my best, I think. I haven’t done voice audio for years–it goes back to … Continue reading
Posted in Parish Life, Scripture
Leave a comment
Augustine On A Higher Glory
It is a higher glory still to stay war itself with a word, than to slay men with the sword, and to procure or maintain peace by peace, not by war. I thought Pope Francis’ citation of today’s saint deserved … Continue reading
Posted in Peace, Saints
Leave a comment
Season Of Saint Michael
I was reading about two bishops. One is encouraging Pope Leo’s St Michael Prayer, and the other is forbidding it. The last time I had this discussion in person, we pondered the request that came in. I observed that it … Continue reading
Posted in spirituality
4 Comments
Fratelli Tutti 260: An Unfit Instrument
260. In the words of Saint John XXIII, “it no longer makes sense to maintain that war is a fit instrument with which to repair the violation of justice”. [Pacem in Terris] That reference is the 1963 encyclical letter, written … Continue reading
Posted in Fratelli Tutti
Leave a comment
Pandemic Quote of the Day: Leviticus 13:45-46
Were you paying attention on the 6th Sunday of Ordinary Time earlier this year? There was a little bit in Leviticus suggesting partial face covering and social distancing: The garments of one afflicted with a scaly infection shall be rent … Continue reading
Vatican City @ Olympics, Not Yet
I see Pope Francis recognized the paralympic games began: Yesterday, the Paralympics kicked off in Tokyo. I send my greetings to the athletes and I thank them because they offer everyone a testimony of hope and courage. They, in fact, … Continue reading
Posted in Commentary, Sports
Leave a comment
Fratelli Tutti 259: The Impact of Globalization on War
Pope Francis on the danger of world war in a modern world: 259. It should be added that, with increased globalization, what might appear as an immediate or practical solution for one part of the world initiates a chain of … Continue reading
Posted in Fratelli Tutti
Leave a comment
Catholic Sensibility 
High School Football Has No Place on TV
So, 58-0 happened on ESPN earlier tonight. Live from Canton, Ohio. Post-game here. As a sports fan and church watcher, let’s see how many wrong things I can count. First, a few sportswriters think Bishop Sycamore lied to get on … Continue reading →