Category Archives: Neil

(This is Neil) For Christmas, I wanted to briefly comment on a pastoral letter by the Bishop of Aberdeen, Hugh Gilbert, OSB, on silence (ht: Fr. Z). “We live in a noisy world,” the Bishop begins. Christmas is no exception – … Continue reading →

(This is Neil) I’m relatively sure that a few basic web searches will yield lists of bad – perhaps even “the worst”- churches, religious music, and artwork. And, yes, many of the pictures will show cringe-worthy aesthetic and architectural disasters. … Continue reading →

(This is Neil) Let’s say that someone tells you, with both finality and unmistakable sadness, “There is no hope for the church.” You, hoping that she has used “hope” in a somewhat indefinite way, say, “Look, there might be no … Continue reading →

(This is Neil) It might seem quite odd to write a post – especially because I write so infrequently – about a single scene from a cancelled television show. “The Chicago Code,” although I was sorry to see it go, … Continue reading →

(This is Neil) I’m looking for a word. Perhaps there isn’t such a word. Maybe there is. I think that there should be such a word. But let me clarify: I’m not looking for this word because I want to … Continue reading →

(This is Neil) I’ve just read a very interesting short article [PDF] by Adam Deville in the Canadian Journal of Orthodox Christianity. (I should admit that just a short while ago, I was completely unaware of the existence of this … Continue reading →

(This is Neil) “That they all may be one, as you, Father, in me, and I in you; that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:21) In this … Continue reading →

(This is Neil) I always feel cautious about generalizing about something like the “Catholic blogosphere,” but I think that I can say a few things. When I began contributing to Todd’s blog, most Catholic bloggers were amateurs or popular writers, … Continue reading →

(This is Neil) “We have martyrs in all the Churches….here in Rome we have St Bartholomew’s for all the modern martyrs. I think that what John Paul II said, that between the martyrs we have perfect unity and when we … Continue reading →

(This is Neil) For we know, though we have to work hard for unity of all the people of God, unity is not our human work and achievement; it is a gift of the Spirit, the gift of a renewed … Continue reading →

(This is Neil) Day 5 Breaking the Bread in Hope Readings Exodus 16:13b-21a It is bread the Lord has given you to eat Psalm 116:12-14, 16-18 I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice 1 Corinthians 11:17-18, 23-26 Do this … Continue reading →

(This is Neil) Day 4 Sharing, an Expression of Our Unity Readings Isaiah 58:6-10 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry Psalm 37:1-11 Trust in the Lord and do good Acts 4:32-37 Everything they owned was held … Continue reading →