John M. DeJak
Liturgical Dance
Recently there have been a number of posts on other blogs highlighting the ridiculous aberration of so-called “liturgical dance” and other abuses. The Bellarmine Forum, instead of cursing the darkness, would like to light a candle:
Baseball Cards Without Bubble Gum, 20 Years On
I recall finding out, to my horror, in the early 1990s, that Topps Baseball Card packages were no longer including their trademark brittle piece of gum that had been a mainstay of American boys’ youth since the late 1940s and early 1950s. At the time, my card collecting days were over but they were not for my…
Needed: Catholic Cab Drivers and Bartenders
Some years back–in an interview on EWTN–Francis Cardinal George, Archbishop of Chicago, was addressing some of the pressing needs of the Church. He said–and I paraphrase–“we need Catholic cab drivers and bartenders.” It was a comment that elicited a chuckle, but the truth of it was very serious and speaks to the way the Church understands…
A Conversation with Pasquino
Reproduced here, dear reader, is a conversation I had the other day with a longtime resident of Rome, Pasquino. While I conversed with him for awhile, I did not tape-record our conversation nor did I take copious notes–as that would have been rude. Since I did speak candidly and at length with him, however, on a great…
Roma Obscura: Bees, Brigands, and the Head of an Apostle
In the small amounts of free time that I’ve had in Rome, I must admit that I have tried to stay away from the big places. Of course, I made a visit to the major basilicas–one feels the need to visit these chief shrines of the Church of Rome–but I must be getting old because I…
Roman Journal: (A bit more than a) Mid-Point Report
Greetings all, from Borgo Santo Spirito 4: The Curia of the Society of Jesus (see below right). Already I am following in the footsteps of the great Hilaire Belloc who broke every vow he made on day 2 of his Roman pilgrimage. Instead of giving you a daily update, I am giving you an update a…
On Pilgrimages
One hundred twelve years ago this month, Hilaire Belloc left his wife and several children (5, I believe) back in England while he made a pilgrimage across the continent to Rome for the Feast of SS. Peter and Paul. He began in his old garrison town where he served a stint in a French artillery…
Our Lady of Fatima and Two Humble Priests
Having learned of Pope Francis’s desire to entrust his Pontificate to Our Lady of Fatima, I decided to settle down to the famous Fatima documentary from the mid-1980s narrated by Ricardo Montelban. Besides enjoying the suave and debonair devout Catholic and proprietor of TV’s Fantasy Island, something struck me in this documentary about Our Lady’s message to…
Quo vadis, Cardinal Dolan?
Of the prelates of the Church that I think I might most enjoy having a drink with, His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan would be the one. His affability and Irish charm would no doubt be the life of the party. We would probably laugh uproariously over some jokes, enjoy some good conversation, and he would…
The End of the Soldier
Chesterton famously commented, “The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.” In this pithy statement, Chesterton encapsulates the end or purpose of a soldier. We saw this honored with the posthumous awarding of the Congressional Medal of Honor to Army Chaplain…
