John B. Manos

Easter-themed baskets with white and red decorations, featuring religious text "Christ is Risen" in red. Baskets contain greenery and white flowers, with lace and ribbon accents. The baskets are placed on a wooden surface near a window."

About that Easter Basket Later this week

Over the years, John DeJak and I post regular pictures and sonnets of praise and admiration for our Easter baskets. This old tradition in Mother Church has the faithful bringing special food to the Church on Holy Saturday to be blessed by the priest to provide food fitting for that first breakfast that breaks the fast…

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Two feet with faces and open mouths painted on them, showing expressions of surprise or screaming. The background is a plain gray surface.

What Do You Do? Do you Scream? Do You Shout?

Years ago, I recall Fr. Hardon talking about Communion in the hand, and at one point, after explaining some of the boneheaded things, Fr. asks, “what do you do? do you scream? do you shout?” Sometimes, it’s just that way with Mother Church. Today was no exception. I like to recall the saga in the past sometimes because…

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Cover of "The Bellarmine Forum" Winter 2015 issue, featuring a family silhouetted against a large cross at sunset. The title reads "Evangelizing the Family." The color scheme is warm with tones of yellow and orange."

Magazine: Evangelizing the Family! Winter 2015, Issue 3

Where do we go from here? For the two earlier issues, we looked at all the attacks on the family, and analyzed the importance of the family. Issue 3 presents the solutions! Our last issue of the Bellarmine Forum magazine in 2015, “Evangelizing the Family,” lends itself to plenty of food for thought. You ask, why would…

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A decorated Catholic church altar with a statue of Mary and baby Jesus, surrounded by poinsettias. Two angels kneel in front. Christmas trees with lights flank the altar, and religious paintings adorn the walls.

Who Needs a Savior?

I’m glad Christmas is an octave+. It’s just too much to soak in in one day. I heard that on a recent Polish polka show, the hosts were cracking a joke that Christmas for Poles begins at Midnight Mass and they don’t leave the house for 12 days. It’s funny because it’s true. Between the ham, the Christmas carols,…

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A large building with a dome illuminated at night, featuring bright blue and white lights. A prominent flame shoots upwards from the structure's facade, suggesting a religious or ceremonial event. The scene evokes Catholic themes with its grand architecture and dramatic lighting.

Man-Made Climate Change has Nothing to do with Nature Videos

This week there was a nature show projected on the face of St. Peter’s in the Vatican. I agree with many of the criticisms of the event, most importantly because St. Peter’s square is recognized worldwide as the place from which the Pope and the Church speak on the things of God. Sure, nature is creation and…

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Devotees conduct Kirtan in a Christian church. A group of people sing and pray before an ornate altar with religious icons, including a statue of Jesus. The church interior features wooden pews and golden decorations. Text reads: "Devotees Conduct Kirtan in a Christian Church"."

Tempting Akita’s Fire: AmChurch Wreckovations, Hare Krishnas, and Tokyo St. Ignatius Removes Kneelers

Back in the 90s, I remember seeing images of then Archbishop Rembert Weakland donning a miter that bore an upside down triangle with a rainbow and a rainbow chasuble. During those years, it was common to hear rumors of Churches being “renovated” and the end result being white washed interiors and sanctuaries being leveled and converted…

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The “Banquet Celebration” Mass is the Tail Wagging the Kasper Dog

Yesterday, I posted a longish post that got into the problem I see with some of the voices of the recent Synod of Bishops. Particularly, those who seem so concerned with providing a path to Holy Communion for divorced and remarried couples as well as some that wanted to figure out how to get so-called same sex…

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Mealy-Mouthed Secularist Prelates and the Attack on Grace

I’ve been biting my tongue through a lot of the synod and the biggest reason has been that I really did not want to pile onto the mountains of doom being dumped into Catholic discussion. Now that the relatio is out, and now that we see what it says, we wait for Pope Francis to put his…

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Cover of "The Bellarmine Forum" Summer 2015 issue featuring Pope John Paul II in white vestments. Text reads: "I speak with the power of His truth to all people...so that they will come to appreciate the great danger which follows when...the supreme values of the family and of human dignity are disregarded." The Family in Crisis."

Magazine: THE FAMILY IN CRISIS! Summer 2015, Vol. V, Issue 2

Frightening. That is the only way to describe the upcoming issue of the Bellarmine Forum magazine, The Family in Crisis.  It is simply not for the faint of heart. The first issue in 2015, In Defense of the Family, plainly stated the traditional meaning of marriage and family life. This second issue clearly shows the satanic forces…

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A golden-haloed angel in a red and orange robe with intricate patterns, holding two white scrolls. The figure stands on a brown base with wings spread wide. Text at the top reads "Archangel Michael."

Fr. Hardon on St. Michael the Archangel

Over the past nine days, we’ve had the novena to St. Michael on our Facebook page, with each day posting in the mornings. St. Michael is so many things, from assistant to the Blessed Mother at Fatima, to stalwart captain of the Heavenly Army, declaring to Satan, “Who is like God?” Given our situation today, where…

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