Manos
One trick of Catholic practice to conquer your least favorite chore
Because the weather is more like a convection oven these days, and not wanting to feel roasted like St. Lawrence when doing the yard work today, I got all that done early this morning. I had surprised myself though when I noticed I was excited not because I was done with that chore, but rather because…
Who Else Wants to Hear a Story about Mary’s Care For Us and People We Can’t Stand?
In Mary’s Immaculate Heart, all things about Our Lord are magnified. She truly does make it easier to understand the essences of God and the form of the mysteries of our faith. That’s not a cliche! Let me illustrate by talking about that one thing we all know: that guy you can’t stand. Everybody has one. You know who…
Finish May, the Month of Mary, with an Indulgenced Bang
At the end of our Rosary, we pray the mystery of the Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth. May is a month dedicated to devotion to Mary. Traditionally, on the old calendar, today, the last day of May, is the feast of the Queenship of Mary. Fr. Hardon gives the history of the Litany…
Is Corpus Christi Interesting Enough to Draw Drunken Fops and Gun Salutes?
In recent years, there has been a push to make public processions again on Corpus Christi. Thank God! after all, that’s Our Lord, Living and Present in the Blessed Sacrament! We should boldly proclaim to the world the good news that Jesus is Risen from the Dead and lives among us! As we all know, not…
Is it Wrong to Judge a Catholic Parish by the Confession Schedule?
Back in the 90s, I encountered the “penance service” phenomenon whereat people were told to write their sins on a piece of paper and put them into a bowl that would be lit aflame to burn the sins. I never stayed for the finale, and had secretly hoped that the whole place would burn down…
When Pub Talks Turn to Fights: Of Gruner, Schism, Russia, Secrets, Fatima, and Plots Against The Plan of Mary
When the Pub talk Goes Sour, the Fisticuffs Ensue… I will be the first to admit that I love chewing on the tasty morsels of prophecy and end times. You can’t beat it — if the end is the conclusion, then you get to solve the puzzle working backwards to now. This is the great life of…
Kolbe’s Secret to the Best Month of Mary You’ve Ever Lived
May is the Month of the Blessed Mother Mary. Traditionally, people devoted a special care to do something special for their Blessed mother each day of May. I want to inspire you with “more” you can do and why. Best yet, I want to give you a story of St. Maximillian Kolbe’s secret, and how you can transform…
Farewell for Now, Faithful Friend, Mother Angelica
Sometimes life throws a bunch of curve balls your way and it’s difficult in the midst to see what sort of trip you’re really getting into. Sometimes, your whole life can change overnight. Back in my twenties, I took a month long vacation from work, and I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with it,…
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…
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…
