This week: Comedian Michael Jr talks about fatherhood. A funny spoof video on the new encyclical on the environment. A classic Fulton Sheen show on angels. When an “angel” visited a terrible auto accident. The Archdiocese of Washington’s vocational promotion video for the priesthood. Children are asked (tactfully) for their views on abortion. Andrew Klavan tries to make sense of “gender.”

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I have never heard of this comedian (but then again, the ones I can name are mostly dead). Anyway, Michael Jr (apparently his name) recorded this video for Father’s Day and it is really good:

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Some people clearly have too much time on their hands. This video is entitled “Pope Francis in The Encyclical: the epic battle against the climate crisis”:

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There was a reason the (now) Venerable Fulton J. Sheen had the #1 television show that even the popular Milton Berle could not top. Here is a wonderful episode that I watched recently on angels. Remember, this was live TV:

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You may remember this story from last year of a terrible auto accident that critically hurt and trapped a young woman. Rescuers tried everything to get her out, but nothing worked. Then suddenly, a man appeared holding a bottle of anointing oil and asked to pray for and anoint the victim. As quickly as he appeared he vanished. None of the many people on the scene saw him come or leave, as if it were an angel.

The young woman survived and is recovering well. The “angel” was later identified as a Catholic priest (Fr. Patrick Dowling of the Diocese of Jefferson City), which makes the story no less awesome. This is what priests do. They attend, comfort – and most importantly – stand for our Lord to give desperately needed grace.

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This is another great priest vocation promotion video. This one is from the Archdiocese of Washington, filmed last summer:

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Children are asked, in a very tactful way appropriate to their age, for their viewpoint on abortion.

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Andrew Klavan wonders what gender are you? The always sensitive commentator takes a look at the exciting world of “gender.”

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Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was begun by Jennifer Fulwiler and is now continued by Kelly Mantoan. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Kelly for hosting this project!

This week: The latest issue of New Evangelists Monthly awaits your perusal. Ascension Press has launched an excellent new video evangelism initiative. Congressman Sean Duffy makes an impassioned pro-life plea. Taylor Marshall explains five common apologetical mistakes. The 2015 graduation speech that should have been given. Watch as a fan catches a foul baseball from a totally new vantage point. Tomorrowland, at least it looked like it might have been good.

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Issue #30, June 2012, of New Evangelists Monthly is ready for your enjoyment! Scores of faithful Catholic bloggers have contributed their very best pieces from May. Contributing authors this month include: Stephen Korsman, Nancy Shuman, Adam Crawford, David Wong, Kathleen Laplante, Cindy Hurla, Dave Wanat, Dn. Scott Dodge, Ellen Gable Hrkach, Larry Peterson, Fr. Chori Jonathin Seraiah, Matthew Coffin, Lisa Laverty, Roxane Salonen, Carolyn Astfalk, Melanie Jean Juneau, Monica McConkey, Bonnie Way, Christian LeBlanc, Barbara Hosbach, Rick Becker, Sr. Margaret Obrovac, Morgan McFarlin, Matt Nelson, Virginia Lieto, Birgit Jones, Matthew Bellisario, Matthew Plese, Tony Agnesi, Connie Rossini, Blythe Kaufman, Margaret Felice, John Schroeder, John Kenkel, Chibuzor Ogamba, Jamie Jo, Sarah Thèrése, Chris Capolino, Robert Collins, Ruth Ann Pilney, Jenn Tatum, Melissa Overmyer, Molly Oshatz, Fr. Tucker Cordani, Shannon Ball, Faith Flaherty, Tracy Smith, Rich Maffeo, Reese Cumming, Rose O’Donnell, Michael Seagriff, Fr. Ben Hadrich, Rita Buettner, RJ Martin, David Torkington, Anita Moore, Shannon Vandaveer, MC, George Sipe, Sr. Maresa Lilley, Lyn Mettler, Leslie Klinger, Laura Peredo, Lianna Mueller, Jessica and Manny Archuleta, Bartimaeus Timeo, Joseph Shaw, Sue Elvis, Lisa Ponchak, Tami Schuelke, Jennifer Hansen, Drusilla, Larry T, Sr. Anne Marie Walsh, Tom Perna, Kathleen S, Paul Roy, Brian Gill, Denise Hunnell, Amy Parris, Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Susan Fox, Tara, Ruth Curcuru, Joe LaCombe, Kim Padan, Emily Borman, Dennis McGeehan, Julian Barkin, Matt McCormick, Fr. Richard Delillio and Fr. Errol Fernandes.

This monthly “meta-magazine” showcases faithful Catholicism from theology to family life and “everything in between.” Enjoy it now at NewEvangelists.org.

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Ascension Press is an extraordinary developer of superb, engaging catechetical materials. Truly excellent.

Their latest initiative is Ascension Presents which they describe as “an evangelistic platform bringing entertaining, faith-filled, and dynamic presenters straight to your newsfeed. By providing engaging content for our audience that reflects the good, the true and the beautiful we hope to bring their hearts closer to Christ.”

Go to their website and check it out. This is really good stuff.

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It is difficult to know how strongly congressmen feel toward their position on abortion (pro-abortion or pro-life). Some seem to have adopted their position because their party told them to and they don’t care enough to differ. Here is one pro-life Republican (Rep. Sean Duffy) who cares passionately:

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Taylor Marshall explains five common mistakes we make when explaining our faith:

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Graduations are over and their speeches are already forgotten. They were forgettable, being mostly patronizing fluff. Various people have taken a crack at writing what should have been said. Here is one for this year from (Pulitzer Prize winning Washington Post columnist) George Will that is excellent:

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A fan at a baseball game catches a foul ball. It happens all the time, but this time the guy was wearing a head-mounted camera. Watch as he snags the ball:

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Bill Whittle saw Tomorrowland. It had such potential, but alas turns out to be little more than plot-less, poorly acted, liberal propaganda piece. Sigh.

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Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was begun by Jennifer Fulwiler and is now continued by Kelly Mantoan. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Kelly for hosting this project!

This week: A new video apologetical series from a young person’s perspective. The USCCB’s video call to prayer. The crazy, surreal world of those choosing separation from God. Setting the middle east toward nuclear destruction – our biggest policy blunder ever. Lumen Entertainment presents Skiff and AJ’s latest video. From the CJ automotive desk – the making of the Tesla Model S. Lying to achieve political ends.

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Ali-Marie Thompson is a young Catholic apologist who is building an impressive collection of videos explaining topics of our faith. She has recorded over 50 My Catholic Perspective segments over the last year. See her YouTube channel for more.

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The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) published this video 2 years ago, but I just came across it. The description says the USCCB calls “for a nationwide effort to advance a movement for Life, Marriage, and Religious Liberty through prayer, penance, and sacrifice.” What was on their mind then has not gotten any better.

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A world without God seems to be the goal of many these days. By His love, every person has the free will to make that choice for themselves. Their goal will be their eternal reality.

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Israel has long had the atomic bomb. Count on them having very capable delivery systems and high-yield warheads. It was a hedge for them against an uncertain future where their enemies might get “the bomb.” That has not happened so nuclear Armageddon in the middle east has not happend.

That is about to change in a big, big way due to our president’s “negotiations” with Iran. You are free to interpret it as you wish. Iran’s neighbors interpret it as giving them the green light and are extremely alarmed. They have the means to similarly arm themselves in their own self-defense and now feel forced to take that path. This may go down as the biggest foreign policy blunder in our history.

The Jerusalem Post has this report: Saudi Arabia in talks to purchase Pakistani nuclear weapons.

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Skiff and AJ continue to explore the interior of a church. In their latest episode (#6), the look at the confessional.

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I can’t afford a Tesla Model S. My 2001 vehicle is nice and doing just fine anyway. The Tesla however, is a really cool car (does “cool” date me?). Anyway, I came across this video on how they are made. Spoiler: mostly by robots.

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Lying to achieve a worthy end is a valid tactical decision, according to Muslim scholars (known as taqiyya and kitman). This tactic has been embraced beyond the Muslim world and is now routinely injected into American politics, again and again and again.

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Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was begun by Jennifer Fulwiler and is now continued by Kelly Mantoan. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Kelly for hosting this project!

This week: How exactly DO WE go to heaven? Huggies produces a surprisingly good, pro-life (although probably not intended as such) commercial. Racists come in two forms, one you know, one you may not. A car that squeezes into the tiniest parking spaces. A self-driving concept at the other end of the automotive spectrum. The Jihad Tango. Our Middle East foreign policy, leading the world to the brink (in a decade or so, some future president can take the blame).

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Jimmy Akin has a new book called The Drama of Salvation which will provide a good explanation of salvation to folks who just don’t feel confident in their understanding of salvation. Here, Jimmy provides the brief answer:

Other related videos include Have You Been Saved? , Are We Saved 'By Faith Alone?' , Is There Salvation Outside the Church? , What Are 'Works of the Law?' and Why Do Penance? .

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Huggies, at least for Brazil, has produced this wonderful, life affirming commercial:

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My favorite Martin Luther King, Jr. quote (from his “I have a dream” speech) is “I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Spot on and beautifully said.

Yet, that is not what we do. There still are racists. Some racists put people down simply because of the color of their skin. Others, for the same reason, elevate them. Both are racists. This young lady (Chloe Valdary) explains it well:

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This is bizarre. A German “micro-car” that literally scrunches-up and moves sideways to fit into tiny parking spots. Videos and the story is at the Daily Mail. Forget parallel parking.

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Also from the Convert Journal automotive technology desk is this “concept video” from Bosch on how a self-driving car might work:

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Certainly there are “moderate” Muslims, maybe even the majority. In the same vein, there are pro-abortion “Catholics”. Wishing Islam to be the religion of peace does not make it so. Jeff Harris at Sword of Peter illustrates the nature of true Islam:

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In the news this week, we learn how Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries are poised to abandon their non-nuclear status and seek to develop nuclear weapons as quickly as possible. This is in direct response to Obama’s foreign policy. All this time you thought he was at least good at that…

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Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was begun by Jennifer Fulwiler and is now continued by Kelly Mantoan. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Kelly for hosting this project!

This week: The May issue of New Evangelists Monthly awaits your perusal. A video of encouragement for all you overworked moms from Igniter Media. A beautiful video tribute to a mom from Teleflora. The joy of…   cows, when released to pasture for the first time after a long winter. An Australian emergency ward has an unexpected, late night visitor. Skiff and AJ discover the sanctuary. Berlin 70 years ago (summer 1945), a rare color HD glimpse right after WWII.

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Issue #29, May 2015, of New Evangelists Monthly is ready for your enjoyment! Scores of faithful Catholic bloggers have contributed their very best pieces from April. Contributing authors this month include: Virginia Lieto, Christian LeBlanc, Larry Fox, Susan Fox, Rick Becker, Blythe Kaufman, Sarah Thèrése, Adam Crawford, Mike Landry, Joseph Shaw, Jenn Tatum, Stephen Korsman, Molly Oshatz, Mallory Hoffman, Elizabeth Reardon, Rich Maffeo, Barbara Szyszkiewicz, David Wong, Nancy Ward, Nancy Shuman, Larry T, Reese Cumming, Frank Rega, John Schroeder, Sr. Margaret Obrovac, Matthew Plese, Andy McNutt, Fr. Chori Jonathin Seraiah, MC, Chris Capolino, John Donaghy, Fr. Ben Hadrich, David Torkington, Dn. Scott Dodge, Lyn Mettler, Ruth Ann Pilney, Emily Hartung, Dave Wanat, Leslie Klinger, Jamie Jo, Larry Peterson, Ebeth Weidner, Melanie Jean Juneau, Matt McCormick, Julian Barkin, Tony Agnesi, Rose O’Donnell, Tara, Bartimaeus Timeo, Laura McAlister, Alexandrina Brant, Michael Seagriff, Lisa Laverty, Fr. Adrian Danker, Fr. John Corrigan, Lisa Ponchak, Carolyn Astfalk, Kevin Shaw, Emily Borman, Roxane Salonen, RJ Martin, Laura Pearl, Drusilla, Ruth Curcuru, Jessica and Manny Archuleta, Fr. Tucker Cordani, Billie Jo Stoltz, Melissa Overmyer, Kim Padan, Shannon Vandaveer, Allen Hebert, Barbara Hosbach, Debbie Gaudino, Ron Moffat, Barbara Schoeneberger, Jennifer Hansen, Sr. Maresa Lilley, Joe LaCombe, Robert Collins, Ishmael Alighieri, Monica McConkey, Tara Baker, Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Matthew Coffin, Gregory Watson, Rick Rice, Rita Buettner, Morgan McFarlin, Shannon Evans, Tracy Smith, Fr. Errol Fernandes and Tom Perna.

This monthly “meta-magazine” showcases faithful Catholicism from theology to family life and “everything in between.” Enjoy it now at NewEvangelists.org.

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Happy Mother’s Day (Sunday)! Igniter Media offers this encouragement to you overworked moms:

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Of course, Mother’s Day is a big commercial opportunity too. Even so, some advertisements are exceptional such as this one from Teleflora:

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Spring brings Easter, Mother’s Day, new life. People are not God’s only creatures who celebrate the season! Over the winter, dairy cows remain inside. Imagine their happiness when they are finally left out. Cows are not known for joyous emotional displays, but watch this as they first return to the great outdoors:

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Speaking of animal antics, late one night recently a hospital in Australia had a koala bear wander into the emergency room to check it out:

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Skiff and AJ continue to explore the interior of a church. In their latest episode (#5), the look at the sanctuary. Yea, I know it is basic, but may be of interest to my non-Catholic readers.

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Finally, let’s jump back 70 years to the summer of 1945 when WWII had just ended. Our boys were returning home to normalcy, but Europe had a lot of rebuilding to do. Here is newly released HD color footage of Berlin and other German cities (great at full-screen):

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Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was begun by Jennifer Fulwiler and is now continued by Kelly Mantoan. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Kelly for hosting this project!