This week: The Benedictine Monks of Norcia have a new Marian chant CD. Exploring “free will” and the nature of the human soul. Jeff Harris recalls Bishop Fulton Sheen’s words on the soul. Another Chosen preview video, this time on the Sacrament of Baptism. Lumen Entertainment’s short video on the altar rail. Lutheran Satire meets Mormon missionaries. Some interviews with young voters.

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The Benedictine Monks of Norcia have a new Marian chant CD. Amazon (probably De Montfort Music, the producer) describes it thus:

Inspiring, beautiful music of Chant at it’s very best – from Italy by The Monks of Norcia. BENEDICTA: Marian Chant from Norcia is the title for this new recording of 33 tracks of Gregorian chant, including favorite Marian antiphons such as “Regina Caeli” and “Ave Regina Caelorum” but also previously unrecorded chant versions of responsories and a piece originally composed by the monks.

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Frank Pastore looks at the nature of “free will” for Prager University. This is good stuff, essentially exposing the human soul as distinct from the body’s biological machine.

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Speaking of the human soul, Jeff Harris at Sword of Peter recalls Venerable Fulton Sheen’s words:

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Sarah Swafford talks about symbols and baptism. This is a preview video from the Ascension Press Chosen faith formation course.

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Skiff and AJ continue to explore the interior of a church. In their latest episode (#4), the look at the altar rail. They really only touch on what it is, not why it is important. Research this and when your parish renovates, ask that it be put back.

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Lutheran Satire meets Mormon missionaries:

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It is amazing how many people, particularly young people, want to use their vote to “make history” vs. choosing the best candidate. In the next presidential election, the best candidate may or may not be black, white, Hispanic, male, female, whatever. Voting for them because of these physical traits is just as bad as voting against them for any such trait.

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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 true road to happiness. The problem of suffering. Can you be good without God? What is “Cruciform”? The fruits of a diversity focus above all else in academia. Selective media outrage. Scraping away the mold.

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How many self-help books have been written on the road to happiness? There are so many theories. Everyone has their own take, but so many paths lead away from it.

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Fr. Mark Toups addresses the problem of suffering. This is a preview video from the Ascension Press Chosen faith formation course.

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Atheists often claim adherence to a moral code. Is it possible to be “good” without God? Who determines what “good” is?

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In their third episode, Skiff and AJ (Lumen Entertainment’s What’s What In the Church animated characters) figure-out what Cruciform is:

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America’s colleges and universities are rife with racism, sexism and homophobia — or so many are told. It’s a lie and it is costing you and your college-bound offspring a fortune to maintain. Heather MacDonald explains this oft-told claim for Prager University.

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Jeff Harris at Sword of Peter captures the hypocrisy of the media:

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Finally, from the safe food supply desk here at Convert Journal we have this story. Mold – just scrape it off…   you know, the bit that grows on fruits and vegetables. Some mold is beneficial and it’s just on the surface, right?

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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. The new Cinderella movies gets high marks from Father Barron. Typical, trashy dolls get a make-over into something desirable and appropriate. The Easter transformation of St. John Cantius in half-a-minute. The self-authored obituary of Emily Phillips. Science proves (and glorifies and exalts) God. Lutheran Satire pokes at atheistic arguments to the contrary.

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Issue #28, April 2015, of New Evangelists Monthly is ready for your enjoyment! Scores of faithful Catholic bloggers have contributed their very best pieces from March. Contributing authors this month include: Virginia Lieto, Brantly Millegan, Monica McConkey, Birgit Jones, Rick Becker, Tracy Smith, Carolyn Astfalk, Ellen Kolb, Ellen Gable Hrkach, Nancy Shuman, Mike Landry, David Torkington, Adam Crawford, Matt Nelson, Ruth Curcuru, John Donaghy, George Sipe, Nancy Ward, Timothy McCormick, Michael Seagriff, Rakhi McCormick, Jenn Tatum, Anthony Layne, Robert Collins, Ebeth Weidner, Elizabeth Reardon, John Schroeder, David Wong, Matthew Plese, Lisa Ponchak, Rich Maffeo, Fr. Ben Hadrich, Larry Peterson, Sr. Margaret Obrovac, MC, Connie Rossini, Sarah Thèrése, Leslie Klinger, Drusilla, Tony Agnesi, Tom Perna, Fr. Chori Jonathin Seraiah, Chris Capolino, Dn. Scott Dodge, Ruth Ann Pilney, Shannon Vandaveer, Lyn Mettler, Blythe Kaufman, Melissa Overmyer, Jamie Jo, Rita Buettner, Elena, Melanie Jean Juneau, Lawrence and Susan Fox, Sr. Maresa Lilley, Jessica and Manny Archuleta, Debbie Gaudino, Larry T, Roxane Salonen, Fr. Tucker Cordani, Sara Boyle, Christian LeBlanc, Joe LaCombe, RJ, Gregory Watson, Barbara Hosbach, Joseph Shaw, Shannon Evans, Margaret Felice, Rose O’Donnell, Katie O’Keefe, Carolyn Smith, Lisa Laverty, Laura Pearl, Matt McCormick, Philip Kosloski, Bonnie Way, Jennifer Cerino, Jennifer Hansen, Heidi Knofczynski, Justin Soutar, Nicole Ernest, Dave Wanat, Barbara Szyszkiewicz, Emily Davis, Mallory Hoffman, Reese Cumming, Rick Rice, Cindy Hurla, Bartimaeus Timeo, Allen Hebert, Molly Oshatz, Amanda Rose, Rebecca LaBriola, Fr. Errol Fernandes, Msgr. Charles Pope, Shannon Ball and Fr. Adrian Danker.

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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Father Barron finds many classic Christian themes in the new Cinderella movie. It sounds like a perfect movie for the whole family.

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Unlike Cinderella, not everything is suitable for the whole family. Or even the targeted demographic – little girls. I am speaking of the trashy dolls manufacturers make. One lady began “fixing” them and the floodgates of demand have opened. Hopefully manufacturers will notice.

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A transformation of the sanctuary must take place after Good Friday in preparation for Easter. Here St. John Cantius in Chicago collapses one such effort to about 30 seconds:

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Emily Phillips has died. Beyond friends and family, few knew her. Many more know her now through her obituary – which she wrote.

It begins “It pains me to admit it, but apparently, I have passed away. Everyone told me it would happen one day but that’s simply not something I wanted to hear, much less experience.”

This is an excellent piece of writing, informative and funny. Read it HERE.

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We Catholics do not see any conflict between science and God. Eric Metaxas, speaking for Prager University, quite correctly sees science speaking FOR God:

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Speaking on the other side, we have atheists like Richard Dawkins. Here, the wacky dudes and dudettes at Lutheran Satire have fun with his poor arguments:

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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 nature of Mass and a wonderful new video, presented by Fr. Mike Schmitz for Ascension Press. Fixing the pope’s pizza problem (sometimes bold action is required). Dr. Gerald Schroeder suggests a scientific proof for God. On a related note, science struggles to understand even common things. Skiff and AJ reflect on pews. Deducing the rules for religious self-identification of the comically biased media. The evil rich do not pay their fair share (or so many have been told to believe).

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I heard an explanation of the Mass recently that left me sad. Too many Catholics understand the source and summit of Christian life far too poorly. In this case, enlightened by the offered instruction alone, none would have been able to articulate its fundamental, intrinsic nature. It is the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It is a SACRIFICE. The once and for all, everlasting sacrifice of Christ for the salvation of mankind. The instruction I heard referred to the Altar of Sacrifice as a “table”. It most certainly is not. Ascension Press (as usual) “gets it” in this new video:

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Pizzeria co-owner Enzo Cacialli read that the Holy Father missed being able to go out to a pizzeria. So he made a special pizza and “delivered” it personally to Pope Francis’ speeding popemobile.

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Scientist Dr. Gerald Schroeder believes there is a relatively straight-forward proof for God. He holds doctorates in both science and physics from MIT. I remain doubtful (of this “proof” and a need for one, not doubtful of God!). It is at least interesting…

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Science does not purport to be the means to all knowledge. In fact, it addresses only a fairly narrow subset. Lack of scientific proof does not make anything false (otherwise, we would no longer need scientists to uncover new knowledge). Sometimes, even common, everyday things elude scientific understanding.

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This is the second Lumen Entertainment “What’s What In the Church” video. Skiff and AJ (the characters) reflect on pews:

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This is funny and so true! The wacky dudes and dudettes at Lutheran Satire have again produced an insightful video. This time, the (completely biased, anti-Christian, liberal) media’s apparent rules for recognizing religious self-identification:

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Everybody (at least most liberals) understand as a matter of faith the “fact” that the rich do not pay their fair share. UCLA Professor of Economics Dr. Lee Ohanian, speaks for Prager University:

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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. The folks at Lumen Entertainment launch a new series of 1 minute, catechetical short films: What’s What in the Church. Chris Stefanick on saying “yes” to Jesus. Jeff Harris illustrates our president’s view. The largest cave in the world. How dark were the “dark ages”? Ben Shapiro looks at American Jewish identity.

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Issue #27, March 2015, of New Evangelists Monthly is ready for your enjoyment! Scores of faithful Catholic bloggers have contributed their very best pieces from February. Contributing authors this month include: Adam Crawford, Chris Capolino, Nancy Shuman, Virginia Lieto, Birgit Jones, Allen Hebert, Cindy Hurla, Christian LeBlanc, Carolyn Astfalk, Tracy Smith, Jamie Jo, Ellen Kolb, Blythe Kaufman, Barbara Schoeneberger, John Schroeder, Nicole Ernest, Kathleen Laplante, David Wong, MC, Timothy McCormick, Margaret Felice, Molly Oshatz, Monica McConkey, Fr. Gerald Souza, Lisa Ponchak, Mary Beth Brummond, Tony Agnesi, Lawrence and Susan Fox, Melanie Jean Juneau, Jennifer Hansen, Anabelle Hazard, Debbie Gaudino, Jenn Tatum, Lisa Laverty, Michael Seagriff, Sr. Margaret Obrovac, Rick Becker, Nancy Ward, Jessica and Manny Archuleta, Fr. Chori Jonathin Seraiah, Shannon Evans, Dn. Scott Dodge, Melissa Overmyer, Fr. Tucker Cordani, Fr. Ben Hadrich, Leslie Klinger, Matthew Plese, Bonnie Way, George Sipe, Jim Curley, Ellen Gable Hrkach, Ruth Ann Pilney, Michael Brandon, Lyn Mettler, Heidi, Heidi Knofczynski, Bartimaeus Timeo, Barbara Szyszkiewicz, Rich Maffeo, Elizabeth Reardon, Rita Buettner, Fr. Adrian Danker, Roxane Salonen, Brantly Millegan, Shannon Vandaveer, Mark Langley, Matt Nelson, Sue Elvis, Sr. Maresa Lilley, Matt McCormick, Mike Landry, Thomas and Deborah Richard, Rebecca LaBriola, Sarah Thèrése, Rose O’Donnell, Laura Pearl, Barbara Hosbach, Jeff Walker, Fr. Errol Fernandes, Justin Soutar, Larry Peterson, Vinny Carr, Drusilla, David Torkington, Philip Kosloski, Reese Cumming, Larry T, Mallory Hoffman, Emily Davis, Ashley Woleben, Ruth Curcuru, Rick Rice, Joe LaCombe, Jennifer Cerino, Dennis McGeehan, Laura Kazlas, Kathryn Cooper and Ishmael Alighieri.

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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This is something new and a little odd. The folks at Lumen Entertainment make these “What’s What In the Church” videos. They are very short and very basic. Here are Skiff and AJ (the characters):

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This week, Chris Stefanick explores saying “yes” to Jesus.

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Often (usually?) Jeff Harris at Sword of Peter doesn’t have to be all that clever. Really, just illustrate the news:

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Hang Son Doong (located in Vietnam) is the largest cave in the world. No small “hole in the ground”, this is more like a journey to Middle Earth. This video was shot at the entrance and a the first two “dolines” (skylights – 2.5 and 3.5 km in) by a drone.

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One of the big misrepresentations of history (along with the Crusades, the Inquisitions,and Galileo of course) is the “dark ages.” Even the label “dark” sounds ominous. Professor Anthony Esolen (a sharp guy, BTW) takes an honest look at those times for Prager University.

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Ben Shapiro looks at American Jewish identity. Unfortunately, it’s political, not religious…

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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!