The Crèche
Last night, as I was walking on the Green in my home city, I stopped by the crèche – nestled on the rough equivalent of half a parking space ceded by the city, installed (and funded) by my hometown multinational men’s...
Category: Reflection
Reflection The Golden Nights of the O Antiphons, Part III
This final section of the O Antiphon literary meditation is the true destination, where the joy and hope are realized and the most beautiful citations from the saints are to be found. (Click here for Part 1 and Part 2.)...
The Golden Nights of the O Antiphons, Part II
The first installment of this literary meditation was posted on Tuesday; this second installment deals thematically with art and beauty, and with their true power. The conclusion, with its promised light and joy, will follow soon. As was the case with...
The Golden Nights of the O Antiphons, Part I
[Author’s note: This piece explores, through the lens of my own experience, humanity’s need for salvation, with all our impulse to creativity and self-determining possibility for good or for ill. The piece requires patience, as it is not until the...
Non Serviam and the Aftermath
Last month I traveled to Baltimore to cover the USCCB’s Fall Plenary Assembly. There were some worthwhile speeches and discussions at the meeting, as well as some interesting results in a couple of elections for new committee chairmen. For an...
A Rainbow, an Arbiter of Peace — Sancta et Immaculata
Today is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, a dogma the full implications of which are perhaps too little considered. From the first moment I heard it sung, I fell in love with the medieval chant Sancta et Immaculata, “Holy and Spotless...
What Faithful Catholics can learn from Ex-Scientologists
[Updated with a response from the Church of Scientology at the end. — ML] A couple of days ago, the Hollywood actress and former King of Queens star Leah Remini posted an image to her Instagram account. View this post...
Prayers Pass Through All Buffer Zones
Doctors Without Borders is a well-known organization that ministers to the sick and suffering wherever they may be found. I discovered that there is also a similar organization known as Carpenters Without Borders who were involved with the reconstruction of...
Catholicism and the Science of History
This morning, I finally got around to listening to Paul Fahey’s Third Space interview with Fr. Chris Kellerman, SJ, author of All Oppression Shall Cease: A History of Slavery, Abolitionism, and the Catholic Church. They discuss what Fr. Kellerman discovered over...
The Vow of Chastity – A Witness to the Resurrection
In the darkness of the Church on Holy Saturday night, the new fire of Easter is born. It then blossoms on the paschal candle and all the candles of the congregation are lit from it. The paschal candle will shine...
The Wounded Stag
The Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica is one of my favorites on the entire calendar. This feast, generally (and rightly) seen as ecclesial in its meaning, bears a mystical and eschatological significance which strikes me yet more...
Starting anew: Pope Francis on politics
I’d like to start this post with a short prayer written by Fr. Satish Joseph for the United States as a nation and for the election: Let us pray for a peaceful election day, for a peaceful reception of the...
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