On Good Friday, the Archbishop of Paris held a small service in Notre Dame Cathedral, during which the Crown of Thorns was venerated. Only a handful of people were permitted to attend, and one of them, French actress Judith Chemla, concluded the service with the Ave Maria. This, it seems to me, is the embodiment … Continue reading The Embodiment of Christendom
Current Events
An Architectural Fisk
Dipping a little into politics with this one. Kind of. I recently learned that President Trump has drafted an executive order entitled Making Federal Buildings Beautiful Again. Basically, it orders that “classical and traditional architectural styles” should be the default for constructing new Federal Buildings in the future, specifically saying that styles like ‘brutalism’ and … Continue reading An Architectural Fisk
Saint John Henry Newman
It's rare that we get good news from the Church these days, so cherish it when it comes! Cardinal Newman, the great English convert of the 19th century, whose return to Rome sparked something of a Catholic renaissance in that noble, yet obstinate island kingdom, is now declared a Saint. Cardinal Newman is one of … Continue reading Saint John Henry Newman
Realist Catholic Climate Declaration
WM Briggs, Statistician to the Stars, presents the second draft of what a Catholic Declaration on Climate ought to look like. Short, sweet, and to point: The Magisterium of the Catholic Church has no, and should not have, an official position on the earth’s optimal atmospheric mean temperature, nor on the best rate of change of … Continue reading Realist Catholic Climate Declaration
‘Skillet’ Frontman Preaches Truth
You know, Skillet is already one of my favorite bands, and I don't have many favorite bands (my taste in music generally boils down to "I like this song and that song, and I don't like that one." I don't usually get attached to bands). They've gone up even further in my esteem with frontman John … Continue reading ‘Skillet’ Frontman Preaches Truth
Talking Violence at the Everyman
My latest piece is up at The Everyman, where I share some thoughts on mass shooters and violent crime in general; thoughts that have been percolating one way or another for quite a while. It is this: back in, say, the 1950s there was comparatively little violent crime in the United States. Oh, there was some, … Continue reading Talking Violence at the Everyman
Everyman Piece on Notre Dame
After watching Notre Dame Cathedral burn, I wrote up some of my thoughts, which are running today at The Everyman. We are the heirs of Christendom. We have inherited treasures beyond belief; Notre Dame Cathedral is only one jewel among hundreds of such cathedrals and churches, living prayers in stone and glass, not to mention the … Continue reading Everyman Piece on Notre Dame
A Record of the Past
One way or another, I watch a lot of old films, whether old TV shows, old movies, or even old instructional videos. It’s informative, and not just in the way the original filmmakers intended. As C.S. Lewis pointed out, consuming work produced in a different time doesn’t just tell you what the work is about, … Continue reading A Record of the Past
This is Evil
I'm a little late on this, but in case you've missed it: Amelie Wen Zhao, an immigrant from China, dreamed of being an author her whole life. Then she achieved that dream, selling a three-book YA series to a major publisher. The book, called Blood Heir, was done. It was published. It was slated for release … Continue reading This is Evil
Please Do Not Try to Find Holy Images in Random Things
I happened upon this article through ‘Big Pulpit,’ and I have to make a quick comment: I really, really wish Christians would stop posting things like this: Miraculous Image of Blessed Mother Holding Baby Appears in Pregnancy Sonogram – See the Photo! by ChurchPOP Editor - January 31, 2019 The story itself is actually well worth reading, about … Continue reading Please Do Not Try to Find Holy Images in Random Things
Serpent's Den 