At last night’s Grammy Awards, there was an act that was Satanic in the most literal sense, with costumes, makeup, and fire all in a celebration of the Devil. This is part of a continuing trend giving prominence to Satan….
On the New Satanism
Discerning True from False
Untrue claims seem to be quite common today, especially on the Internet and social media. The art of telling true from false is as useful and important as ever. While some of the ways false claims get passed around are…
The Best Translation of the Bible
If you’ve ever gone to purchase a Bible, you know that you have many different translations to choose from. There are so many that it can be overwhelming. There’s the King James, the Revised Standard Edition, the New Revised Standard…
Reflections on the Life of Pope Benedict XVI
My first memory of Pope Benedict XVI was a joke someone told me in high school: Cardinal Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict) was put in charge of Purgatory. Martin Luther comes to him, and Ratzinger gives him 100 years in Purgatory….
Christmas and the Good Shepherd
Each Christmas, we retell the story of the shepherds keeping watch over their flock by night on the first Christmas eve. Angels appeared to them to tell them about the birth of Jesus in a stable at Bethlehem. They “went…
The Sadness of the Gospel
The word “Gospel” literally translates to “Good News.” This is because there is no better message we could hear: God has become one of us in order to give us eternal life. What could be better? And yet there seems…
St. Ignatius and Generosity
Tis the season to be giving! During this holiday season, we remind ourselves that this is a time for generosity. That is the essential purpose behind Christmas gifts. It isn’t the getting of cool new stuff, but an exercise in…
Parents, Children, Christianity and Conflict
The relationship between parents and their children can be complicated, and that is no less true in matters of Christian faith. Parents with a strong Christian faith want their children to have a strong Christian faith too, but children, as…
Advent: A Spirit of Longing
One of the things I have learned when it comes to spiritual writing is this: steal from the best. I am fortunate that I have a wonderfully profound pastor at my parish and his homily on the 1st Sunday of…
Why Was Moses’ Sin So Bad?
In my Theology class, we recently went over the sin of Moses. For those who do not recall, in Numbers 20, Moses was instructed to strike the rock with his staff so that water would miraculous flow out to the…