Is it possible that in one short weekend our family of five is reduced to three? Yes. Friday: All the preparations for our son’s wedding are in place. Tuxes ready; church and reception hall decorated; hair and makeup in place;…
Giving them roots and wings
Don’t Engage with the Tempter
There are so many sources of temptation today. Though they classically come from three sources — the world, the flesh, and the devil — or what Aristotle might call their efficient causes, they manifest in many different people, places, and…
The Little Way of St. Thérèse of Lisieux
Thérèse Martin, a french teenager who became a Carmelite nun in the late 19th century, did nothing earth-shattering: she lived an obscure life in a cloistered monastery in a small town in France, and died of tuberculosis in her mid-twenties….
10 Commandments in the Modern World Part 1 – YOU SHALL HAVE NO GODS BEFORE ME
Many years ago I wrote an article here for New Evangelizers called “Disclaimers When Talking About Sin.” That article was based on the preparation I do in class before we go into the 10 Commandments. However I came to the…
Thanksgiving
Sunday Readings for October 9, 2016 Leprosy is a dreadful thing anywhere, anytime. But in the ancient Near East, it was a particularly heavy burden to bear since it meant complete social isolation. You could, of course, hang out with…
Can Miracles Be (Dis)Proven?
Catholic Canonizations With Mother Teresa’s recent canonization and elevation to Saint Teresa of Calcutta, I’ve had quite a few friends and family members asking me how exactly the Catholic Church goes about making someone a saint. In answering that question, there are…
The Devil is in the Details. . . Literally!
I remember a time when I was at morning Mass. Just before the Our Father, the man next to me reached out to join hands. I explained that the priest was the intercessor for our prayers, and that is…
What Our Country Needs: “Return To Order” by John Horvat II
I heard about the book, Return To Order-Where We’ve Been, How We Got Here, and Where We Need to Go-From a Frenzied Economy to an Organic Christian Society” by John Horvat II, over a year ago and ordered it. As I…
Murderer!
The devil is in the details some say. When you see the title of this piece, pay closer attention because it refers to YOU, yes you! I’m not really a gambler, but I’d bet with pretty good odds that the…
Review: St. Thomas Aquinas for Everyone
“St. Thomas is the greatest doctor of the Church,” author Dave Palmer said, “and I assert that children can be taught his basic philosophy, as I do with my 11- and 7-year olds.” Let’s Go Find God is the enticing…