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Archive for December, 2012
Why Fear is Not the Answer
by Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur
I wasn’t going to write about Friday’s sad events, instead simply choosing to pray. My heart has been heavy, and I knew others would write about it with more eloquence. My words and thoughts weren’t necessarily needed. But then, I was drawn into the conversation and realized that there was indeed something I needed to […]
Benedict, Twitter, Our Lady of Guadalupe
by Rev. Tucker Cordani
On Wednesday, on the twelfth day of the twelfth month, in the year 2012, my parish and I celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. As I write, there appears to be no significance to that factoid of the series of the twelves, though it was interesting enough to deserve a mention from the […]
America’s Growing Government Class
by Dr. Paul Kengor
by Dr. Paul Kengor on Dec 16, 2012 in Columnists, Featured, Government & Politics, The Economy, The Social Order 
The latest unemployment figures are again depressing, but not for the usual reasons. They provide further confirmation of Barack Obama’s fundamental transformation of America, specifically through his creation of a growing government class. The numbers show a massive increase in government jobs created over the last five months—621,000, to be exact, dwarfing private-sector job growth. […]
The Baptist: Joyful Humility
by Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D.
by Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D. on Dec 16, 2012 in Catechesis, Columnists, Featured, Sunday Reflections
3rd Sunday of Advent (Year C) On the third Sunday of Advent, the penitential purple of the season changes to rose and we celebrate “Gaudete” or “Rejoice!” Sunday. “Shout for joy, daughter of Sion” says Zephaniah. “Draw water joyfully from the font of salvation,” says Isaiah. “Rejoice in the Lord always,” says St. Paul. “Do […]
Poem: “In the Flesh”
by Philip Primeau
In the Flesh Tonight is the night of mystery, Mystery of mysteries; In the silence and dark, Light Leaps down to earth; In virgin womb, the Seed is sown. Woman has become a temple, Glory dwells within; A creature carries the Creator, Enfolding the Eternal; Even angels pause and tremble. The kernel of the Christ, […]
How Not to Throw Stones in an Argument, Part II
by Daniel Meola
Please read the first part of this article here: How Not to Throw Stones in an Argument, Part One Christ does not end the conflict simply by “cooling down” in these various ways. He also chooses to show mercy to the woman caught in adultery. It is significant that Christ doesn’t simply forgive any such […]
Mourning Sandy Hook and a Novena for Healing
by Dr. Gerard Nadal
Each one lovely, unique, and irreproducible; wildflowers and people alike. Today the unthinkable happened, and as I sat only half-listening to the news as I worked, I couldn’t imagine the connection between a shooting somewhere in Connecticut and Sandy Hook across the bay from me in New Jersey. Then the sickening reality hit me that […]
American Politics as a Confidence Game
by Dr. Marvin Folkertsma
Reading post-2012-election news reports can be hazardous to one’s mental health, particularly for the sanity-challenged among us. But perhaps the singularly most prescient comments come from long ago—from the pen of America’s most profound novelist, Herman Melville, whose words in his powerful novel of deception and intrigue, “The Confidence Man: His Masquerade,” echo across the […]
Stop This Insanity
by Judie Brown
The United States Department of Education (DOE) is investigating a junior ROTC instructor who is reported to have said that the Bible condemns homosexuality. An excerpt from the report states: “On Nov. 21 the DOE sent a letter to James Robinson, director of GLBT Advocacy and Youth Services, which says the department will be investigating […]
Host Country Distances Itself from UN Youth Conference
by Rebecca Oas Ph.D.
As the twentieth anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) approaches, abortion activists are marking out their priorities for governments to adopt for the next 20 years. To that end, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), along with various non-governmental organizations hosted, ICPD Global Youth Forum in Bali last week, touted by sponsors […]
How Not to Throw Stones in an Argument, Part I
by Daniel Meola
For Christians, Advent is a penitential season. As a penitential season, it is a specially designated time to reflect on our sins and try to break free from those sins as we await the coming of the light of the world, Jesus Christ. I would, therefore, like to meditate on perhaps one of the most […]
Tough Religion and Evangelization
by Russell Shaw
by Russell Shaw on Dec 14, 2012 in Catechesis, Columnists, Contraception & Abortion, Featured, History, Live in Christ
Much has been said lately about how to do evangelization. I’ve contributed a bit to that myself. Now I begin to think that, instead of always stressing niceness, it might be good to give tough religion a try. That idea was inspired by a reading of Eric Metaxas’s biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the Lutheran theologian […]
The Red Palm of Motherhood
by Heidi Hess Saxton
A few weeks ago, on All Soul’s Day, Father Kean – a exuberant young priest at our parish – preached from the daily reading from Revelation 7: After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and […]
Philippines Lower House Passes Anti-Life RH Bill After 14 Years
by John-Henry Westen
After repeatedly reintroducing the legislation for 14 years, the Philippines lower House has voted 113 to 104 to pass the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill at second reading – the most difficult stage. “This is a very dark day for the Philippines and for the fight for life and family around the world,” said Human […]
Finding Peace on Earth
by Patti Maguire Armstrong
“Peace on earth and good will to men.” This is the season where we reflect on Christ’s offer and promise of His peace. But why do so few seem to have it? Why is it that some people rant over such things bad drivers and delayed appointments while others walk peacefully through life’s storms? I […]
Jennifer Fulwiler’s ‘Minor Revisions’ Begins Tonight
by Stacy Trasancos
While Jen found it a little bit awkward to tell you about this new mini-series of hers, I’m tickled pink to tell you why I think you’ll love the series. She gave me a little sneak preview since we both engage with atheists and we both are converts. We have other things in common: We both […]
Why is Government (and Society) Discouraging Childbearing?
by Elizabeth Charnowski
A recent Family in America conference in D.C. lays out the problem, and speaker Jennifer Roback-Morse provides a solution. Past generations of American pioneers, known for their openness to life, would not have believed it. They would be astonished to learn that, in the second decade of the twenty-first century, a woman’s fertility is not […]
How is a Relationship Like a Garage Sale?
by Anthony Buono
…from a distance it looks like it could be interesting, but up close, it’s just a ton of crap you don’t need. These are the words from something I found on Pinterest, minus the profanity (though you have to admit, it’s the right choice of word). I laughed, of course, at first because I can […]
Poem: “‘Heaven’ has Different Signs—to Me”
by Emily Dickinson
“Heaven” has Different Signs—to Me “Heaven” has different Signs—to me— Sometimes, I think that Noon Is but a symbol of the Place— And when again, at Dawn, A mighty look runs round the World And settles in the Hills— An Awe if it should be like that Upon the Ignorance steals— The Orchard, when the […]
Images of Christ in the Modern Age
by Jason Liske
Now is as good a time as any to remind myself that the last couple centuries have not been all doom and gloom; that the saints of the Church are as numerous in the last few hundred years as they were in ancient and medieval times. Why do I say this? Because I sometimes get […]
Supreme Court Will Hear DOMA, Proposition 8 cases
by Ben Johnson
All nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court announced on Friday that they will hear two cases dealing with same-sex “marriage” in 2013, examining whether the U.S. Congress or the voters in any state have the right to preserve the traditional definition of marriage. Both the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California’s Proposition […]
How the West was Really Won
by Louie Verrecchio
by Louie Verrecchio on Dec 12, 2012 in Columnists, Featured, History, MyChurchParish.com, On TV and Movies
On December 9, 1531, a poor and humble man from a remote village, some fourteen miles outside of present-day Mexico City, had a miraculous encounter with a mysterious lady and the Americas would never be the same. That peasant was Juan Diego, and the mysterious lady that he encountered was none other than she whom […]
