In recent months, I’ve been retreating periodically from Facebook as it grows steadily more toxic. But I have never before seen the level of toxicity that I have seen this week. I got on this morning, after a two-day (mostly) social media rest, and I shared the video linked below without comment. But then I…
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Mercy In The Age of Facebook
Because the spiritual works of mercy have always been a little tough to pin down, I offer this today: The Spiritual Works of Mercy – in the Age of Facebook Mark Piper 🔶 To Give Counsel to the Doubtful, in person, without a shield of anonymity, with charity and goodwill as your motivation 🔶 To Instruct…
Read MoreMerchants In The Temple
When I was offered a copy of Merchants in the Temple: Inside Pope Francis’ Secret Battle Against Corruption In The Vatican, I was hesitant to accept it. But I decided that if there was something about my Church I ought to know, then I shouldn’t bury my head in the sand. It is no stretch…
Read MoreWhy was I excited for the papal encyclical? The challenge of Laudato Si (Reblog)
I’ve been following blogger Margaret Felice for quite some time, and when I read the following post late last week, I felt as if it was written just for me. I admit I have not had time to dig into Laudato Si yet, but I officially downloaded it onto my computer for an upcoming road trip. In…
Read MoreApplause In Church Is Not Always A Bad Thing
If there is one thing you can get both sides to agree on in the liturgy wars, it is that applause in church is a bad thing. I heard the argument made once that any time there is applause in church, it is a sign that the liturgy has been derailed. Applause is for performances;…
Read MoreGuest Post: Blessed Are Those Who Hunger And Thirst For Righteousness (Week 4, This Little Light Blog Tour)
Chapter 4, “Blessed are They Who Hunger And Thirst For Righteousness,” focuses that hunger and thirst on the liturgy. Today’s guest post comes from Bill Harper, who I have gotten to know because and my husband were involved in music ministry together in his childhood parish. Below, Bill shares some thoughts on the liturgy as a…
Read MoreSmall-Town Sunday
By the time we pull into the parking lot on Sunday morning, the sun is well on its way to turning a cool morning into another hot August afternoon. We take the last half-shady spot beneath a giant oak and start toward the red brick church, its spire pointing an entire Southern Illinois town toward…
Read More7 Quick Takes, vol. 129
___1___ What time zone do they use in Antarctica? I mean, think about it, every time zone in the world intersects there. Which one would you pick? ___2___ Can anyone explain to me the logic behind a two year old who sees a hat on the floor and thinks he must go out of his…
Read MoreThe Most Important Days of the Year
For any Christian, the memorials we observe for the next four days are the most important days of the entire year. Everyone has lots to say on these topics this week…but I would rather rest and reflect during this time. So I give you last year’s thoughts on Holy Week. The Yuck Factor The Reality of Good Friday…
Read MoreWhat exactly did the Pope say?
You might have heard recently that the Pope changed the Church’s position on condom use. When I read that headline, my eyebrows shot up, because I was sure it wasn’t correct, knowing as I do how easy it is to take things out of context and make them sound quite different than they were intended;…
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Kathleen M. Basi 