“Who am I in the painting? How will I respond?” In today’s Gospel, we have a short account of Jesus’ call of Matthew by the man himself. He only spends a few verses on what was the pivotal moment of his life. He mentions simply that he was a tax collector, and that Jesus called him out of his daily […]
art
The Nature of Music and the Soul
The Nature of Music and the Soul by Matthew Cole Austin and Steven Jonathan Rummelsburg “…when lawlessness has established itself there [in music and poetry], it flows over little by little into character and ways of life.” Plato, Republic 424d # # # The world is changing and we have become progressively desensitized to the increasing temptations available to us […]
The Nature of Music and the Soul
The Nature of Music and the Soul by Matthew Cole Austin and Steven Jonathan Rummelsburg “…when lawlessness has established itself there [in music and poetry], it flows over little by little into character and ways of life.” Plato, Republic 424d # # # The world is changing and we have become progressively desensitized to the increasing temptations available to us […]
Four Helpful Tips for When You Find the Rosary Difficult
My guardian angel has prayed more rosaries than I have. There’s a pious saying that if you fall asleep while praying your prayers, your guardian angel finishes them. Well, for many years, I knew I should be saying a daily rosary, but I thought if I started the Creed as my head hit the pillow at night, I could at […]
The Art of Catholic Charity
The Gospel in the Secular Culture I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like art, and really, what’s not to like? Art, in all of its forms, inspires us and expresses who we are as a society, as a culture. Recently, a priest friend of ours shared some of his artwork with us. They were extraordinarily beautiful depictions of saints who […]
The Church: Unlocking the Secrets to the Places Catholics Call Home
“If we help you to read a church, we do it with the hope that you’ll be better able to pray a church. If you want to understand a church, you need to read it as a prayer book and not as an architecture textbook.” –Cardinal Donald Wuerl and Mike Aquilina, authors of The Church: Unlocking the Secrets to the […]
Pilgrimage
Let’s Regroup Sometimes when you find yourself on your heels fighting a tough battle, it’s best to step back, regroup and join forces with your allies. We are in that situation now, as our very way of life – indeed, the very meaning of who we are as women and men – is under attack. We need to regroup, and […]
Daily Quote from Evelyn Waugh
“Art is the symbol of the two noblest human efforts: to construct and to refrain from destruction.” (Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh) Print this entry
Modern “Spectacles”
This past semester I had the joy of teaching an honors-elective course to high school Seniors entitled, “Great Catholic Thinkers.” The former instructor of the course, a very charismatic and brilliant young priest, always said that taking this course was a bit like “roller skating through the Uffizi.” He had a valid point. I would add that while teaching it, […]
Sometimes You Just Need a Little Fun
On April 24th of this year, the Opera Company of Philadelphia perfomed a “Flash Brindisi” of Verdi’s La traviata at Reading Terminal Market. Once upon a time I lived in Philadelphia – this was a treat for me. I hope you enjoy it too. Watch the entire video as it “grows”… Print this entry