Drawn to Unity

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"It broke my heart that Christians were so divided and superficial. I stumbled onto a few things—Thomas Merton and then St. Francis of Assisi. I got into radical gospel living, mystical prayer, contemplative life, and they were all Catholic."

John Michael Talbot in Mass Appeal in Christianity Today

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in all fairness, we'll give ya all of our CINOs
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Welcome St. Luke's

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Episcopal Parish Community in Maryland to Join Catholic Church

After a period of deep discernment, the rector and parishioners of St. Luke’s Episcopal parish in Bladensburg, Maryland have decided to seek entry into the Roman Catholic Church through a new structure approved by Pope Benedict XVI called an ordinariate. Saint Luke’s is the first church in the Washington metropolitan area to take this step. read the rest here

Who Would You Follow?

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“Reason is the greatest enemy that faith has;
it never comes to the aid of spiritual things,
but - more frequently than not - struggles against the divine Word,
treating with contempt all that emanates from God”
Martin Luther

"Faith and reason are like two wings
on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth;
and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—
in a word, to know himself
—so that, by knowing and loving God,
men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves"
Blessed John Paul II
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Thank you Martin Luther

Catholic + Picture Framer =

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How to End the Protestant Heresies

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Me thinks the best way to get a Protestant
to accept one of their teachings as heresy
is to just tell'em it's Catholic (O:

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I See Love

My Answer to Church Scandals

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If a mathematician
commits a heinous act,
does 2 + 2
no longer equal 4?
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In Recovery

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Yesterday I heard the tired ol' bromide " I'm a recovering Catholic" by a shop owner as I wandered through their shop.

"oh, I did it the other way, I'm a convert" I spoke up

"Convert from what" she asked, and I explained that for most of my adult life I was an atheist, than Evangelical, and now a very happy Catholic.

I than boldy mentioned that her statement had an touch of spite in it, as well as being in my view kind of illogical, as to me "saying you are a recovering Catholic makes as much sense as an alcoholic saying they are recovering from sobriety, or a lunatic saying they are recovering from sanity"

But than I said, one thing is for sure "we are all sin addicts, none of which who have finished the 12 steps of recovery"
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Love's Cost

I generally don't like electronic media during any events in a Catholic church (I am still recovering from my time as a Protestant where big screen TVs and rockstars on stage replaced a crucifix or statue of the Mother of God. . .but were somehow not idolatrous), so I am somewhat surprised by my reaction to a slideshow which used images from The Passion of Christ during Stations of the Cross on Friday.

This image of my Lord scourged helped me to remember how much I am loved (and how I am to love), and that each lash or cut or gash could easily be named for each and every time my sin did (and sadly, still does) wield that whip.

Jesus have Mercy on us all,
and thank you!
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Dr. Peter Kreeft : Rationality of Belief in God

Of God and Monks

Coming to theaters in the DC area starting March 11, just in time for lent . . .um, if ya gave up "movies", just go on a Sunday (o;



If ya can't wait 'til next week to get yer Monk fix, go rent "In Great Silence"


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Through the Heart

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"Going against Church teaching yet still callin' yerself a Catholic
is like sittin' down for a Steak at Ruth's Chris
and still callin' yerself a Vegetarian"
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Last Lecture or First Homily

Seminarian Philip Johnson from Deacon Watkins on Vimeo.

Like everyone, I was suckered into watching "The Last Lecture", but unlike most folks it made me sad in a different way. It was full of the Oprah-esqe type of "live life to the fullest" kind of bumper sticker philosophy that I had already heard a bazillion times, but yet the "why" seemed to be somewhat absent and although it of course pulled at the heartstrings of this ol' sap, it left me feeling it lacked truth somehow.

The young seminarian in this video understands both the "why" of his/our life, as well as , at least as much as anyone can, the purpose in his suffering. Diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor while in the seminary, he speaks of finally knowing his vocation and his hope to one day, God willing, becoming a priest. After you watch, please add this young man to your prayers, with the hope that he will be able to be the celebrant at Mass at least once, before he joins in the great mass in heaven.

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