How to Start Growing in Prayer in the New Year
Each new calendar year, I’m amazed at all the resolutions I see in newspaper ads, on social media, and in conversations among friends. Most involve health and fitness, of course. I admit this is likely the one area of my life that is lacking the most. What has always mattered to me, though, is prayer. ☩ Jeannie Ewing of Catholic Exchange
Anglican Bishops Approve Transgender “Baptism”
Last spring, I wrote about a new book, put out by British publisher Darton, Longman, & Todd: Transfaith. The book is a collection of 7 experimental liturgies for “transgender” use composed by a Church of England priestess & a former Metropolitan Community Church minister who “retrained” for ministry in the United Reformed Church. ☩ John M. Grondelski, Ph.D., of Crisis Magazine
The Hidden Meaning of the Gifts in “12 Days of Christmas”
This interpretation gives the song significantly more meaning that does its shell of secular gift-giving. ☩ Shaun McAfee, O.P., of National Catholic Register
How Can We Guard the Purity of Our Children?
“More souls go to Hell because of sins of the flesh than for any other reason.” ☩ Amanda Evinger of National Catholic Register
O Come Let Us Adore Him—in the Eucharist
Knowing his divine Son is “the living bread which came down from heaven” . . . -- John 6:51 ☩ Tom Nash of Catholic Answers Magazine
The Enriching Complementarity of Faith & Science
Aquinas makes a claim about the proper relationship between faith & science. ☩ Fr. Raphael Christianson, O.P. of Homiletic & Pastoral Review
Wear Glasses? You Can Thank This Medieval Friar for Them
☩ Billy Ryan of uCatholic
Deaf Sign for Abortion
☩ Donald R. McClarey, J.D., of The American Catholic
Why Taki’s views disgust me
☩ Sohrab Ahmari of Catholic Herald
What to Think About Bad Popes
☩ Steve Ray of Defenders of the Catholic Faith
Book Review
“Mountains & a Mustard Seed: A Family’s Journey of Hope”
Mountains and a Mustard Seed is what I would call a “legacy book,” a kind of capstone on an amazing family journey guided by the hand of Providence. The theme that weaves its way through the story like a thread, however, is not the recounting of events and memories for their own sake, but a pouring out of love, generosity, faith, and hope for others as a gift. ☩ Rob Marco of Catholic Stand
Sex Scandal & Cover-Up
Vatican Knew About Legionary Founder Maciel’s Abuse From 1943
The head of the Vatican’s dicastery for religious life blames ‘a mafia’ for the cover-up, adding those responsible ‘were not the Church.’ ☩ Edward Pentin of National Catholic Register
Cardinal Ouellet: US Bishops’ Vote on Abuse Reform Measures Was Blocked to Allow More Discussion
A Nov. 11 letter from Cardinal Marc Ouellet says that proposals that had been scheduled for a vote by the bishops’ conference needed more time and discussion to “properly mature.” ☩ CNA/EWTN News via National Catholic Register
Does Your Family Need Healing? Try These Powerful Prayers for Peace, Healing & Harmony
The holiday season is a great reminder for many of us that the promise of peace from the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, has yet to be fulfilled in many of our families. ☩ Simone Rizkallah of ChurchPOP
God & Caesar
Dozens of Bitter Winter Reporters Arrested
Accused of espionage and subversion, at least 45 contributors were arrested and interrogated; the reporter who filmed a secret camp in Xinjiang “disappeared” after the arrest. ☩ Lin Yijiang of Bitter Winter
2019: The Beginning of the End for the Transgender Movement
The ground is shaky under the feet of the current homosexual insurgency. . . ☩ Tom Gilson of The Stream
After One More Patreon Ban, Jordan Peterson & Dave Rubin Are Starting Their Own
The atheist intellectual Sam Harris is one of Patreon's top-earning users. He, Dave Rubin, and Jordan Peterson have abandoned the platform over its capricious ban on another user. ☩ Nicole Russell of The Federalist
The Coming Decline of Fox News
But Rupert Murdoch is 87 years of age, and his sons are poised to take command. When they do, Fox News will aspire to become a general-interest news service and no longer an advocate of Rightist advocacy journalism. ☩ Richard J. Bishirjian, Ph.D., of The Imaginative Conservative
Sister Wendy Beckett, BBC Art Historian, Dies at 88
☩ Donald R. McClarey, J.D., The American Catholic
Pope Francis, what if he shuts down Ecclesia Dei?
☩ Andrea Gagliarducci of Monday Vatican
Newly Ordained Priest Probably Thinks He’s Some Sort Of Big Shot Now
☩ Eye of the Tiber (Warning: Satire)
Sex Scandal & Cover-Up
Cardinal O’Malley Forwards Concerns to Nuncio after Times Bombshell on N.Y. Priest
☩ CNA via National Catholic Register
College Outraged N.Y. Archdiocese Approved Visiting Priest under Abuse Investigation
☩ Ed Condon, J.C.L., of National Catholic Register