Robert Edwards

The Vlaming Children’s Christmas

. . .I wrote the other day about a Virginia school board firing veteran teacher Peter Vlaming over his refusal to call a biological girl by a masculine pronoun.  He was willing to use the child’s new masculine name, but would not say “he” or “him.”  In this Virginia Gazette story about a student walkout in support of the fired teacher, we learn what exactly it was that triggered the dismissal.  You are not going to believe this. . .

by Rod Dreher

Is Kavanaugh Keeping a Promise to Pro-Choice Susan Collins? – John Zmirak Ph.D., The Strm
And Now, England – Donald R. McClarey J.D., The American Catholic
At Trump’s Hotel, Spiritual Warriors Pray for the President in His ‘Darkest Hour’ – J. Jenkins
Justice Thomas Blasts Supreme Court for Sidestepping Planned Parenthood – David L. Gray
13 Illustrations of the Benevolence of Capitalism – George Reisman, Mises Institute
A Way Back From Secularism – Rev. Anthony Perkins, Acton Institute
The Transgender Movement Is Not Interested In Compromise – John D. Davidson, The Fdrlst
Why Spiritual People More Inclined to Embrace Free Markets Than Materialists – J. Miltimore
Why the Poor in Free Nations Have Incomes 8x Higher Than Poor in Least Free – E. Andreou
Texas GOP Dispute Pits Religious Freedom Against Claims of ‘Stealth Jihad’ – Bobby Ross Jr.
US Supreme Court Will Not Hear Case of States Defunding Planned Parenthood – NCRegister
Free Will and the Market Place – Frank Chodorov, Mises Wire
2019: What’s Next for Religious Freedom? Faith Leaders & Policymakers Weigh In – K. Dallas
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

Why Traditional Hymns are Superior to Modern Ones

. . .I’m sometimes accused, when I write about bad hymns, of wanting to impose a single style upon everyone.  That’s strange.  It’s like saying that all classical music sounds the same; Bach, Brahms, Dvorak, Debussy, all the same.  I point out that the hymns in a good hymnal were composed over a period of 1,600 years.  I say that their melodies come in a staggering variety: medieval chant (The Golden Sequence), German chorale (Christ Lag in Todesbanden), American revival songs (“Great Is Thy Faithfulness”), English anthems (Silver Street), French carols (Quem Pastores), & so on.  A folk melody from Ireland is not the same as one from Wales, let alone Poland. . .

by Anthony M. Esolen, Ph.D.,

of Crisis Magazine

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Adorecast
Bishops Unbound – Bronwen Catherine McShea, First Things
Pp. Francis: Our Father Should Say “Abandon Us Not When in Temptation” – Fr. Schneider L.C.
A Holiday Meal, Same-Sex Attraction & Catholicism – Richard G. Evans, Catholic Stand
Despair & False Doctrine – Fr. Dwight Longenecker
Two-Word Advent Campaign Spreads Around the World – Joseph Pronechen, NC Register
Do Wives Have to Be ‘Submissive’? – Todd Aglialoro, Catholic Answers Magazine
New Book: Annibale Bugnini: Reformer of the Liturgy by Yves Chiron – P. Kwasniewski Ph.D.
Would Jesus Have Come If Adam Had Not Sinned? – Msgr. Charles Pope
Brave New World-Trans Edition – Donald R. McClarey J.D., The American Catholic
What is a Lay ‘Parish Life Coordinator’? A CNA Explainer – The Catholic World Report
They Were All Praying: Gunman Kills 4 at Daily Mass in Brazil Cathedral – ChurchPOP
Tolkien, Chesterton, & the Adventure of Mission – Auxiliary Bishop Robert R. Barron S.T.D.
A Beautiful Contemporary Anglo-Byzantine (Romanesque) Style Icon – New Liturgical Mvmnt
Telling the Story of the Shroud of Turin – Jim Graves, National Catholic Register
Our Lady of Guadalupe: Empress of the Americas – CNA via The Catholic World Report
Christmas Ideas: 5 Great Books About Saints Who Inspire – Kathy Schiffer, NC Register
Have a Merry Catholic Christmas; Off the Shelf 102 with Fr. William P. Saunders – Pete Socks
Wait, What!? We Can Be Saints? How? – Bernz Caasi, Ignitum Today
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

5 More Books of Classic Fiction That You Should Know

. . .classic works from Tolstoy, Milton, Cervantes, Brontë, & Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. . .

by Father John P. Cush, S.T.D.,

of the National Catholic Register

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Adorecast
Tiny Order of French Nuns Takes on Vatican – Nicole Winfield, A.P. via The Kansas City Star
The Ugliness of Catholic #MeToo – Austin Ruse, Crisis Magazine
Reincarnation? Transgender Science Has Really Gone Off the Deep End Now – Tom Gilson
The Pope’s Warning About Homosexuals in the Clergy – Msgr. Charles Pope, NC Register
“Ancient Baptists” & Other Myths – Fr. Hugh Barbour O.Praem., Defenders of the Catholic Faith
Another Look at Sola Scriptura’s Best Defense – Mark A. McNeil, Catholic Answers Magazine
God Uses You More Than You Think – Julie Machado, Catholic Stand
LA Archd. to Press Charges Against Sisters Accused of Embezzlement – JD Flynn, NCRegister
Last-Minute Christmas Gift Guide 2018 – The Editors, National Catholic Register
How Big was Noah’s Ark – Steve Ray, Defenders of the Catholic Faith
We’re Taking Back Christmas – Steffani Jacobs, Catholic Stand
How to Reclaim Advent from the Tinsel of the Season – Sherry Antonetti, NC Register
The Eternal Convert – Donald R. McClarey J.D., The American Catholic
Memorization & Catechesis: What Really Works? – Nicholas Senz, The Catholic World Report
Vatican Creates New Office to Serve Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement – NC Register
A Priest’s Advice on End-of-Year Giving: “Don’t Ask” – Brice Sokolowski, Catholic Fundraiser
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

The Quiet Man Headed Home

. . .Josephine’s example & prayers had their intended effect. According to his biographies, John Wayne was a spiritual person who hand-wrote letters to God as a way of praying.  He also befriended Archbishop Tomas Clavel of Panama. . .

by Brian Fraga,

of Legatus Magazine

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Adorecast
Our True Home is in Heaven – Fr. George W. Rutler Th.D. Ph.D., National Catholic Register
On Veils for Christian Women – Shane Schaetzel, Complete Christianity
Were the Three Wise Men History or Myth? – Fr. Dwight Longenecker, NC Register
1959 Documentary on the Carmelite Nuns – Gregory DiPippo, New Liturgical Movement
In Praise of an Ordinary Catholic – Timothy J. Williams, Crisis Magazine
Aristotle & Aquinas – Restore-DC-Catholicism
Love Has No Limitations: The Life of Léonie Martin, Sister of The Little Flower – C. Sprtl Drctn
The Necessity of Confession & Its Seal – Fr. Jn. M. McDermott S.J., Homiletic & Pastoral Rev.
Cardinal Slipyi on the Need for Beauty in the Liturgy – Gre. DiPippo, New Liturgical Movement
A New Catholic Hymnal from Corpus Christ Watershed – Fr. Christopher Smith, New Lit Mov
A Vision – Noel Ethan Tan, Ignitum Today
Two New Inspiring Books for Advent – Cathy G. Knipper, Catholic Stand
How to Have a Fruitful Advent, According to St. John Paul II – Philip Kosloski, Aleteia
Author’s Quest to Make the Holy Veil of Manoppello Better Known – J. Pronechen, NC Register
Angels of Advent – Peter J. Leithart, First Things
Advent with Our Lady of Fatima – Cathy G. Knipper, Catholic Stand
Journaling Through Advent – Pete Socks, Catholic Stand
The Good Shepherd: Seeking to Lead All to Heaven – Edward Monti, Catholic Stand
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

7 Facts You May Not Have Known About Advent

. . .we all know of Lent, but what is Advent?  What is it’s history?  Here are seven facts you might not have known on the subject. . .

by Dominic Cassella,

of epicPew

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Adorecast
Quæritur: Why Should a Protestant Convert & Join the Catholic Church? – Fr. Z’s Blog
Lessons from Contemplative Nuns on Enjoying Life – Cristina Montes, Ignitum Today
I Am Catholic . . . Hear Me Whisper – Kendra Von Esch, Catholic Stand
Preaching the Bad News – Eric Sammons, Catholic Answers Magazine
Mindfulness & Catholic Mystical Tradition – Dan Burke, Catholic Spiritual Direction
Fortitude, a Call to Stay Engaged in Resolving the Abuse Scandal – Msgr. C. Pope, NC Register
Wise Men “from the East”. . .But What Does That Mean? – Fr. Dwight Longenecker
Churches Worth Driving To – California Catholic Daily
Who God Made Me to Be – Kat Larson, Ignitum Today
Why Do You Doubt? – Carol Monaco, Catholic Stand
A Priest’s Advice on End-of-Year Giving: “Don’t Ask” – Brice Sokolowski, Catholic Fundraiser
Pp. Francis Revamps Vatican City State Structures, Laws to Boost Oversight – C News Service
Post-Vatican II Reform of Epiphanytide & Post-Pentecost Collects – New Liturgical Movement
Where Did the Word “Holiday” Come From? – Philip Kosloski, Aleteia
How to Prepare for a Liturgical Feast – Fr. Edward Looney, Catholic Exchange
5 Simple Ways to Make Advent Meaningful for Your Family – Katie Prejean, epicPew
‘Baby it’s Cold Outside’, Winter Fashion Tips – Meghan Ashley Styling (Catholic Fashion)
Tanzanian Cardinal: Reject Ideological Colonization Through Foreign Aid – CNA via The CWR
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

Why Did John Paul II Said This Prayer Every Day?

. . .Saint John Paul II knew the importance of prayer:  he was known to pray for many hours each day, interceding for both the Church & the world & growing ever closer in his relationship to God. . .

by Billy Ryan,

of uCatholic

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Adorecast
Bishop Davies: Sainthood is the One Thing That Matters – Mark Lambert, De Omnibus. . .
How One Diocese is Inviting People Back to the Church This Christmas – CNA via The CWR
New Mass by Frank LaRocca to Premiere in San Francisco on December 8th – New Lit Mov
Scientists Suggest Biblical Sodom Destroyed by a Meteoric Explosion – J.P. Mauro, Aleteia
When Can the Parish Priest Postone a Wedding? – Cathy Caridi J.C.L., Canon Law Made Easy
When Was the Holy Gospel of Saint John Written? – Jimmy Akin, JimmyAkin.com
New Film Documents Pornography’s Harmful Effects – K.V. Turley, Crisis Magazine
A Priest’s Advice on End-of-Year Giving: “Don’t Ask” – Brice Sokolowski, Catholic Fundraiser
Possible Miracles Linked to Virgin Mary Statue Crying Tears of Blood in Argentina – ChPOP
Primacy, Synodality, & the USCCB – Russell Shaw, The Catholic World Report
Messianic Prophesies: Psalm 108: 1-10 – Donald R. McClarey J.D., The American Catholic
6 Epic Facts About the Saint Behind Santa Claus – Matthew Chicoine, epicPew
Our Need for Stillness in Advent – Constance T. Hull, Catholic Exchange
The Will of the Father – Deacon Michael Bickerstaff, Integrated Catholic Life™
Filipino ‘White King’ & Italian Immigrant Wins Church’s Top Chess Title – C. Giangravè, Crux
The History of the Advent Season – Fr. William Saunders, Catholic Exchange
‘Baby it’s Cold Outside’, Winter Fashion Tips – Meghan Ashley Styling (Catholic Fashion)
Advent & Reform – Stephen P. White, The Catholic Thing
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

Dozens of Irish Doctors Storm Out of Meeting After Told They Must Do Abortions

. . .dozens walked out after complaining that leaders have been ramming through the pro-abortion legislation without consulting the medical community or giving it ample time to prepare. . .

by Micaiah Bilger,

of Life News

The Sweet Scent Of Intersectionality – Rod Dreher, The American Conservative
Could an Indiana Abortion Case Make a Dent in ‘Roe’? – Russell Shaw, OSV Newsweekly
Doctors Remove Life Support from ‘Brain Dead’ Woman, Now Almost Totally Recovered – S.E.
Our Ignorance of Socialism is Dangerous – Walter Williams, The Stream
The Verdict Is In: Food Stamps Put Poor Kids on Path to Success – Peter R. Orszag, Bloom. . .
A Tax Revolt in France – Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review
How Regnery Publishing Helps Lead The Fight For America – Dustin Siggins, The Stream
Canada Drops Requirement That Pro-Life Gps. Must Support Abortion for Funding – M. Bilger
Hillaire Belloc’s Humane Defense of Personhood & Property – Jm. M. Wilson, Law and Liberty
Bridging the Ideological Divides Over Ecology & Environment – Wil. L. Patenaude, The CWR
Foreign Aid: A Confluence of Interests & Ideals – Alan Dowd, Providence
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

Saint Nicholas: Bishop of Myra, Decker of Heretics, Giver of Gifts

. . .I came to present gifts to kids & to punch heretics & I just ran out of gifts. . .

by Donald R. McClarey, J.D.,

of The American Catholic

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Adorecast
Jesus’ Opinion on Homosexual Activity – J.P. Nunez, Catholic Stand
Obligatory No Meat This Friday for the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter – TACS. . .
Pope Francis & Behind the Scenes of the New Italian “Our Father” – Sandro Magister, SC
Facebook Censors Image of Santa Kneeling Before Jesus – Steven Ertelt, Life News
9 Transgender Patients Complain of Mutilation, Botched Sex-Change Surgeries – Walt Heyer
Amazon Founder Gives $15 Million to Catholic Charities – CNA via National Catholic Register
What Happened When This Woman Met Her Nazi Torturer – K.V. Turley, NC Register
Woman, Reclaim Your Family – Hope Schneir, Off The Cuff via Helena Daily
The Secret Society of St. Nicholas – Rebecca Frech, National Catholic Register
A Priest’s Advice on End-of-Year Giving: “Don’t Ask” – Brice Sokolowski, Catholic Fundraiser
Women in the Liturgical Movement: Creating Domestic Rituals – Liturgical Arts Journal
#Unpacking the Divine Mercy Image from St. Joseph Comms. – David L. Gray, DavidLGray.info
The Witness of Holy Senior Priests – Louise Merrie, Catholic Exchange
The Office for the Feast of St. Nicholas 2018 – Gregory DiPippo, New Liturgical Movement
Take Some Time to Slow Down This Advent – Pete Socks, Catholic Stand
Pope Francis to Make Historic Visit to Abu Dhabi – Edward Pentin, National Catholic Register
French Composer Guy Ropartz Wrote ‘Le Miracle de St. Nicolas’ in 1905 – The Imaginative. . .
A Straight Path in the Wilderness of Our Soul: 2nd Sunday of Advent – John Bergsma Ph.D.
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

8 Simple (But Not Easy) Steps to Happiness

. . .the reason the beatitudes will make us happy is because they will make us more like Christ.  Being unified with God through Jesus is the ultimate happiness human beings could possibly hope for.  The beatitudes describe what kind of person we should be by describing what kind of person Jesus Christ is.  Pope Benedict calls the beatitudes, “a sort of veiled interior biography of Jesus, a kind of portrait of his figure”. . .

by Luke Heintschel,

of Catholic East Texas

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Adorecast
Making Pedophilia Respectable – Rod Dreher, The American Conservative
Praying the Breviary from Electronic Devices ≥ Traditional Books? – Msgr. Charles Pope
Quæritur: Can We Cook with or Drink Holy Water? – Fr. Z’s Blog
Avoiding Another Roman Fiasco in February – George Weigel, The Catholic World Report
Talking to Kids about Tough Topics, with Grace & Confidence – Leslie Fain, The CWR
The Rise & Rise of Wicca – Massimo Introvigne, Mercatornet
New Art from Daniel Mitsui, Great Gift Idea – Fr. Z’s Blog
Median Age for Leaving the Church is 13 – California Catholic Daily
Why God Can Tell You What Will Happen, but Your Astrological Sign Cannot – The CWR
CRISPR Technology Poses Hopes — & Threats – E. Christian Brugger, NC Register
‘Baby it’s Cold Outside’, Winter Fashion Tips – Meghan Ashley Styling (Catholic Fashion)
Catholic Entrepreneurship Strives to Follow Church Teaching on Business – NC Register
A Grand Betrayal of Chinese Catholics – Catherine Lafferty, First Things
Communist China Unleashes New Round of Religious Persecution – Jiang Tao, Bitter Winter
Music & the Education of the Christian Soul – L. Joseph Hebert, Crisis Magazine
The Laws of Love – Randall B. Smith Ph.D., The Catholic Thing
Our Striving for Holiness in Advent – Fr. Nnamdi Moneme O.M.V., Catholic Exchange
Advent, Penance, & the Renewal of Charity in Social Media – Justin McClain, NC Register
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

Archaeologists Discover Ring of Pontius Pilate Near Bethlehem

. . .with the help of a special camera from the Israel Antiquities Authority, a team of archaeologists lead by Professor Danny Schwartz from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem discovered a ring that bears the Greek inscription of Pilatus.  The letters are inscribed around an engraving of a krater, a wine vessel common to the era. . .

by Billy Ryan,

of uCatholic

Europe Is Dying – Rod Dreher, The American Conservative
Islamic Call to Prayer Replacing Advent in Linz, Bishop of Linz Silent – The Eponymous. . .
The New French Right — C’est Catho! – Rod Dreher, The American Conservative
In Praise of the Gilets Jaunes (Yellow Vests) – Brendan O’Neill, The Spectator
A French Revolution? – Guillaume De Thieuloy, Law and Liberty
The Devil Behind Population Decline – Patti Maguire Armstrong, National Catholic Register
A New Book that Addresses the Core Belief of Western Civilization – New Liturgical Mvmnt
‘What Can We Say?’ French Bishops Cautious in Response to Yellow Vest Protests – The CWR
Nationalism Yes, Globalist Imperialism No! – Jason Jones & John Zmirak Ph.D., The Stream
Ukraine has “Sacred Duty” to Defend Against Russia – CNS via the Toronto Catholic Register
Tracking China’s Muslim Gulag – Philip Wen & Olzhas Auyezov, Reuters Investigates
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

Peterson & Solzhenitsyn Speak Truth to Power

. . .It is not hard to see why Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, whose 100th birthday will be celebrated on December 11, would be such a compelling figure for Jordan Peterson, the Jungian psychologist who has become an international cause célèbre for defying Orwellian speech codes added to Canada’s Human Rights Act.  In addition to advocating an ethic of individual responsibility for directionless & emasculated youths, Peterson has devoted much of his scholarship to the ways in which modern totalitarian systems manipulate language & concepts.  Just as Solzhenitsyn in his day warned that “socialism of any type & shade leads to a total destruction of the human spirit & to a leveling of mankind into death,” so, too, does Peterson now condemn political-correctness as the spawn of Marxism—which is, in turn, “a murderous ideology” built upon “vicious, untenable & anti-human ideas”. . .

by Jerry D. Slayer,

of Crisis Magazine

The Calm Before the Storm: George H. W. Bush – Charles F. McElwee, City Journal
Red China: Catholics Worship Outside a Locked-Up Pilgrimage Site – Feng Gang, Bitter Winter
Red China: Faculty & Staff at Universities Fired for Religious Belief – Lin Yijiang, Bitter Winter
The PC Police Come For ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ Song – Donald R. McClarey J.D., TACatholic
AAUP Defends Sham Scholarship in the Interest of Ideology – S.M. Krason, Crisis Magazine
How “Right-Wing Populism” Succeeded in Austria  – James Baresel, Crisis Magazine
Fact-Check: Yes, Politico, Abortion is Funded by the Federal Govt – Dustin Siggins, The CWR
Nicaragua’s Bishops Brave Gunfire, Stand Tall in Advent Message – Inés San Martín, Crux
EWTN Wins Lawsuit Over HHS Contraception Mandate – Ed Condon J.C.L., NC Register
Starbucks & Tumblr to Block Pornography – Perry West, CNA via National Catholic Register
Gratitude: The Heart of Capitalism – Rev. Ben Johnson, Transatlantic Blog
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time