Big Pulpit

Fast & Abstinence, Everything You Wanted to Know

. . .throughout much of the Old Testament, there was only one fast day, the Day of Atonement (Lev 16:29).  Later, other fasts were called for either because of a state of emergency or on the anniversary of a national tragedy (Zech 7:3-4).  Fasting was an attempt to end a terrible circumstance. . .

from Regina Magazine

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Adorecast
Eight Habits of Healthy Couples – Gregory Popcak Ph.D., Catholic Exchange
The Rise of the “Have It Your Way” Wedding – John Grondelski Ph.D., NC Register
Catholic Identity College Guide 2018 – The Editors, National Catholic Register
Abortionists Smear ‘Gosnell’ Actor Dean Cain, Call Him Homophobic Bigot – Mic. Bilger
The Modern Day Simony & Investiture Crisis – David L. Gray, DavidLGray.info
Vegan Leaves Church Upon Hearing Eucharist Is Jesus’ Body (Warning: Satire) – C. Misfit
St. Michael the Archangel, Our Defense Against Darkness – J. Ewing, Catholic Exchange
A Priest Speaks to College Seminarians – Fr. Tim. S. Valentine, Homiletic & Pastoral Rvw
Guardian Angels: The Heavenly Friend that Never Leaves Our Side – N. Mazzei, C. Stand
Islam: Who Are We to Judge? – William Kilpatrick, Crisis Magazine
Interview with a New Convert: Part I & Part II – Fr. David Nix, Pilgrim Priest
The Conciliar Option – David L. Gray, DavidLGray.info
7 Baby Boys Named ‘Lucifer’ in England Last Year – Catholic Herald
Baby Names: Muhammad the Most Popular in U.K.? – J. Meierhans & R. England, BBC
Hiddenness – Nathalie Fernandez, Ignitum Today
Is a Religious Upbringing Good for Your Children? – Tyler J. VanderWeele, Mercatornet
Miracles & Mysteries – Noel Ethan Tan, Ignitum Today
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

The Pic of John Wayne & His Son Venerating Mary; Grandson is a Priest

. . .there’s a photo floating around the internet of John Wayne & his son, Patrick Wayne, with a statue of the Blessed Mother.  John is squats in front of the statue, while his son, Patrick, stands.  They both look reverently up at the statue. . .

from ChurchPOP

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Adorecast
The Miraculous Story Behind the Little Known Shoulder Wound of Jesus – uCatholic
Hold the Twitter! Men Claim They Were the Ones with Ford? – Al Perrotta, The Stream
Before & After: Sacred Heart FSSP Parish in Fort Wayne – Liturgical Arts Journal
Save Us From the Deniers of Hell at a Jesuit Run Univ. – John Horvat II, Crisis Magazine
Kavanaugh Hearing Open Thread – Donald R. McClarey J.D., The American Catholic
The New Gulags of Thought Control – Carl R. Trueman, First Things
Heterodox Religious Women Fight Kavanaugh Confirmation – J. Jenkins, Rlgn Nws Srvc
A Positive Story on St. Luke’s: Priests & Religious Who Limped In, Left Healed – Fr. Zed
And the Attacks on Kavanaugh Circus Continues – Donald R. McClarey J.D., TACatholic
Dying Italian Dominicans Leave Behind Fra Angelico – Kenneth J. Wolfe, Rorate Cæli
Oppressed Priests & Portable Altars & True Emergency Conditions – Fr. Z’s Blog
Truth of a Building: Construction for Traditionalist Order of Carmelite Nuns – R. Dreher
2018 Catholic Art Guild Conf.: Lay Push-Back to Smoke of Satan – Mark Nowakowski
Tax-Funded Researcher Studying Trans Kids, “Married” to Trans Woman – Jane Robbins
Mongolia’s First Bishop Passes Away – Vatican News
More than 20,000 attend episcopal consecration in Indonesia – EWTN News via The CWR
The Cost of Religious Freedom – Jayson Casper, Christianity Today
How the China Deal Betrays the Second Vatican Council – Mat. Schmitz, Catholic Herald
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

Catholic N.F.L. Player Shocks Interviewer Who Asks, “Are You Done Having Children?”

. . .this father of 8 children is open to more. . .

by Ashley Jonkman,

of Aleteia

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Adorecast
Before & After: Blessed Sacrament Church in Ohio – Sh. Tribe, Liturgical Arts Journal
Why It Would Be Better For Christine Blasey Ford to Skip the Hearing – M. Cleveland
Bringing Back Beauty: The New Traditional Catholic Churches of the U.S. – Aleteia
Some Church Architectural Styles Really Are Profane – Dan Burke, Crisis Magazine
Coffee was “Satan’s Brew” Before Pope Clement VIII Baptized It – J.P. Mauro, Aleteia
Sacramento Diocese Gets New Vicar General – California Catholic Daily
The Resurrection: Historical Thoughts for Doubting Thomases – Regina Magazine
These Vesting Prayers Before Mass Remind Priests of Their Unique Vocation – Aleteia
CBS Show “God Friended Me” Is Uplifting, Positive – Kathy Schiffer, National C. Register
An FSSP First Mass in Italy – Gregory DiPippo, New Liturgical Movement
Conduct Yourselves in a Way Worthy of the Gospel of Christ – Bob Dirgo, NC Register
6 Saints Who Were Holy Medical Doctors – Philip Kosloski, Aleteia
Millennials Staying Married at a Higher Rate – CNA via The Catholic World Report
Feast Day of St. Vincent de Paul – Amy Welborn, Charlotte Was Both
Your Personal “Sanity Outfit” – Meghan Ashley Styling (Catholic)
Why Are We So Unaware of Christian Persecution? How to Fix It? – Fr. Rb. McTeigue S.J.
Attracting Your Angel Donors – Brice Sokolowski, CatholicFundraiser.net
Closure of Syrian Schools: Another Bleak Sign for Christians in Syria – Marlo Safi
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

Eastern Orthodoxy “May Be on the Verge of an Epic Crack-Up”

. . .Moscow & Russia are not the sole inheritors of the baptism of the eastern Slavs, & Russian imperial claims rest on a false story. . .

by George Weigel,

of The Dispatch

via The Catholic World Report

69% of Russian Orthodox Accept “And the Son”; Catholic Unity? – Fr. M. Schneider L.C.
Why Orthodox Christian Nations Remain Stuck – Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg View
Georgian Orthodox Patriarch Enters Ukrainian Autocephaly Tiff – Orthodox Christianity
The Other NATO: An Orthodox Schism? – Ianto Watt, Statistician to the Stars!
Constantinople Says They are Not Afraid of Threats from Moscow – Ekathimerini.com
The Future of Christianity in Europe – Metropolitan Hilarion, The R.O.C. E.C.R.
Orthodox Church Leaders Duel Over Ukraine, Meet with Pope – Peter Jesserer Smith
The Russian Orthodox Monk with Putin’s Ear – Xavier Le Normand, Aleteia
Orthodoxy is Reportedly Now Austria’s Second Largest Religious Group – Pravmir
Are Orthodox Christians Naturally Statists? – Krassen Stanchev, Transatlantic Blog
Preparations for Ukrainian Autocephaly Cause Tensions – Catholic News Agency
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

Holding Out for a Shepherd: Heartfelt Responses from Priests & Bishops

. . .amid widespread disillusionment over clergy sexual abuse, encouraging examples emerge. . .

by Peter Jesserer Smith,

of the National Catholic Register

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Adorecast
Tyrannies of Sodoclerical Self-Centered Euroweenies Effeminate Blather – Fr. Z’s Blog
Radicalized By Kavanaugh’s Fate – Rod Dreher
Is There a List of Mortal Sins? – Fr. Dwight Longenecker
All Your Latest Kavanaugh News – Donald R. McClarey J.D., The American Catholic
Kavanaugh Accuser Deborah Ramirez Refuses to Testify Before Senate Cmte. – S. Ertelt
Why “I Believe Survivors” Is Cretinous: Realists vs. Fantasists – William M. Briggs Ph.D.
One Simple Reason I Won’t Leave The Catholic Church – Caitlin Bootsma, uCatholic
These Catholic Coffee Shops Take Evangelization to New Grounds – Z. Caldwell, Aleteia
What Mary Does for Priests – Charlie McKinney, Catholic Spiritual Direction
List of All the Popes of The Catholic Church – uCatholic
Catechism Change on Capital Punishment: Justified & Inadmissible? – NC Register
5 Tips for Getting Involved in Your College’s Catholic Ministry – L. Metzler, Catholic Link
Vatican Agreement with China Legitimizes a Christian-Torturing Regime – M. Mullarkey
Believe in the Power of Eucharistic Lord & Mary – Susan Skinner, Catholic Stand
Releasing Your Inner Prophet: 25th Sun. of OT Readings Explained – John Bergsma Ph.D.
Politics is Not the Gospel, But the Elections Sure Do Matter – M. Brown Ph.D., The Strm
Will China-Vatican Deal Have a Diplomatic Domino Effect for Taiwan? – Taiwan News
Pope: I’m Responsible for China, the Resistance Will Suffer – Marco Tossatti, LNBQ
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Tim

Young Teaching Sisters are Returning to Some Parochial Schools

. . .“They bring a joy that is constant . . . & they bring a sense of peace”. . .

by Jim Graves,

of the National Catholic Register

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Adorecast
The Powerful Weapon These 12 Saints Used to Conquer Satan – ChurchPOP
Spadaro on the China Accord: 2+2=5 Again – Phil Lawler, Catholic Culture
Chuck Schumer: No Presumption of Innocence for Brett Kavanaugh – M. Osburn
First Traditional Latin Mass Since the Council in a Parish in New Jersey – Rorate Cæli
“Sex Scandal” Exposes Destructive Nature of Gender Ideology – J. Flood, The CWR
Lose Yourself in the Absolute Beauty of Sacred Choral Music – J.P. Mauro, Aleteia
Cardinal Beatifies 22-Year-Old Romanian as ‘Martyr to Chastity’ – Jon. Luxmoore, Crux
9 People with Down Syndrome Who are Changing the World – Cerith Gardiner, Aleteia
Institute of Christ the King Established in Shrewsbury – Joseph Shaw, LMS Chairman
Abortion Isn’t Ordained by God No Matter What the Left Says – A. Stagnaro, NC Register
Pope Francis Takes Responsibility for China Deal – CNA/EWTN News via NC Register
Full Text of Pope Francis’ In-flight Press Conference from Estonia – CNA via The CWR
Your Personal “Sanity Outfit” – Meghan Ashley Styling (Catholic)
Government Cancels Controversial FDA Contract for Aborted Remains – The CWR
Youth Need Truth! A Better Way for the Synod – Daniel Guernsey Ed.D., Newman Society
Pro-lifers Welcome UK Decision to Reject Abortion Clinic Buffer Zones – The CWR
Attracting Your Angel Donors – Brice Sokolowski, CatholicFundraiser.net
What’s Going to Happen After Pope Francis? – Abbé Claude Barthe, Res Novae
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

Some Church Architectural Styles Really Are Profane

. . .architecture speaks, &, like a homily or proclamation of scripture, it can change us profoundly.  It preaches & teaches every time we enter a church building.  When it speaks truth it reminds us that God is central, & that we are broken & in need of a savior who offers us a place of eternal unity with God.  It reveals to us that we are on hallowed ground & should act differently than we did before we entered.  It instinctively draws us to our knees, to worship, & to focus on him.  It tells us that God, in the greatest act of love ever known to man, has given his life for us by providing his son as a sacrifice for our sins. . .

by Dan Burke,

of Crisis Magazine

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Adorecast
New York Times Hid Multiple Key Facts In Kavanaugh Yearbook Hit – Mollie Hemingway
Why Seminary Formation Must Be Scrutinized – Luke A. Burgis, Crisis Magazine
A Time for Anger, Brett Kavanaugh – Donald R. McClarey J.D., The American Catholic
3 Struggles I’ve Faced as a Newly Married Catholic Millennial – Cecilia Pigg, Aleteia
The Presence of Angels at the Eucharist – Jean Danielou, Catholic Exchange
How Civil Wars Start – Donald R. McClarey J.D., The American Catholic
6 More Weird Catholic Beliefs Revealed! – Karlo Broussard, Catholic Answers Magazine
I Will Not Leave the Catholic Church, This is Why – Rebecca Hamilton, Public Catholic
10 Things You Might Not Know About Catholics – uCatholic
Shelter From the Storm in a Time of Scandal & Crisis – Jonathan B. Coe, Cthlc Exchange
A Free New Online Course on the Iconic Book of Kells – Zelda Caldwell, Aleteia
The Big Problems with Naturalism – Dennis Bonnette Ph.D., Strange Notions
How Catholic Parents can Reform the Church – Mary Cooney, Mercatornet
Song of Faith & Jazz: How the New Orleans Saints Got Their Name – J.P. Mauro, Aleteia
Ethicist: Next Step to Artificial Reproduction Violates Human Fundamentals – The CWR
12 Beautiful Short Prayers to Say During Labor – Annabelle Moseley, Aleteia
Authentic Accompaniment: A Better Way for the Synod – D. Guernsey Ed.D., Nwmn Scty
How Mary Inspired Religious to Exchange Their Lives for Prisoners’ Freedom – Aleteia
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time