The Flying Monk?
St. Joseph of Cupertino was a misfit mystic. His life of asceticism was so extreme that some people would say he had an eating disorder, that he was emotionally or mentally ill.
Lift High the Cross
Today's feast is The Exaltation of the Cross. The legend is that the Empress Helena, Constantine's mother, traveled to Jerusalem and discovered the true cross. The illustration for this post is the chapel of St Helena--the crypt of the church of the Holy Sepulchre. The local Christians said she could have it, but said she must [...]
Cults, Cliques and Common Sense
One of the creepiest things about religion is the tendency for those involved to drift into cult-like behaviors. That doesn't mean the devotees are all following the leader like zombie Moonies. Religious groups can drift into cult like behaviors without becoming full blown cults. How can you tell if a religious group is operating like a [...]
The Day I Met Mother Teresa
I had met James during my seminary days in Oxford and he and I were ordained as Anglican priests at the same time and went to nearby parishes in Sussex. I have always had to have my arm twisted to take vacations, and this was no exception. James was planning a trip to India and wanted [...]
Twelve Things I Like About St Gregory the Great
Here's a little list: Twelve Things I Like About St Gregory the Great He was a Benedictine monk. I'm a Benedictine oblate and the monk in me will always hanker for the cell, the cloister and the bell. He was a scholar. You got to love a Pope who is brainy. He got things done. He [...]
Scapegoating and Social Violence
The violence in American cities shakes up a whole nation and we immediately look for people to blame. That's the problem. The mark of Cain in the human condition is that we always, instinctively look for someone to blame: someone else. Anyone else. If there is a problem on an individual level or community level we [...]
Re-Branding the Catholic Church
As you drive around the American South you can't help noticing the old fashioned Baptist churches are ditching their Baptist label. Reassuring brick churches with classic style porches and steeples used to be called "First Baptist Church" or "Second Baptist Church" or "North Road Baptist Church" or maybe something with an Old Testament link like "Ebenezer [...]
Five Reasons Why the Transfiguration Really Happened
You know the old schtick from the New Testament scholars: all those miracles stories and supernatural events? They're all pious fiction. Somebody made it up. It's "mythical". They added that stuff to make Jesus more special. They added that stuff to make it seem like he was fulfilling Old Testament prophecy. They cooked up those stories [...]
Explaining Transubstantiation
I'm often surprised at the number of good, faithful Catholics who are well informed about their faith, who do not understand the doctrine of transubstantiation. In my experience they fall into two categories. The first do not believe the Eucharist is anything more than a symbol. The second believe the bread and wine become the Body [...]
Atheists and Wishful Thinking
One of the most common jibes of atheists against religious believers is, "You folks are engaged in some serious fantasy-like wishful thinking. You believe in a magic fairyland beyond the clouds where everyone will one day live in blissful peace, and you believe you will go there one day. You believe in a Santa Claus like [...]