Atheist Chaplains?

A group of atheist solidiers is demanding that the military appoint Atheist "Chaplains." How can a group that denies the truth of religion and denies that it is a religion have a religious leader? Full story from the New York Times.

Archbishop Gregory

Titulus Crucis

Christ the Lord Is Risen Today!

Should Christians Read Harry Potter?

Thanks to Catholic Champion.

Alleluia! He is Risen!

The Lord Is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

Almighty God, who through Your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life; Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by Your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Source: 1979 BCP p. 222)

The Gospel According to Cecil B. DeMille

Interesting post about the Evangelistic force of Cecil B. DeMille's biblical epics.

Gregorian Chant

Thanks to The National Post

The Jesuits Are Vanishing

Interesting post and link to a Washington Post article about the declining numbers of Jesuits in the United States from the blog Good Jesuit, Bad Jesuit.

Holy Saturday

O God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of Your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with Him the coming of the third day, and rise with Him to newness of life; who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Source: 1979 BCP p. 221).

The Harrowing of Hell


Painting: The Descent Into Hell by Tintorello (1568)

From an ancient homily for Holy Saturday:

"Today a great silence reigns on earth, a great silence and a great stillness. A great silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. . . . He has gone to search for Adam, our first father, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow Adam in his bonds and Eve, captive with him - He who is both their God and son of Eve. . . . "I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. . . . I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead."

Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 637: "In his human soul united to his divine person, the dead Christ went down to the realm of the dead. He opened heaven's gate for the just who had gone before him."

Behold the Wood of the Cross

The Old Rugged Cross

Here's another great Gospel song for Good Friday sung by Loretta Lynn:

Good Gospel for Good Friday

Here's one of my favorite Gospel singers of all time, George Beverly Shea:

Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?

Here's Johnny Cash and the Carter Family singing a great spiritual:



Thanks to Aggie Catholics.

Big Bird Asks the First Lady Tough Questions

Thanks to Creative Minority Report.

"Creeping to the Cross"

I have been reading Professor Eamon Duffy's massive work The Stripping of the Altars. The forerunner of our practice of reverencing the cross on Good Friday was called "Creeping to the Cross." Here's a good post on the Medieval English observance of Good Friday from the blog Supremacy and Survival.

California Catholics Under Attack

Catholic Churches in California have been the victims of a spate of vandalism including a recent arson of a church. Read the full story here.

Good Friday

Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this Your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Source 1979 BCP p. 221).

No One's More Irish Than Barack O'Bama

The home village of President Obama's ancestors (on his mother's side) in Ireland is planning a huge welcome for the President's visit. Full story from the BBC.

A Bishop Who Has a Backbone