For All the Saints: Catherine of Siena

Baldassare Franceschini [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Fearless. Bold. Doctor of the Church. Poet. Mystic. Stigmatic. Correspondent of Popes and Royalty. Correspondent to the Faithful. Action-oriented contemplative. Saint Catherine of Siena was all these and more.

A Gifted Guitarist You Might Have Missed (Music for Mondays)

First published on Aug 1, 2011, I am saddened to learn that today, at the age of 57, Prince Rogers Nelson has left this mortal coil. While saying a prayer for his soul, step back with me and remember his immense talent that was his vocation to share with the world.

He goes by the name of Prince. Oh you’ve heard of him, you just forgot how good a guitarist he is. This guy is a genius. Don’t believe me? That’s ok. Do you think he is still a pretender prancing around in frilly outfits? Let me tell you, and this is just my humble opinion, Michael Jackson is the pretender next to this guy. Have a look at these four selections for the proof.

Because St. Barbara is the Patron Saint of Artillery

It is the Feast of St. Barbara! As a former member of November Battery, 5th Battalion, 14th Marines, let me tell you something: this is a feast day celebrated throughout the entire US Armed Forces in the Artillery Community. Knowing that, doesn’t this prayer intention make more sense?

I’ve Never Read René Girard, But I Will Now

“René Girard” by Vicq – Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons

So many books, and so little time. That’s my excuse, anyway.

In light of René Girard’s passing, I read this article by Grant Kaplan today and learned that the final book he wrote had to do with Carl von Clausewitz.

For Augustine’s Thoughts On Truth, And How They Relate To Present Controversies

“Saint Augustine” by Philippe de Champaigne – Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Licensed under Public Domain.

What follows is from one paragraph of St. Augustine’s Confessions . I was just reading these thoughts this morning, having just made it into Book X of the good Doctor’s well known, but never read by me, memoir. I share them now because they sound a clarion call on, and serve as a jarring reminder of, what matters when it comes to the teachings of the Catholic Church.

For These Thoughts Of Anthony The Great (A Few Words For Wednesday)

By Master of the Osservanza Triptych (Metropolitan Museum of Art) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

From Sr. Benedicta Ward’s The Sayings of the Desert Fathers, here are four sayings attributed to St. Anthony the Great.

Did You See Bono’s Video On Laudito Si’?

Photo by NASA.

He narrates it well.

For Shakespeare’s St. Crispin’s Day Speech

“Morning of the Battle of Agincourt, 25 October, 1415.” Public Domain

It’s St. Crispin’s Day! Which means it’s time for my favorite speech penned by William Shakespeare. See, the Battle of Agincourt occurred on the Feast of Sts. Crispin and Crispinian, which back before I was Catholic I would only have known this day as October 25th. But I knew about the Battle of Agincourt because it is renowned as an almost miraculous victory of a small English army, a long way from home, over a vastly superior French one (on it’s home turf) on this day in the Year of Our Lord, 1415.

430 Followers! YIMCatholic Has Left Patheos. Here’s The 411…

Public Domain

Aloha, readers! Remember me? This is just a short dispatch to let you know that the blogging colossus *cough* you’ve known, loved, and followed all these years, has resigned his commission at the Patheos Catholic Channel. Henceforward, I’ll be cruising the waters as a privateer.

Heading To Philly For The World Meeting Of Families? Watch These Videos…

My pal, Diana von Glahn, aka The Faithful Traveler,  lives in Philadelphia. Lucky her! She’ll be seeing Pope Francis, and a couple of million people inflating the population of the city, come the World Meeting Of Families in September. Even better, she’s made a number of pilgrimage related videos that you’ll want to watch whether you’re making the trip, or not.

Roll commercial!