Matthew Archbold has brief but dead-on commentary on how people view God. He writes:

I remember a theology professor of mine questioning the existence of Hell and saying he didn’t believe in Hell because he couldn’t correlate a loving God and Hell. But what he was really saying was that if he created a world he wouldn’t include Hell. But he didn’t create the world and I think he was just upset he hadn’t been consulted.

From “Who Wants Elton’s Jesus? ” at the National Catholic Register.

Lent is one of those times of year that comes with mixed feelings for folks. You’ve got Mardi Gras (a sometimes dubious entrance into the season), fasting from food during Ash Wednesday and then weeks of sacrifice – usually fasting from some favorite food or activity – before reaching Holy Week and finally (!), Easter. It’s a mix of feast or famine that has people wondering what the big deal is about giving things up.

Read the entire article at Fr. Brian Carpenter’s blog “Working to Beat Hell”.

The last few Sunday readings, the recent celebration of St. Agatha’s feast and (of all things) the Super Bowl have gotten me thinking about bravery in the modern day.

In some ways, I think it was easier ‘back in the day’. Either you were willing to be publicly shamed, tortured and killed for the truth, or you weren’t. Look at Jesus’ proclamation of ‘Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your presence’. That was the start of His eventual persecution, ridicule and crucifixion – and there can’t be any doubt that He knew that when He got up to make that pronouncement.

St. Agatha too, went through a fairly straightforward persecution. After dedicating herself spiritually and physically to God, an interested & wealthy man made it his mission to make her give that up. She wouldn’t, and was forced into work at a brothel, then sent to prison before being tortured and eventually killed.

What makes this easier, if you will, is the straightforwardness of persecution. Everyone knew what a person had said, those who opposed them clearly wanted something contrary to that and the results were an obvious show of that conflict.

It seems to me that persecution in modern… (Read the full post)

Through a family member, I was recently introduced to a new, young community of Benedictine sisters in the diocese of Kansas-City/St. Joseph. What is striking about this community is twofold: that a new community of monastic nuns is even formed in today’s day & age, and that it is growing quite strongly!

The religious life is so often underestimated in worth and value by our modern days. People question whether a silent, cloistered person can be happy – and wonder what such a life could accomplish. Yet these are the people who have chosen a relationship with our Lord above all else – and spend their days interceding on behalf of the world. We need them, make no mistake! And judging from the photos on their website, these nuns have found quite a bit of joy in the life they have chosen.

The sisters have two cds that they have put together to raise funds. I strongly recommend their Christmas cd, though I suspect their other cd is just as good. Both can be previewed at their web site below – the funds will go to the building of their temporary monastary (which will someday be their permanent guest house).… (Read the full post)

Merry Christmas to you all – may the birth of our Savior bring you peace & strengthen you for His work!

- Fr. Maurer