Dust unto Dust

The men of the East may spell the stars,
And times and triumphs mark,
But the men signed of the cross of Christ
Go gaily in the dark.

The men of the East may search the scrolls
For sure fates and fame,
But the men that drink the blood of God
Go singing to their shame.

-- G. K. Chesterton, The Ballad of the White Horse

Who Men Really Are

I am tired of hearing it drilled in to my gender that we will always struggle with lust, and that because we are visually stimulated we are doomed to always struggle with our eyes. Isn’t it much more likely (and more biblical) that any struggle with our eyes is first and foremost a struggle with the heart? Isn’t it possible to recognize a woman’s beauty at all levels and not wander into places in our heart that are out of bounds? 

This is NOT what is communicated, when we are sent the constant message that we are weak, lustful creatures, who need women to dress differently in order to protect us from our poor uncontrollable masculine responses. 

 Read the rest here.

Vulnerability on My Mind

Here is an article that I published on the Good Woman Project's website, discussing the role of vulnerability in love and relationships.

Love in a Modern World

First off, a refreshing defense of true love in a shallow, cynical culture by Fr. Longenecker.

Followed by a thought-provoking project, wherein Italian artist Anna Utopia Giordano photoshops classic nude paintings, nipping the waistline and, ahem, augmenting the bust. More than a little depressing, no? Honestly, it surprised me how wrong the thinner versions looked, practically emaciated. So much for the modern standards of beauty.

Why is There So Much Pink?

Wishing you and yours a very tongue-in-cheek feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius.

Go Fr. Dailey!

Cope and Paste for a great defense of the Church's views on Contraception and Abortion:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/46351581#46351581

Windows into Eternity

Because Christ Pantocrator is one of my favorite icon subjects ever.

Auntie Seraphic Does It Again

Have we mentioned yet how much we love Auntie Seraphic? No? Well, on a scale of line-dried sheets to Jane Austen, she's right below Jane Austen. By that much.

Nashville Dominicans' Novena

Current events are not our forte here, but this is something I think should be passed along. The Nashville Dominicans (Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia) will be praying a novena from February 11-19 for our country in the light of the recent HHS mandate.


We beg God for the preservation of our great and beautiful country, and of the freedom we have all enjoyed and been privileged to share with others.  The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia invite you to join with us in a novena of prayer and fasting, asking Mary, Patroness of the United States of America, to implore God’s loving mercy on us at this critical time.  The novena will begin February 11 and end February 19, 2012.  The sisters will be praying the following prayer each of the nine days.

Act of Consecration of the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
     Most Holy Trinity: Our Father in heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as your spouse; God the Son, who chose Mary as your Mother; in union with Mary, we adore your majesty and acknowledge your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.
     Most Holy Trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to you.  Through her we wish to thank you for the great resources of this land and for the freedom, which has been its heritage. Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America.  Grant us peace.  Have mercy on our president and on all the officers of our government.  Grant us a fruitful economy born of justice and charity.  Have mercy on capital and industry and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of our Mother, have mercy on the sick, the poor, the tempted, sinners – on all who are in need.
     Mary, Immaculate Virgin, our Mother, Patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give our country and ourselves to your sorrowful and Immaculate Heart.  O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pierced by the sword of sorrow prophesied by Simeon, save us from degeneration, disaster and war.  Protect us from all harm.  O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, you who bore the sufferings of your Son in the depths of your heart, be our advocate.  Pray for us, that acting always according to your will and the will of your divine Son, we may live and die pleasing to God.  Amen.


On a related note: Cardinal-designate Dolan's WSJ Op-Ed piece.

vulnerability in the 21st Century.

This weekend, the Identity Project of Notre Dame is presenting their annual Edith Stein Project.

This year's project is entitled: Encountering Vulnerability: Courage, Hope and Trust in the 21st Century.

It should be a beautiful weekend, full of refreshing, renewing talks, fellowship, and insight into what role vulnerability plays in our lives as men and women. There are talks about adoption, eating disorders, marriage, relationships, St. André Bessette, contraception in the church's moral teaching, and last but not least: Jane Austen. (I'm really excited for that one.)

If you're in the Notre Dame area, check it out!

And whether or not you're in the area, please pray for the success of the conference, the safety of all those traveling to the conference, and for a spiritually and intellectually renewing and rejuvenating weekend for everyone.