My Sister's New Blog

My sister started a new blog called "Season the Day" with gluten-free recipes and other snack ideas that you might be interested in. I hope you'll stop by and say hello.

Essay Contest on Verbum Domini

Called to Communion is hosting its second annual essay contest on the topic of Verbum Domini, a recent document from Pope Benedict XVI expounding on the Church's doctrine of sacred Scripture. The winning essay will receive a copy of De Lubac's Medieval Exegesis, Vol I.

The Church Fathers on Transubstantiation

Check out my latest post on Called to Communion: The Church Fathers on Transubstantiation. This post shows the patristic support not merely for the Real Presence in the Eucharist, but also for the concept that the bread and wine are changed, by Transubstantiation (substantial change), into the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Pope St. Clement of Rome

Bryan Cross has a great article on Pope St. Clement of Rome over at Called to Communion.

Pope Benedict did NOT Condone Condom use

Over at Called to Communion, I've written a brief blog post explaining why the Pope did NOT condone condom use even in certain circumstances. The liberal media is running wild with this story - claiming that the Vatican is now reversing or at least softening its stance on artificial contraception. That is not the case as I explain in the article. This isn't even a case of the pope being taken out of context. His words are being flatly and deliberately misinterpreted.

Why God Matters

Why God Matters is a new book written by a deacon and his daughter. Visit their web site at: www.WhyGodMatters.com and Watch the video book trailer here.

ARCHBALD, PENNSYLVANIA – Tribute Books announces the release of Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life by Deacon Steven Lumbert of Pueblo, Co. and his daughter, Karina Lumbert Fabian of Simi Valley, Ca. They share their stories of how God led them from casual belief to deep devotion, and offer tips and exercises to help you see God's hand - and take it.

Neither Lumbert nor Fabian had dramatic conversions. Rather, God led them into deeper faith through the seemingly minor details of life: pot of rice, a habit of prayer, a frustrating flight home, or a barefooted stranger. This father-daughter team have written a delightful, quick book about finding God in the day-to-day. With thought-provoking quotes, heartwarming stories, Bible verses, passages from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and simple exercises the reader can fit into his or her daily routine, they help others recognize God's presence.

Book Summary

Many times one sees Roman Catholicism explained using either closely reasoned theology or an appeal to ancient writers of the Church. While both are legitimate approaches, the average reader looking to explore the faith is often left cold. In their collaboration, Why God Matters, Deacon Steven Lumbert and his daughter, Karina Lumbert Fabian, delineate the Catholic Faith as experienced by a pair of average, everyday people like the great majority who make up the 24 percent of Americans who share this religion.

In the stories of this pair, one see both ways people come to Catholicism, by birth ('cradle Catholics') and by conversion. Their descriptions of their separate paths thankfully lack the religiosity of the all too common 'and then a miracle takes place' school of religious experience. Rather than blasts of light, fiery swords, spiritual fistfights, and angelic choirs, theirs is the long religious slog of the everyday. The effort that one must put out each day in the long trek to Heaven.

What is Catholicism really like? One would be hard-put to find a better verbal painting of the faith so many call their own.

Rev. Dr. Michael Root Swims the Tiber

Rev. Dr. Michael Root, a prominent Lutheran theologian, announced that he will convert to the Catholic Church. Read the story here. H/T Chad Toney.