"They went to Bethle-ha-ha-ham..."

This is so, so sweet...

Best. Christmas. Pageant. Ever.

Another smiler for your Gaudete Sunday.  It's worth the time to watch till the end.  It sure gives new meaning to "sheep stealing."  And I always knew that the Blessed Mother was a strong woman...but...

  

Heroic

Seems like there's a new, good priest video every day lately...

 
 

Follow

Excellent video...


 

Messy...but God's still in charge

The recently concluded "Synod on the Family" in Rome caused quite a dust up in both the secular and the Catholic press...making it kind of difficult to get a handle on what was really going on or what one should begin to think about it all.

Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence, Rhode Island, has posted a few random reelections on the Synod that are both refreshingly succinct and sane.  Check them out here.

A Time to Dance

Even though it doesn't look or feel anything like Indian Summer out there this morning, Snoopy's optimistic outlook had my toes tapping just a bit this morning...

And then I heard about this fancy footwork coming out from my alma mater:



Help these two priests go truly viral and watch the original YouTube video here.  Then be sure to dance your way on through the day.
 

Comes & Goes

This one is cute...but also makes me a little sad.

As the post says on YouTube:

I grew a beard until my wife proclaimed it's robust awesomeness was overwhelming for her heart. RIP Beard. You were loved.

I have not yet been overwhelmed (although I think a few were last winter--my mother included).  Keep bringing on the awesomeness, I say.


 

Touchdown!

This one was a really big win...


 

The Power of Prayer

   

Fluffy Heretics

A potential strategy for frustrated preachers tomorrow...

  

  

Grace

On the way to a burial this morning, I heard the Writer's Almanac on NPR, and Mr. Keillor read a most delightful--and even inspiring--poem, which I thought was worth sharing with you:

"Grace," by Linda Pastan

When the young professor folded
his hands at dinner and spoke to God
about my safe arrival
through the snow, thanking Him also
for the food we were about to eat,
it was in the tone of voice I use
to speak to friends when I call
and get their answering machines,

chatting about this and that
in a casual voice,
picturing them listening
but too busy to pick up the phone,
or out taking care of important
business somewhere else.
The next day, flying home
through a windy
and overwhelming sky, I knew
I envied his rapport with God
and hoped his prayers
would keep my plane aloft.  

  

Third

There are lots of "neat" and "nice" videos that make their way to you from across the Internet...but every once in awhile one finds you that is truly exceptional and just about takes your breath away.  This is one of them.  When two completely unrelated priests send me separate recommendations on this two days in a row, I figured I'd better take a look.  So glad that I did.  The Third Way is about same sex attraction, and it's quite honest, so this may not be for everyone and probably shouldn't be watched with young children nearby.  It's more than a half an hour long, so you might have to hit play/pause a few times to restart it...but it's well worth the time and effort.  Watch it.

 

Looking Up

It's kind of ironic to watch a video on a small glowing screen that's telling you how you ought to look up from that small glowing screen...but this is really great:

Guarded

I'd like to get my hands on a few of these...

Saintly...& Cute

A brother priest just forwarded me the link to this wonderful video (18 minutes) on the life of Br. André.  It's entirely narrated and acted out by children--and so well done!  Watch it when you've got the time.  You'll love it!

Working Out

Just came across this...and can't stop smiling.  Might be a good exercise routine to try after all the rich foods of Mardi Gras...


 

Pontifical Selfie

So...despite all that I've posted recently about cellphones...I really, really love this photo...

I Forgot My Phone

Wow!  I can soooo relate to this!  This is pretty much what it feels like to go without a cellphone, while most everybody around you lives their life on a little glowing screen...


 
Sorry to say, constant smartphone users...but you really do look and act that way.  We miss you!
 

Heaven's Door

A friend just brought to my attention the cartoon, Knocking on Heaven's Door, in which Spencer--a rather precocious 6-year-old--carries on a constant conversation with his best freind: God.  It's not only cute, but thought-provoking.  Check it out!

Off the Hook

"Roughly 21 million adult Americans don't own a cellphone--and they're getting by just fine, thank you."

A parishioner sent me this great article from the Wall Street Journal, reflecting on the author's 40 years of life so far without a cellphone.  (In the print edition, it was called, "We Are the Nine Percent.")  Except for the references to "my wife," I could have easily written it myself.  Now that the guy is about to get a cellphone of his own, I feel like I should order him one of these: