September 27, 2020 Interesting items to note and some thoughts about the new Order of Baptism of Children (OBC) – see below: Baptisms Outside of Mass are given chapter numbers. The “norm” for many parishes, baptism during Mass, is an “appendix.” Certain elements are celebrated when more than one child is baptized (Ephphatha). Catechists may […]
The Body of Christ
The Body of Christ
Kevin Irwin’s Pope Francis and the Liturgy
April 20, 2020 Patrick Riley, our Emmanuel book review editor, gave me two books to read and review this Lent, both highlighting the importance Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato si’. I am still working my way through Full of Your Glory: Liturgy, Cosmos, Creation edited by Teresa Berger with papers from the 5th Yale ISM Liturgy […]
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Vatican Sacred Triduum Decree “In time of COVID-19”
March 21 2020 It’s probably the oddest title and “decree” ever issued from the Vatican or from any organization. Yesterday (but dated March 19), the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments (CDWDS) issued “Decree: In time of COVID-19.” It came from Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect of the CDWDS and Arthur Roche, Archbishop […]
The Body of Christ
January 1, 2020
Wednesday, January 1, 2020 Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God Last Day of the Christmas Octave Welcome to this new blog that is part of Emmanuel magazine! I am honored that our new editor, John Christman, SSS, requested that I share news, reflections and info that is timely on pastoral liturgy and worship. Before […]
The Body of Christ
Sorting through the Variant Perspectives from the Synod on the Family: Lessons from the Early Church (Part One)
Given the ease and frequency of divorce in the world of Jesus, the often superficial motives for divorcing one’s wife, as well as the disastrous and humiliating consequences that a divorce had on a discarded wife, it is no surprise that Jesus condemns divorce so strongly. Remarkably, after two years of meetings and weeks of […]
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Is the Pope Communist?????
So ask a number of recent news reports from a variety of sources, such as the BBC, the Christian Post, Newsweek, and MSNBC, among others. Without a doubt, Pope Francis has been making headlines left and right over the past few months. In May, he met with Raúl Castro of communist Cuba, and, a little […]
The Body of Christ
Where do YOU live? Where would you like to live?
Where we live shapes us. It shapes our loves, our likes and dislikes, our preferences, our desires, our hopes, and opportunities. It shapes how we grow and the person we become. As a child, I was fortunate enough to grow up within easy biking distance of a great public library and some wonderful parks. This shaped me in some important ways.