Category Archives: General Interest

While Waiting for the Walls to Dry….

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Deacon Bob

I’m taking a break at the moment, waiting for the shower walls to dry. A small project requiring a bit of elbow grease and patience. By evening, the shower should look pretty good again. I have not been blogging much … Continue reading →

Posted in General Interest, Homosexuality, Marriage and Family | 1 Comment

Marian Street Shrines in Rome

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Deacon Bob

While I was living in Rome in the late 1970s, I would often walk the back streets of the city. Back then, it was completely safe day and night. The trek from the North American College to the Gregorian University … Continue reading →

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God’s Mercy Knows No Bounds: the Case of Rudolf Hoess

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Deacon Bob

I ran across a lecture given at Seton Hall University on March 25, 1998. I believe the lecturer was John Jay Hughes. The title was A Mass Murderer Repents: The case of Rudolf Hoess, Commandant of Auschwitz. In this lecture … Continue reading →

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Universities and the Freedom from Ideological Control

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Deacon Bob

I attended the commencement ceremonies at a regional public university over the past weekend. (My sister graduated with a Master of Arts in Sociology, and I am quite proud of her!) I was struck by the administration of the university … Continue reading →

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Random Thoughts – Trinitarian life, Family, Funerals, Papa Luciani, Blogs, Evangelization

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Deacon Bob

In my prayer and thoughts of late, and in my homilies at daily Mass, I have been returning to the theme of our being caught up into the life of the Trinity. The realization that by virtue of our baptism and … Continue reading →

Posted in General Interest | 1 Comment

Anti-Catholic Bigotry in Minnesota

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Deacon Bob

You may be aware that the University of Minnesota – Duluth will be hosting a play entitled, The Deputy written by Rolf Hochhuth. This play, which I have not read or seen personally, reputedly castigates Pope Pius XII and portrays … Continue reading →

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Alleluia! The Lord is Risen! The Tomb is Verily Empty!

Posted on April 8, 2012 by Deacon Bob

Happy Easter, everyone! The alleluias are being sung. Children are searching for their Easter baskets. The fasting is over and now is the time to rejoice and be glad for the Lord Jesus is truly risen! Thanks be to God. … Continue reading →

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The Paschal Mystery Begins

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Deacon Bob

We are just a few hours from the beginning of the Triduum, the three most holy days of Christianity, the days in which we commemorate the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. For me, a sort of pall falls over … Continue reading →

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Facing Lent’s Temptations

Posted on March 4, 2012 by Deacon Bob

  I heard a spiritual director (not mine) say recently that the devil cannot read your thoughts; he is only a very good observer of behavior and quickly hones in on your weakness. It is there he attacks. Your thoughts, … Continue reading →

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Lenten Abstinence

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Deacon Bob

We are full-time into Lent, this being the ninth day. It would seem that this year my Lenten practice – largely dictated by necessity – lies in almsgiving. Almsgiving in the broader sense of doing for others in acts of … Continue reading →

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Our Persecuted Brothers and Sisters in Laos

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Deacon Bob

Fides, the information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies (see link below right), published yesterday a report of the confiscation of a church on February 22 in the village of Kengweng in the district of Sayabulim in Savannakhet province of … Continue reading →

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White House Misrepresents Its Own Contraceptive Mandate

Posted on February 4, 2012 by Deacon Bob

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued a point by point clarification of a recent White House response to the HHS mandate requiring religious institutions to violate their consciences and that threatens religious liberty. Here is the bishops … Continue reading →

Posted in Church News, General Interest, Health Care, Human Development and Life, Politics | 2 Comments

Our Youth, the Bearers of Hope!

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Deacon Bob

The Holy Father recently spoke of youth and hope in his Angelus address. He said, in part, (my translation of the Italian original): In the present world economic and social crisis, I wish for a new year marked concretely by … Continue reading →

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The Mystery of “Ordinary Time”

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Deacon Bob

Well, I have just finished Christmas having assisted at 6:30am Mass this morning. This being the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord marks the end of the festivities of the Nativity and the beginning of “Ordinary Time” (which is … Continue reading →

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Safeguard Your Vocation

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Deacon Bob

One of the realities of Christian life is that each and every human being has a divine vocation to which he or she is called by God. Yes, each of us. Unfortunately and for various reasons, many people do not … Continue reading →

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