Back in 2010, I grumbled to a traditionalist Catholic friend:

Every time some violent Muslim blows something up, all the peaceful Muslims complain about how unfair it is that everyone thinks all Muslims are like that, and they protest about it.  And I'm thinking, Why aren't you guys protesting against the violent Muslims?  Two birds with one stone.  You make the world less violent, and you get a better reputation as a group.

The reason I was grumbling to him was because the complaints of the peaceful Muslims reminded me an awful lot of the complaints of the perfectly nice traditionalists.  Every time some radiical traditionalist does or says something hideous, I hear a lot...READ MORE

With a gasp and a lurch, I centered my spine on the x-ray table.  The imaging tech clucked in sympathy.  "What did you do to your back, hon?" she asked.  And I had to admit,  I didn't do anything.  And yet here I was, hardly able to move.  All day and all night, I found myself in an invisible "cell of Little Ease," with no way of resting, because every position brought a different kind of pain.  I couldn't sleep, but I couldn't get out of bed without screaming.  Standing up straight was an act of courage.  The only time my leg wasn't burning was when it was numb.  And yet I hadn't done anything.

Which, it turn out, was the problem.  I didn't exercise, I didn't bother sit or stand up...READ MORE

On Holy Thursday, I wrote about how I intended to deal with the C&E crowd--how to avoid sinning against charity while attending Mass on the most important day of the liturgical year.   Well, here is how I dealt:

I didn't have to.  My daughter once told me, "Jesus conquered the Devil, Mama.  He conquered him, CONK, right over the head!"  That is what happened to me.  I was completely conquered by Easter, right over the head.  It was right in the middle of renewing our baptismal vows:

Priest. Do you reject Satan?

Me. I do. 

Priest. And all his works? 

Me I do! 

Priest. And all his empty promises? 

Me. I DO! 

Priest. Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of...READ MORE

A court date, that is.  To contest a ticket.  This seemed like a much better idea six weeks ago, when I didn’t have enough cash to pay the ticket.  But now that my court date is set, I’m a little bit nervous.  What am I going to say?  It’s gotta be better than what I said to the officer who stopped me, which was the sobby version of, “I’M JUST HAVING A REALLY BAD WEEK, OKAY?”

My husband has been to court hundreds of times, as a crime reporter.  From his expertise, I’ve gleaned that it’s best not to wear sweatpants that say “TOUCHDOWN” across the hiney, not to spit at the guard or even in his general direction, and not to refer to the judge as “my honor.”  But beyond that, I guess all I...READ MORE

When my sister and I were little, we used to love paging through the first aid manual.  The burn illustrations were our favorite, followed closely by the drawing of the guy whose leg was so broken, the bone was sticking out.  My mother kept taking the book away from us, but we kept finding it.  Our fascination was ghoulish, but we did learn some things: how to get a fishhook out of someone's finger; how to remove a foreign object from someone's eye.  And the various grips you can use to rescue someone who's drowning.

I remembered those grips when I saw this icon of Christ going down to the underworld to find Adam and Eve:

Christ wades down into the darkness where Adam has been...READ MORE

"Cruxifixion"

reprinted with kind permission of the artist, Catalina Chervin

Speaking of confession, here's one:  I have a really hard time dealing with the C&E Catholics -- you know, the ones who clog up the pews twice a year on the big holidays, chattering and chewing gum like they're in a football stadium,  treating the Nativity and Resurrection of our Lord into a photo op, turning what should be the most joyous holy days into an occasion of sin for faithful Catholics.

Now, some of you will be saying, "Yeah, right on!  I wish our pastor would put his foot down and flush out creeps like that once and for all.  This year, I'm bringing my BB gun -- you bet I'll get a seat.  And if your park in my spot and your car has an Obama sticker, let's just say I hope...READ MORE

Emily Stimpson, bless her, recently swatted down a story I've heard my whole life.  Stimpson says:

[T]he election of our wonderful new Holy Father, Pope Francis, has triggered an avalanche of people talking about the first Francis and his injunction to, “Preach the Gospel always. If necessary, use words.”

But see, here’s the thing. St. Francis never said that. We don’t know who did. But it wasn’t Francis. It’s not in any of his known writings. It’s not in any of his companions’ writings. It’s not in anyone’s writings about Francis for the first 800 or so years after his death.

Someone invented the quote and put it into poor St. Francis’ mouth. And ever since then, people...READ MORE