Jesus’ words to the Pharisees often resonate with his own followers as well: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within they are full of dead men’s bones and Read more…
Joseph was a royal figure, descended from David, and, therefore, able to make the claim to be the Messiah: the Lord’s anointed king. David had said that he wanted to build a temple or house for the Lord, but the Read more…
Statuary serves its role in the church primarily through the Crucifix: prominently displayed in almost every sanctuary and Catholic home. Although there are some statues of the Risen Christ, they do not find nearly as much prominence (and we won’t Read more…
“God is dead and we have killed him.” Nietzsche is right once a year. The horror of the death of Christ for our sins, marred beyond recognition, and the responsibility we bear for this suffering, should touch us deeply. Although Read more…
Nietzsche, in The Gay Science, after proclaiming the death of God (through the voice of the madman), declared churches to be nothing more than sepulchers of God. Having led a pilgrimage to some of the most beautiful churches in France Read more…
Giovanni Battista Draghi (1710-36), known simply as Pergolesi, died far too young. It may be fitting, therefore, that he is known for his musical setting of the Stabat Mater, the hymn we know mostly from the Stations of the Cross. Read more…
There are essential prayers that most Catholics memorize, particularly those recited in the rosary (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be). With these prayers, the rosary has served a central way that Catholics meditate, particularly on its twenty mysteries. Many Catholics Read more…
I chose this painting by Diego Velázquez (1599-1660) as the first of many artifacts of Catholic culture through which I will explore Catholic cultural literacy. It certainly is not one of the most important works of Catholic art, but it Read more…
The following reflection is an excerpt from a talk I gave on Catholic education and the formation of culture: Christopher Dawson, in his work The Crisis of Western Education, proposes that Catholic education should take place with the context of Read more…
The term cultural literacy was advanced by E.D. Hirsch, Jr. in his bestselling book, Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know. He made a very concrete proposal that included words, persons, events, works of art, places, and concepts needed Read more…