☧ Today is a day of great joy in the Church—our new pope has been revealed to us! I wanted to take a moment to reflect on my experience of the day’s events and of the events leading up to it. Although I’ve been alive for the last two times this has happened, this is … Continue reading Habemus Papam!
Memento Mori
☧ Our new Constitution is now established, everything seems to promise it will be durable; but, in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes. Benjamin Franklin, 1789 Death is an odd thing to think about. It is inevitable, always on its way. Life itself is a distraction from death, our very biology and … Continue reading Memento Mori
2020 Sucks: Inspiration From the Prophet Elijah
☧ Published on Those Catholic Men. How have you been feeling about the news lately? It seems like the majority of headlines this year have spelled out disaster in countless ways. On the Internet, there is no shortage of 2020-is-the-worst memes that, for many, might land just a little too close to home. Everywhere, there … Continue reading 2020 Sucks: Inspiration From the Prophet Elijah
The Desert of Faith
I said to myself in my good fortune: "I shall never be shaken." O Lord, your favor had set me like a mountain stronghold. Then you hid your face, and I was put to confusion. -Psalm 30:7-8, Revised Grail Psalter In a matter of two sentences, the Psalmist sums up a tremendously complex part of one’s … Continue reading The Desert of Faith
Lent to Easter: Just Add “E”
Featured on Those Catholic Men The transition between Lent and Easter can be difficult. During Lent, we focus on fasting, prayer, and almsgiving in an attempt to show contrition for our sins and to grow closer to God as we prepare for the Holy Triduum: the climax of each liturgical year. We look forward to … Continue reading Lent to Easter: Just Add “E”
Mourning Came, and Fasting Followed
☧ First, I apologize for the bad pun in the title (inspired by Genesis 1)... For some reason, Those Catholic Men still published this article under that title. Anywho... The pillars of our Lenten season are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. The point of doing these not-so-pleasant things is to have our routine shaken up a … Continue reading Mourning Came, and Fasting Followed
On Manhood and Knowing God
☧ Written for Those Catholic Men. How can anyone know God? How can we plumb the depths or reach the heights of the Infinite? How do we respond to statements like, “See, God is great beyond our knowledge, the number of his years past searching out,” (Job 36:26)? To me, these types of questions and … Continue reading On Manhood and Knowing God
And the Word Was Made Star Stuff
☧ An adaptation of Faith and Reason - Creation and the Cosmos for Those Catholic Men. Against the backdrop of blue skies, crashing waves, and steep, rocky cliffs, and clad in his iconic rust-colored jacket, Carl Sagan uttered perhaps his most famous quote. In the first episode of his acclaimed television series, Cosmos, he said, … Continue reading And the Word Was Made Star Stuff
Beard Balm and Daily Devotion
☧ Written for Those Catholic Men Last Christmas, my wife gave me a little gift for my newly grown beard: a two-ounce tin of beard balm from Catholic Balm Co. Not only was I excited to have something to tame what was then an unruly, course, and somewhat itchy face covering, I was also delighted … Continue reading Beard Balm and Daily Devotion
Husbands, Love Your Wives
☧ Written for Those Catholic Men. The beginning of fall marks the end of the summer wedding season, and as I see the photos of friends, acquaintances, and distant family members getting married, I can’t help but reflect on the classic Catholic wedding photo. The young couple is standing together looking overjoyed at the foot … Continue reading Husbands, Love Your Wives
The Catholic Physicist 