CERC Weekly Update - To be a saint means to be sane ...

Web version of this CERC Weekly Update here Previous CERC Weekly Update here Visit the CERC website at www.catholiceducation.org New Resources     Staying Awake and Being Prepared - Father Alfred Delp, S.J. - fromAdvent of the Heart: Seasonal Sermons and Prison Writings We apprehend and understand Advent as the encounter of man with, the journey of man toward, the Ultimate, toward the Absolute, toward the Lord God.     Explore Christian Fellowships - Aurora Griffin - from How I Stayed Catholic at Harvard: 40 Tips for Faithful College Students When I was younger, my parents were afraid that I would lose my faith at a nominally Catholic school, so they enrolled me at Oaks Christian for middle school and high school.     Childhood Memories of Learning Chant and Praying the Divine Office - Fr. Samuel F. Weber, O.S.B. - New Liturgical Movement "The greatest gift we can give to our students in a Benedictine School is the gift of prayer and the sacred liturgy."     The Quality of Mercy - RobertRoyal - The Catholic Thing During the Jubilee and throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis has given us multiple examples of actually reaching out and doing something, person-to-person, for others.     The Playwright the Professors Have Rejected - Anthony Esolen -Magnificat It's Saint Stephen's Day, the day after Christmas, 1604.     Catholicism embodied: "The Pivotal Players" - George Weigel - The Catholic Difference Looking for some uplift after this tawdry election cycle?     Academia's attack on the imagination - Robert Fulford - National Post A year ago, the University of Ottawa suspended its free weekly yoga class out of a vague belief that people in the West teaching yoga are guilty of cultural appropriation.     To be a saint means to be sane - Father George W. Rutler - From the Pastor It was a privilege years ago to know the English theologian Alec Vidler, a colorful and even eccentric character whose long beard amused the Queen when he was her chaplain and whose religious views irritated many.     2nd Sunday of Advent - Father John Horgan - CERC The readings this week speak of how Jesus is the fulfillment of everything the Jews hoped for and more. Editorials of Interest Pope Francis: Advent, a time for conversion - CNA The proclamation of John the Baptist to "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand" is a joyful one that calls us to conversion, Pope Francis said in his Angelus address on the second Sunday of Advent.   Pope Francis' December prayer intention: End to Child-Soldiers - Vatican Radio "We must do everything possible so that the dignity of children may be respected, and end this form of slavery."   Cardinal Pell, the "primacy of conscience," and the ongoing state of confusion- Catholic World Report And, who said this: "even some bishops seem to believe that any doctrinal reminder, any precise teaching stems from a narrow and restrictive mentality."   Cardinal Sarah's pastoral call to "turn to the Lord" - Catholic World Report Some de-mythologizing needs to take place in order for many to accept Cardinal Sarah's call to celebrate Mass ad orientem.   No matter what anyone says, clarity on Amoris Laetitia remains elusive - Crux Despite the insistence of papal allies that everything is clear about Amoris Laetitia, there's an important segment of the Church that doesn't believe that's true. Whether they're a minority doesn't matter — they can't simply be dismissed, because they include senior figures in the hierarchy.   On the Cardinals Critical of the Pope: The Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Fears Polarization - Catholic World Report Cardinal Muller: The Cardinals' letter is directed to the Pope personally — but the Pope could commission the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith "to mediate the differences of opinion ad hoc."   The End of Catholic Marriage - NY Times Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis's apostolic exhortation on the family, has produced variations in official Catholic teaching on marriage from diocese to diocese, region to region — a "submerged schism."   He's Not Afraid of Evil, but Young People are Scaring This Exorcist - NC Register As an exorcist, Father Patrick is sensitive to influences that are brushed off as harmless.   An interview with Dr. Jordan Peterson: "We're teaching university students lies" - C2C Journal Canadian professor Dr. Jordan Peterson defies the gender police: "The price you pay for drawing a line — especially with the politically correct material — is that you're going to get tarred and feathered for bigotry."   Astonishing discovery at Christ's tomb supports Turin Shroud - EWTN The observation of unusual electromagnetic disturbances at the tomb of Our Lord may support a scientific hypothesis proposed to explain the creation of the mysterious image on the Holy Shroud of Turin.   "Computer geek" takes one more step toward sainthood - Aleteia Carlo Acutis, who died at 15 years old, cataloged all of the Eucharistic miracles in the world. "We have always been expected in heaven."   Ireland's happy pro-life warriors - Catholic Herald Ireland's Eighth Amendment, which provides for the equal right to life of mother and baby, is coming under attack. But defenders of the unborn are ready.   Simone Biles highlights Catholic faith in new autobiography - Aleteia The gold medalist reveals she took St. Sebastian as her patron saint for Confirmation.   Terrorist threats may suspend Masses in Philippines capital - CNA On Sunday, a bomb detonated at the gate of a Catholic church in the southern city of Esperanza, injuring two, as churchgoers were leaving Mass for the first Sunday of Advent.   Repentance isn't about you - Aleteia There is nothing you may do for yourself. Instead, there is everything you can do for your neighbor.   The strategies of Satan, Part 3: The "Cain" tactic - Aleteia Let's consider the "Cain tactic," by which Satan steals our highest calling and joy, which is to worship God worthily.   Wanting to love the pope - First Things American Catholics love the pope. But to the degree Catholics also really know their faith, love the Church, and seek to live her teachings, many are also increasingly uneasy.   When the Perfect Becomes the Enemy of the Good - Crisis Magazine We live in a "soul-making world," where proud, selfish, and vain people are made Christ-like by being broken, as Thornton Wilder writes, on the wheels of life.   Silence actors made silent retreat to prepare for Scorsese film - Aleteia To better play their roles as Jesuit missionaries, Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver went on a 7-day retreat in North Wales.   Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman and St. Justin Martyr, pray for us