One of my favorite books as a kid was Whistle Down the Wind (1958) by Mary Hayley Bell. In it, three children from a working-class English village find an escaped criminal in the barn and think he’s Jesus. Here’s how the story starts: “I am ten, and they call me Brat. Of course, that isn’t […]
Month: September 2018
“IF YOU CAN’T STAND YOUR PROBLEMS, TRY KNEELING”
Back from Pittsburgh–loved it, loved the people, loved the whole experiences. Just stellar. Possibly more later, after I get some sleep. While there, I put in a request to be an honorary Yinz. ***** The three best pieces I’ve read on the sexual abuse in the Church. “Here Comes Everybody: On prayer, the lessons of […]
COME VISIT WITH ME IN PITTSBURGH!!
I am off to Pittsburgh, PA for the weekend! That’s right. The good people of St. Louise de Marillac Parish and others are welcoming me. If you can’t read the flyer, the details are on my Events Page. I’m giving three talks, the first on Friday night, the second on Sat morn 10:30 and the third […]
A THEOLOGY OF FACES: IN FOCUS: EXPRESSIONS AT THE GETTY
Through October 7 at the Getty is a smallish photography exhibit with an intriguing theme: faces. Featuring 45 works from the Museum’s permanent collection, it’s called “In Focus: Expressions.” “The human face has been the subject of fascination for photographers since the medium’s inception. This exhibition includes posed portraits, physiognomic studies, anonymous snapshots, and unsuspecting […]
J’ACCUSE!
One of the effects of social media, it seems to me, is that the whole world has become like a giant courtroom with the combatants shrieking at each other, “J’accuse!!” I accuse, I accuse, I accuse. We are led to believe that the shrieking, the outrage, the often utter failure to take responsibility for our […]
OUT OF EAST AFRICA
Here’s this week’s arts and culture column: On my summer travels this year, I stopped to riffle through a sidewalk cart of used books. There I unearthed a treasure by journalist Mark Seal: “Wildflower: An Extraordinary Life and Mysterious Death in Africa.” In it I learned a bit of the checkered history of East Africa, and […]
MUSIC AS HANDKERCHIEF
Arvo Pärt at St. Vladimir’s Seminary – From my Musical Diaries Courtesy of Sacred Arts Initiative @ SVOTS on Vimeo.