Author: Deacon Nick

Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything

Books and Reading

The 10 Best Books I Read in 2010

These are the best ten books I read this year in rough order of how enriching and enjoyable they were: The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything by Fr. James Martin, SJ The Road by Cormac McCarthy The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton Heaven: The Heart’s Deepest Longing by Peter Kreeft Into the Silent Land by Martin Laird The Children of Hurín by J.R.R. Tolkien Deep Conversion/Deep Prayer by Fr. Thomas Dubay A Travel Guide to...

Books and Reading / Teaching

Mortimer Adler: The Forgotten Educational Reformer

I firmly believe that Mortimer Adler is one of the most misunderstood and neglected thinkers of the last one hundred years. Often labeled elitist and Eurocentric, people often confuse his views on education with people like Allen Bloom and Ed Hirsch, who advocate a kind of cultural literacy as a key component of education. On the contrary, I believe Adler’s views on educational reform are deeply democratic and innovative. He was recommending changes to the educational system decades before other more trendy names were found for them. The...

Man with Cane

Catholic Education

How the Church Can Help GenXers and Boomers in Culture Conflict

Barbara Nicolosi-Harrington has written an extraordinary piece for Patheos analyzing how the entertainment industry is changing as the Baby Boomers give way to the GenXers, and how the Church can minister to both generations. Nicolosi-Harrington sees a possible rediscovery of optimism and faith in Generation X films, and recommends that the Church encourage and affirm these efforts. At the same time, Baby Boomers need help taking responsibility for their mistakes: “The rigid eradication of tradition, the gross materialism, the unbridled license, the embarrassing promiscuity — all always accompanied...

Thomas Merton

Prayer / Spirituality

Thomas Merton on the Divine Office

I came across this moving testimony to the of the Liturgy of the Hours in Thomas Merton’s autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain: Presently [my brother] said: “What’s that package you’ve got under your arm? Buy some books?” “Yes.” When he had unlocked the car, I ripped the paper off the package, and took out the cardboard box containing the set of four books, bound in black leather, marked in gold. I handed him one of the volumes. It was sleek and smelled new. The pages were edged in...

Vice President Biden

Spirituality / Writing

Does Ridicule Have a Place in Catholic Discourse?

Last week I commented on the blog of a popular Catholic apologist when he seemed to ridicule Vice President Biden.  Though it appears I misunderstood his blog post, the comment began a brief discussion about the place of ridicule in public discourse.  I wrote, “I’d like Biden out of office, too, but not by ridiculing him out.  Let’s raise our level of discourse and not lose our souls to gain the whole world.” Here is what he had to say in response: …I guess I have to disagree...

Kids and apps

Teaching / Technology

Catholic School Students Combat Epilepsy with Science

As the father of a child with epilepsy and a teacher in a Catholic school, the following story really touches my heart. Some sixth grade students from a Catholic school in Lake Mary, Florida, are hoping to help people with seizure disorders with their new invention: a seizure detector. Check out the following video for details: There are few things more gut-wrenching than watching your child experience a seizure. Thanks be to God, we haven’t had to live through that horror for quite a few years now. Maybe...

Adora Svitak

Spirituality / Teaching

Unless You Become Like Children…

Matthew 8: 1-6 At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. “Whoever causes one of these little ones who...

iBrevary iPhone App

Books and Reading / Spirituality / Technology

iBreviary – Using Your iPod to Consecrate the Day

  iBreviary is the perfect app for anyone who desires the pray the Liturgy of the Hours but has a difficult time finding the correct readings in the four thousand pages that make up the printed prayer books.  The four volume set of books that makes up the full text of the Divine Office is beautiful to behold, but is also heavy, cumbersome and costs well over one hundred dollars.  iBreviary, on the other hand, is as light as your iPod Touch or iPhone, fits easily in your...

iMissal

Technology

Catholic iPod Apps – First in a Series

In a recent Twitter conversation with JaredDees and BarbinNebraska, the subject of iPod apps for teachers came up. I don’t use too many apps for teaching yet, but I use several Catholic apps regularly, so I thought it might be helpful to write a series of articles about them. Apps are small programs that can be purchased in iTunes and synced to an iPhone or an iPod Touch. Many of the apps are free, and most that cost money are 99 cents. I download apps to my iPod...

Classical Artists for Haiti

Music

A Fitting Use of Angelic Talent

When angels sing, the heavens rejoice, and when angelic voices sing, we should should do the same–especially when those voices sing for those in need. Some of the most beautiful voices of our time have come together for Haiti in this gorgeous rendition of “The Prayer”: Information about how to obtain a copy of the recording and help raise money for Haiti, visit this link. Thanks to Deacon Greg Kandra for sharing.

Fiction / Writing

Black – A Short Story

Black by Nick Senger Johnny wore black to school every day. Black pants, black t-shirt, long black trenchcoat. “You’re a nice boy, Johnny,” his teacher would say. “Why do you always wear black?” “It suits me, Mrs. Parker,” Johnny always replied. “I’m nobody.” “No one’s nobody, dear,” she said. “God has plans for everyone.” “Not me.” As Johnny went through junior high Mrs. Parker would see him on the playground or in the detention room, always wearing the black pants, the black t-shirt and the long black trenchcoat....