At the heart of the proclamation of the Gospel is the call to conversion. This call goes out to all of us, to turn to Christ and to continually deepen our relationship with Him. This is to a large extent a matter of the heart, but sometimes we need to critically examine our thought processes. Discovering flaws in one's logic does not of itself produce faith, but it does level the playing field so that the call to conversion may be heard anew.

Today, I thought I would offer a "top ten" list of non sequiturs ("it-doesn't-follows") that I've run into, with a brief explanation as to why they involve logical fallacies.

(1) "I don't always feel like going to Mass on Sunday, especially if I'm out late on Saturday or there's a good football game on."

Therefore: "It's okay [i.e., not a mortal sin] if I occasionally miss Mass on Sunday."

We don't always feel like doing the right thing. In fact, feelings are not a reliable guide to making good decisions (Catechism, no. 1768). What would even be the point of morality if whatever we felt like doing always happened to be the right thing to do? We know from personal experience as well as from the teaching of the Church that that's not the case. Also, this thought process makes Sunday Mass appear as merely an obligation, and not as the source and summit of our lives as Christians.

(2) "Fr. X sexually abused a minor."

Therefore: "The Catholic Church is evil. (And all priests are perverts.)"

If Fr. X sexually abused a minor, then he is a pervert and a criminal, and he should be prosecuted to the same extent as anyone else who commits such acts. But to judge all priests and the Church as a whole based on the bad acts of individuals is an illogical (and at times malicious) leap--and one that our society would not tolerate with respect to any other demographic group.

As a matter of pastoral governance, mistakes have been made in the past regarding the handling of priest abusers, but even that doesn't lead to the conclusion that all priests are sex offenders (the overwhelming majority aren't) or that the Church countenances the behavior of the Fr. Xes of the world. The Church, following Our Lord's teaching, especially in Matthew 18, has always considered the sexual abuse of minors a gravely sinful act (see for example Catechism, nos. 2353 and 2356). 

(3) "Annulments are just Catholic divorces."

Therefore: "I should be able to divorce and remarry in the Church without the hassle and delay of the annulment process."

This is the one clearly false premise in this list, as annulments, or "decrees of nullity," are distinct from divorces. So here we need more teaching on marriage, especially on the indissolubility of marriage. As Our Lord said, "What therefore God has joined, let no man put asunder" (Matthew 19:6).

But even accepting this perception, there is a double standard at work here. Virtually nobody would attempt a second civil marriage (with the first spouse still alive) without first obtaining a civil divorce. Otherwise, they'd be committing the crime of bigamy. When it comes to a Christian marriage, the ultimate arbiter is the Church, not the state. Yet, many people act as if the permissive divorce laws of the state should exclusively govern realities that "God has joined." For more on this topic, check out this article.

(4) "It's legal."

Therefore: "It's morally acceptable."

Not all actions that are legal are morally good, and not all illegal activities necessary entail an action that is morally evil in itself. In legal terminology, which one would get in a cursory viewing of Legally Blonde, some acts are malum in se (bad in themselves) and others are malum prohibitum (bad because they're prohibited, such as various regulatory laws, etc.).

Even in our jurisprudence, then, some actions are bad, or evil, in themselves. This badness doesn't come from the law, but from something that existed before the penal codes were written. Here of course we're talking about the natural law, which is not dependent on the "democratic process" or having a majority of favorably disposed judges. So, the fact that abortion may be "legal" in the eyes of the state does not mean that it has ceased to be an abomination in the sight of God (see Catechism, nos. 2070-73).  

(5) "Catholics are not 'single issue' voters."

Therefore, "I can vote for the pro-abortion candidate because there are many issues and surely on some issues he or she is preferable to the pro-life alternative."

The fact that Catholics are not "single issue" voters does not lead to the conclusion that all issues are more/less equal. Abortion is a distinctive issue for three reasons. First, it involves the fundamental right to life itself, which is a prerequisite for any and all other rights we possess. Second, if that weren't enough, the victims are the most vulnerable in our midst and unable to speak for themselves. And third, unlike most political issues, this is a black and white moral issue where there is a right side and a wrong side to be on as Christians and as men and women of goodwill. So a certain prioritization of issues is certainly called for. On this, I refer readers to a joint pastoral letter issued during the last election cycle by Archbishop Naumann and Bishop Finn of the greater Kansas City area.

(6) "Everyone has the right to be happy."

Therefore, "Homosexual activity and even homosexual relationships should be approved by society, and the Chuch will have to come around on this issue."

When this person says "happy," he or she doesn't mean happy in the deepest sense. Basically, this person is saying that a person, or in this instance, "consenting adults," have the right to do whatever they want to do. What he or she is really talking about is "license," which is human freedom disconnected from the truth. One cannot be happy apart from God and apart from striving to do what is pleasing in His eyes. If human happiness resides in God alone, as all the saints have attested, must we give legal recognition to his or her disordered attempts at happiness (to the detriment of the moral fabric of our society), or do we lovingly offer them another way? 

(7) "The Church's teaching on birth control is not infallible."

Therefore, "The Church's teaching is wrong."

Here we get into all sorts of futile arguments as to whether the Church has made an "infallible" ex cathedra statement on the subject, or at least has taught on this subject in such a way that it partakes of the "ordinary Magisterium" of the Church. Basically, people are looking for loopholes. They want the Church to be wrong about this, so they need to lay the foundation that such an error is possible (without bailing on the Church altogether).

The fact of the matter is that the Church teaches the truth in matters of faith and morals. When it comes to moral evils, the Church typically does not issue infallible pronouncements. Does that mean that the Church's moral teaching is up for grabs? Of course not. And the Church has noted that the sinfulness of contraception is also a precept of the natural law (cf. Humanae Vitae, no. 14), and the natural law does not change (Catechism, no. 1958).

(8) "Things seemed to go haywire in the Church after the Second Vatican Council (1962-65)."

Therefore, "Vatican II is the problem, and its so-called 'reforms' must be reversed immediately."

Maxwell Smart might say, "This is the old post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy." Literally this means, "After this therefore because of this." In other words, it's bad logic to conclude that simply because one thing happens after another, the first event was the cause of the second event. Now Vatican II did bring about some significant changes in the Church's life, but most things people point to as the bad fruits of Vatican II are things that (a) would likely have happened even without Vatican II and/or (b) reflect a mistaken (or mischievous) interpretation of the Council's provisions. Taken to the extreme, this fallacy has led some who are "more Catholic than the Pope"--or at least "more Catholic than Vatican II"--to walk away from the Church. "Pre-Vatican II" and "Post-Vatican II" are not two different churches, people!

(9) "All human beings are born with God-given dignity and value."

Therefore, "Illegal immigrants have the right to citizenship and to free healthcare insurance coverage."

Obviously this is a complex, divisive issue that requires a new way of thinking that can break through partisan divisions.

The Church, more than any other body, affirms the God-given dignity, value, and rights of all people. There are many people in this country who are "undocumented" or "illegal," oftentimes because their family is unable to survive harsh living conditions in Mexico. Treating these people as mere criminals or worse doesn't resonate with the Christian perspective.

Yet, automatic citizenship and health insurance for those who have fled to our country (notwithstanding our immigration laws, such as they are) is not a necessary conclusion to be drawn from our premise. Even more so when we imprudently and unjustly burden the next generation with paying for our inability to manage this immigration crisis in a way that is both compassionate and respectful of the rule of law.  

(10) "God is merciful."

Therefore, "All people [with perhaps noteworthy exceptions, such as Adolph Hitler or Osama bin Laden] will be saved.

This is the error of presumption, or perhaps universalism. Just as we can choose to accept Christ, we can also set our will against Him. If none of that mattered, then "human freedom" would simply be a mirage.

Can you think of any other faith-related non sequiturs?

Some interesting Catholic news items:

(1) Cardinal DiNardo, chairman of the United States Bishops' Pro-Life Committee, voices grave concern over the FDA's plan to approve new abortion drug for "emergency contraception" purposes.

(2) Bishop Morlino of Madison is criticized for bringing in more priests. Why? Because the new priests are "too conservative."

(3) At the recent U.S. bishops' meeting, USCCB president Cardinal George blames the Catholic Health Association for the passage of the health-care reform bill. In essence, Sr. Keehan chose President Obama over the U.S. bishops . . .

(4) On a lighter note, the Vatican newspaper recently paid tribute to the movie Blues Brothers, in honor of the 30th anniversary of its release, calling it a "Catholic" movie. (That's not my recollection, but it's been awhile. And hey, wasn't John Belushi a "soul man"?) For the Reuters account, see "Vatican beatifies Blues Brothers . . . well almost."

(5) Massachussetts bishops oppose casino gambling. I applaud this move, in keeping with my recent series on gambling. The effects of legalized gambling may on the surface seem minimal, but we can't overstate the corrosive effects of this sort of thing on our culture.

(6) U.S. bishops announce new book on theology of the body. Here at My Catholic Faith Delivered, we will soon be offering theology of the body courses in an online, interactive format. 

(7) Carl Olson's trenchant commentary on the legacy of Fr. Charles Curran, who led the opposition against the Church's teaching on contraception in the 60's and 70's. Also at My Catholic Faith Delivered, we have a new course on Humanae Vitae, the little encyclical that got Fr. Curran and his colleagues so worked up.

(8) This item from the Catholic Culture site claiming that nearly 50 beneficiaries of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) are opposed to Church teaching. Then this week there was the report that Bishop Hebda of Gaylord, Michigan temporarily suspended the funding of the CCHD within his diocese while a review of CCHD takes place.

(9) I wish I had commented on yesterday's saint, St. Aloysius Gonzaga. He is a patron saint of youth. I don't know that it's universally true that "only the good die young," but this 16th-century saint died at the tender age of 23 of the plague, after courageously giving compassionate care to many plague victims himself. He was a saintly Jesuit, and that's saying something!  And it's good to know that Gonzaga is not merely a basketball school in the Pacific Northwest!

(10) One of today's saints is St. Thomas More, the chancellor to King Henry VIII of England. There are many great books and articles about this popular saint. Very few saints have movies made about them, and fewer still win Academy Awards. So, whether you've never seen it, or whether you've already seen it ten times, I heartily recommend renting A Man for All Seasons tonight! Here are ten reasons why!

As you're "lazing on a sunner afternoon" this summer, I'd like to propose an interesting reading list, posted at the Tiber River site. It's a top ten list of autobiographical accounts of spiritual experience. In other words, what do holy, prayerful people themselves have to say about their intimate, personal relationship with Our Lord?

The list is by Fr. Tim Gallagher, O.M.V., an outstanding spirtual director and retreat master. In creating this list, Fr. Tim writes: ""I've tried to choose those which are really at the top, most of them saints or others in process of canonization, and a few others who are well known and whose autobiographical writing is spiritually rich and classic. It has meant leaving out many other wonderful writers in this genre (Hilda Graef, Angela of Foligno, Eugenio Zolli, etc.), but that is the point of the 'top ten' in a category, I suppose."  

To view the top ten list, click here.

For different sort of reading, check out George Weigel's informative take on the most recent TIME cover story on the Pope and the sex scandals. 

In yesterday's post I likened the Christian pilgrimage to a family road trip, and I mentioned the great spiritual value of pilgrimages to holy places. While we typically think of places like the Holy Land, Rome, or maybe Fatima and Lourdes, there are some great pilgrimage sites right here in the USA! In today's top ten list, I will give some recommendations. Realize, however, that this is only a partial list!  

(1) California Missions
 
Since I was born and raised in Southern California, this was an obvious choice for me. The various missions established by Blessed Junipero Serra (I've visited most of them), connected by the El Camino Real ("the royal road," now typically Interstate 101), make for a scenic as well as spiritually enriching trip.
 
(2) Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC
 
Our national basilica and, with apologies to LA's new cathedral, probably the most magnificent church ever built in the U.S. DC has other points of interest from a Catholic perspective, and since we still embrace the religious convictions that were part of our country's founding vision, even the historical and governmental aspects of the city enhance the pilgrimage aspect of a DC trip. But be sure to spend ample time in the basilica!
 
(3) Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, La Crosse, WI
 
One of the newest shrines in the country, with construction undertaken while Archbishop Burke was still Biishop of La Crosse. It's devoted to Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, but is also the headquarters for various apostolates founded by Servant of God John A. Hardon. Of the sites listed here, this is the one that I want to visit next.
 
(4) National Parks
 
Okay, they aren't pilgrimage sites and no, I don't work for the Department of the Interior. But we can't lose sight of the immense beauty of our country--not just the national parks, but also the thousands of miles of coastland and the many singular wonders and attractions--not to mention Alaska! Appreciation of the greatness of the great outdoors connects us to God in a powerful, intimate way.
 
(5) St. National Shrine of John Neumann Shrine, Philadelphia, PA
 
The church honoring the Apostle of the Alleghenies, St. John Neumann, an American bishop and canonized saint (how's that for a combination!).  And while this won't mean anything to most readers, I'm also including this site because of the devotion of a dear friend of mine and of St, John Neumann, the late John I. Lewis.
 
(6) University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN
 
Okay, this is a reach, because, well, you know . . . But for better and for worse, Notre Dame is far and away the most significant Catholic university in the country, at least by secular standards. And the Lourdes grotto is really nice. Plus I can't help but call to mind a religious brother who would take courses every summer at Notre Dame. When people asked where he was going, he would say with a deadpan expression, "The Holy Land." And a bus to South Bend is cheaper than a flight to Israel! 
 
(7) North American Martyrs Shrine, Auriesville, NY
 
The site of the first martyrdom on American soil, and we all know that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. I love this shrine and can't wait to go back some day. And btw, baseball fans take note: it's not that far from Cooperstown, the home of Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame. And if you're headed west through upstate New York, you might want to stop at the amazing Our Lady of Victory Basilica and National Shrine in Lackawanna, which is just outside of Buffalo.
 
(8) Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), Irondale, AL
 
Many go each year to EWTN to check out the facility, watch the filming of a couple programs. and possibly go on retreat. Now of course the pilgrimage also includes a trip out to the new relatively new Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, which is simply a little slice of heaven on earth.
 
(9) Civil War Monuments
 
This may seem like an odd selection, but I do believe these places are hallowed ground, where many gave their iives for principles that were noble and worthy. Anyplace that gets me to pray for the dead (spiritual work of mercy) and to appreciate in new and meaningful ways the rights and liberties we enjoy in this country is in some sense a "pilgrimage" site for me. And the beauty aspect (no. 4 above) comes into play. I remember driving through Manassas (Bull Run) and appreciating why one would fight for that breathtaking piece of the country.
 
(10) Hershey, PA
 
Not far from Gettysburg. Yes, this is where they make the chocolate, and there's also a theme park, zoo, botanical gardens, etc. This may be an urban legend, but I think it was St. Teresa of Avila who jokingly said, "God is good, but God and chocolate are better."
 
There are many other "real" pilgrimage sites in the U.S. that I could have mentioned, and also some other places that may have a spiritual significance if we're paying attention. And don't forget the "mini-pilgrimages" to the nearest adoration chapel!

But wherever you might be headed this summer, vaya con Dios--Go with God!

What do we know about the men who are being ordained to the priesthood this year?

Plenty!

The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) has released its annual report on those who are being ordained in the U.S. during this Year for Priests. The report, commissioned by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), contains an overwhelming amount of statistics and demographic information. Here, in this week's top ten list, I will provide ten statistics regarding this year's ordination class that I found especially interesting: More...

I don’t know about you, but I have found the daily Mass readings for the second week of the Easter season to be overflowing with food for meditative prayer and daily Christian living. I thought I would share ten verses that have been especially meaningful to me this week, realizing of course that I’m only scratching the surface.

And by the way, we all know that April showers bring May flowers. But what do May flowers bring? The answer is found at the end of this list of verses. More...

Since I'm off to Rome on Sunday, I thought for this week's top ten list I would give a listing of my all-time favorite popes, listed chronologically. Here they are:

(1) St. Peter (c. 33-67)

The first pope, the rock on whom Christ built His Church, a key figure throughout the New Testament. Leaving him off the list would be like leaving Washington off a similar list of presidents.

(2) St. Clement I (88-97)

The fourth pope, a heroic martyr for the faith, and the first of the apostolic Fathers of the Church. He's best known for his letter to the Church at Corinth, which provides an important early witness to the authority of St. Peter's successors.

(3) St. Leo I ("the Great") (440-61) He and Gregory (and perhaps someday JPII) are the only popes to go down in history as "the Great." He heroically defended the orthodox teaching regarding the person and natures of Christ. When Leo's teaching was confirmed at the ecumenical Council of Chalcedon in 451, the Council Fathers triumphantly proclaimed, "Peter has spoken through Leo." And of course, there's the time he stood his ground against Attila the Hun.

 (4) St. Gregory I ("the Great) (590-604)

Last of the Latin Fathers of the Church and my Confirmation saint. He was an exceptional Church leader and teacher, and I've always been fascinated by the fact that he was a monk. The "Gregorian Chant" received its name from him. He was also the first pope to refer to himself as the Servus Servorum Dei (Servant of the Servants of God). Another Gregory--St. Gregory VII (1073-85)--was a "bubble pope" (for you NCAA basketball fans) who just missed being selected for this list. 

(5) St. Eugenius I (654-57)

There were many great popes during the first millennium of the Church's existence. For example, St. Fabian (236-50) and St. Siricius I (384-99) come immediately to mind. But it came down to two: St. Hyginus (137-40) and St. Eugenius I. The former sounds really clean, while the latter sounds really smart! Narrow edge goes to St. Eugenius I. I can just picture his fawning curial aides saying, "You're so smart, Eugenius you!" And I've always been amused at how much my nephew hates the middle name Eugene!

(6) Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903)

When I first came back to the Church in the 1980s, I read many encyclicals and documents of 20th-century popes, and they all seemed to refer to the teaching of Pope Leo XIII "of happy memory." Eventually I got around to reading some of his writings. It's interesting to note that his dates almost exactly track JPII's dates, except a century earlier. And during his quarter-century papacy he wrote important documents on so many key subjects, such as Scripture, marriage and divorce, and social justice. While my name saint is St. Leo I, I gravitate even more toward Pope Leo XIII, of happy memory. I will visit his grave at the Lateran Basilica this week.  

(7) Popes Pius X (1903-14), XI (1922-39), and XII (1939-58)

I figured since people get all the Piuses mixed up anyway, I'd count them as a package deal. For those of you without a program, St. Pius X, is the only 20th-century saint to be canonized (so far), and is known for his promotion of frequent Communion. And of course he took as his motto the powerful words of St. Paul "to restore all things in Christ." Pope Pius XI authored an important, timely document on contraception called Casti Connubii, though it's an injustice to limit his importance to that document alone. Speaking of injustice, the way Pope Pius XII has been attacked since his death is nothing short of despicable. Despite the agenda-driven, baseless character assassinations (defended well here and elsewhere), Pius XII is still rightly revered as one of the greatest popes of the 20th century.

Btw. I almost included St. Pius V (1566-72), a leader of the Catholic Reformation, but then I decided he was only half the pope that Pius X was!

(8) Pope Paul VI (1963-78)

The first pope I can actually remember. I have a tender place in my heart for Paul VI, as I've come to see that he became the Supreme Pontiff during one of the most turbulent cultural and religious periods in all of Church history. Of course there are many things he said and did. He saw Vatican II through to its conclusion following the death of Bl. John XXIII, and issued prophetic documents, such as Humanae Vitae, Mysterium Fidei, and the Credo of the People of God. His document on evangelization (Evangelii Nuntiandi) laid the groundwork for JPII's "new evangelization."

 (9) Pope John Paul II (1978-2005)

What can I say here? He was the pope when I embraced the faith as a young adult and was an amazing "Witness to Hope" to the whole world. I think most of our readers still think of him as "our pope," and rightly so.

(10) Pope Benedict XVI (2005-)  

This is more of a lifetime achievement award. Not to say he hasn't done an admirable job as pope the last few years (especially given his ages and the shoes he's had to fill), but part of the reason I included him is my familiarity with his body of work prior to his papacy, when he was known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. His work with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith complemented JPII's efforts beautifully. And I did have my picture taken with Cardinal Ratzinger back in the day. I have no such photos of Pope Eugenius!

What's your list? Whom did I leave out? 

Over the past couple weeks I've come across some interesting stories involving the Catholic Church, and in particular priests, religious, and especially bishops. Today I thought I would mention ten of them, with links for you to find "the rest of the story."

(1) Welcome, But Not Honored

Archbishop Dolan of New York firmly yet pastorally advises that pro-abortion Catholic politicians will not receive honors at events such as the annual Al Smith dinner under his watch. This could easily come into play, not only with national figures such as Vice President Biden and Speaker Pelosi, but even more likely with New York Governor David Paterson, a pro-abortion Catholic. 

(2) Baby Bishops

The Vatican just appointed Msgr. Joseph Bambera as the new Bishop of Scranton, PA, and Fr. Terry LaValley as the new Bishop of Ogdensburg, NY. Both have been serving as the administrator of their respective dioceses pending the appointment of new bishops. This leaves only three dioceses without a bishop right now (Springfield, IL; LaCrosse, WI; and Harrisburg, PA)--an unusually low number--and there are four additional dioceses where the bishop has already reached retirement age.

(3) Cardinal George Addresses Mormons

What a brilliant prelate. Excellent presentation on religious freedom, drawing on many points of agreement between Catholics and Mormons that should unite us in our efforts to build a more just, life-affirming society.

(4) Way to Go, NC Bishops!

Bishop Jugis of Charlotte and Bishop Burbidge of Raleigh led the charge in getting the state of North Carolina to alter its new civics curriculum that compared pro-life laws to pro-segregation laws, calling both examples of "oppressive government."

(5) More on Oprah and the Nuns

In a previous post I mentioned that the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist were appearing on Oprah. The linked story tells about the sisters' giving Oprah a Rosary and the conversation that ensued. That program has had a wide-reaching effect. Here in Kansas City, for example, Archbishop Naumann wrote about that program in his weekly column for The Leaven, the archdiocesan paper.

(6) Courageous Dutch Priest (not a misprint!)

The priest informed the openly homosexual "prince" for a town carnival that he would not be able to receive Holy Communion. Many in the town revolted against this decision and decided to stage a protest of sorts during Sunday Mass. The priest held his ground, and on that Sunday he did not give out Communion at all, so as to avoid the very real possibility of sacrilege.

(7) Bishop Vasa

Bishop Vasa's columns are always excellent. Scroll down on the linked page for a wealth of great teaching. I especially liked this Lenten column, including his reflection on the phrase from Ash Wednesday: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." 

(8) Archbishop Chaput

Ditto for Archbishop Chaput of Denver. The linked column is but the first in a series of powerful reflections on Pope Benedict's Lenten Message.

(9) Call No Man "Father"

Our Lord says in today's Gospel to call no man "father." Yet I call my pastor "Father." Heck, I refer to myself as a "father." So what does Our Lord mean? I answer that question in the linked article.

(10) Don't Call Him "Teacher," Either

We don't get as worked up about this one (not a Catholic-Protestant thing), but still, Our Lord does tell us to call no one "teacher." I comment on that particular teaching of Christ in the linked article.

Well, that's it. Did I leave out a compelling story? Would you like to see more posts like this?

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Polycarp (c. 69-155), a disciple of St. John the Evangelist and significant figure in the early Church.

When my friends and I started having children, we considered naming them after great saints whose names seemed a little strange to modern ears. And typically Polycarp was on the short list of such saints--in fact, one friend would refer to his unborn child as "Polycarp."

Yet in most instances we eventually came up with a saint's name that was a little more mainstream. After all, what poor kid wants to go through grade school as Polycarp?

Choosing a Confirmation name is a different deal, though. For one thing, the person is a little older and can choose the name himself or herself. In addition, while one can and should have a special devotion to his or her Confirmation saint, the fact of the matter is that no one goes by their Confirmation name. So it seems to me the door is opened a little wider when it comes to choosing a Confirmation saint.

And so, since Easter season is just around the corner, I'd like to propose ten saint names that may be a little off the beaten path. I've limited the list to saints whose annual feast is celebrated by the Church worldwide. Here it is:

(1) Polycarp

Second-century bishop and thus an early witness to apostolic succession. The edifying account of his martyrdom is available here. Shortly before his death, he is reported to have said, in essence, "I've served Christ for 86 years, I'm not about to deny Him now." This guy was tough as nails--the nails of the Cross.

(2) Hilary

Fourth-century Bishop of Poitiers and doctor of the Church. (Yes, Hilary is a boy's name.) He is known as the "Doctor of the Divinity of Christ" because of his outstanding defense of the faith in opposition to the Arian heresy. And while Hilary Clinton may be a negative factor in choosing the name (hey, let's reclaim the name for the forces of good!), Hilaire (form of Hilary) Belloc was one of the greatest Catholic intellectuals of the past century. 

(3) Hedwig

No, she's not the patroness of toupe-makers. She was a duchess, wife and mother of seven, widow, and ended her life in Cistercian convent where she had taken religious vows. She's not well-known in this country, and she suffers from "St. Blaise Syndrome" (see number six, below), in that her feast day gets overshadowed by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. But Hedwig is a biggie, and she is deeply loved and revered in Eastern Europe.

(4) Irenaeus

Bishop of Lyon around the year 200 A.D., and another important early witness to the apostolic faith. Wrote some great stuff (e.g., "The glory of God is man fully alive, and the life of man is the vision of God"). He wrote at length in opposition to the Gnostic heresy. That may not seem all that relevant today, except when we consider that Gnosticsm is the engine that drives the wildly popular Da Vinci Code series. 

(5) Gertrude

Thirteenth-century saint known as "the Great." She was a Benedictine mystic and visionary who helped to spread devotion to the Sacred Heart. St. Teresa of Avila, among others, have had a strong devotion to her. 

(6) Ansgar

Ninth-century archbishop and missionary who did much to spread the faith in Scandanavia, and for that reason is called the "Apostle of the North." Unfortunately, the Church double-booked his feast day, such that February 3rd is the feast of both St. Ansgar and St. Blaise. And since it's cold season and people want their throats blessed, 999 times out of 1,000 the priest will opt to celebrate the feast of St. Blaise instead of poor St. Ansgar. But especially for those with Scandanavian roots (or a fondness for the Winter Olympics!), Ansgar is a most worthy patron saint.

(7) Isidore

There are actually two St. Isidores on the Church's calendar. There is the feast of St. Isidore the farmer and also that of St. Isidore of Seville, a seventh-century bishop and doctor of the Church. Some have suggested that the latter should be the patron saint of the Internet. (On that score, I'm willing to wait for the canonization of former Chiefs' offensive tackle Damian McIntosh!)

(8) Scholastica

Especially during the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI, it seems appropriate to choose as a patron saint St. Benedict's beloved sister Scholastica, who has the distinction of being the first Benedictine nun. (No wonder she got to be abbess!)

(9) Athanasius

Tremendously heroic fourth-century bishop and doctor of the Church. I would put him higher, except I already know several people who, despite the name's length, have named their sons Athanasius because of his staunch defense of the true faith, which led to his being known for all time as the "Father of Orthodoxy."

(10) Ignatius

Another two-fer. Many probably think of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits who developed the immensely helpful "spiritual exercises" as a means of spiritual growth. But there's also St. Ignatius of Antioch, who succeeded St. Peter as Bishop of Antioch and then was famously martyred in 107 during the reign of Emperor Trajan. Click here for a previous post on St. Ignatius of Antioch, one of my favorite saints.

Well, I hope this partial, lighthearted list is helpful to you and/or any confirmandi in your charge this coming Confirmation season. Our hope is in Christ alone, but we do benefit from developing devotions to saints who inspire us to grow in holiness. 

I thought I would take a day off from the series on liturgical questions and instead provide my top ten reasons why this date is important. So here it is:

(10) World Day for Consecrated Life

Since 1997, the Church has celebrated World Day for Consecrated Life on this date. Click here for news on this year's celebration.

(9) Institute on Religious Life (IRL)

While on the subject of consecrated life, I'm pleased to announce that today the IRL has launched a new blog on vocations, entitled An Undivided Heart. Check it out!

(8) Kobe Bryant

Today is the first day in about 35 years that Jerry West is not the lifetime scoring leader for the Lakers, as Kobe Bryant passed him last night. For those of us "cradle Lakers' fans" who grew up listening to Chick Hearn magically describe the exploits of Jerry West (aka "Zeke from Cabin Creek" and "Mr. Clutch"), this was a surprisingly nostalgic milestone.

(7) Blood of the Martyrs

On this date in 1571, all eight members of a Jesuit mission were killed by Native Americans in Virginia.

(6) Groundhog Day

Of course it's Groundhog Day, an annual event for over 100 years. Did Phil see his shadow this year? Click here to find out. And though Bill Murray can be a little crude at times, he was definitely on his game in the movie that bears this title. 

(5) Palestrina

On this date in 1594, Giovanni Pierluigi de Palestrina was born, arguably the greatest composer of liturgical music ever. Long after people forget about Kobe's exploits, Christians around the world will be edified by the timeless worship music of this artistic giant.

(4) Knights of Columbus

On this date in 1882, the Knights of Columbus were founded in 1882 in New Haven, Connecticut (though the official date is now considered to be later in March--not sure why the discrepancy). I'm proud to be a knight, both for the KofC's traditional support of widows and orphans, but also for its staunch support in recent decades for pro-life efforts worldwide. 

(3) Candlemas

Really, it's another name for the Feast of the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple, which takes place each year on this date. The name "Candlemas" refers to the traditional blessing and procession of candles, symbolizing the coming of Christ, the "lumen gentium" or "light of the nations" (see Luke 2:32). Beyond the candle stuff, it's a great day--and the fourth Joyful Mystery! Today we focus our attention on this mysterious episode recounted in Luke 2, as we transition from Christmas and Christ's hidden years to Lent later this month.

(2) Birthday of a Special Young Man

Today is my godson Augustine's birthday. I don't see him nearly enough, but what a terrific young man he is! 

(1) My Anniversary

On this date 19 years ago (but who's counting?), I married Maureen, the love of my life and the mother of our six children. February 2nd has never been the same for me.

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! (Ps. 118:24)

Today the universal Church celebrates the feast of Sts. Timothy and Titus. Both were disciples of St. Paul and are mentioned in the New Testament. Timothy eventually became the Bishop of Ephesus and Titus became the Bishop of Crete, so they are important early witnesses to the structure of Church leadership.

St. Paul wrote two letters to Timothy and one letter to Titus that became part of the New Testament. These letters are commonly grouped together as the “Pastoral Epistles,” because they provide pastoral guidance to individual bishops rather than instruction for entire local Churches, such as in the case of the letters to the Corinthians or Romans.

In honor of the feast, I have reread these letters this week, and now humbly offer my “top ten” list of favorite verses from the Pastoral Epistles. Here it is: More...