"Sacredness Begins with Claritas" and Good Church Architecture!

Did you ever read Michael Rose's book, Ugly as Sin? It describes the impact of ugly churches on the faith. The Russians knew all about how to dehumanize. They adopted the bauhaus style of architecture which is promoted as simple and functional. But, in reality, it is boring and ugly. One can hardly even call it an architectural style. It's like children cutting holes in a box to make a door and windows and calling it a house. The purpose, in an atheistic society, was to treat man like a beast, eliminating the true, the good, and the beautiful from his life.

Beauty Touches the Heart!

Celebrating a pontifical high Mass in Croatia, Archbishop Cordileone said this in a talk before the liturgy:

Advent Attitude? Gratitude!

I try to remember every morning -- when I sit up in bed and plant my feet on the floor -- to begin the day with a litany of gratitude. It was easy today. I thanked God for central heating (It's really cold this morning.) and for giving gifts to the inventors who've make our modern life so comfortable. 

What Martha Stewart and Good Catholics Have in Common

So much has been said about Martha Stewart both positive and negative the mere mention of her name is enough to “trigger” many people.  I have not met her personally, but I know several people who have and they tell me she is a hard task master.  That she strives for perfection in all that she does is no exaggeration. 

If you’ve ever tried one of her recipes, you know she doesn’t take the shortcut, nor will you ever get away with using only one bowl and a couple of spoons.  If Martha has anything to do with something, you know from the start it will very likely, though not always, be COMPLICATED.  Not that "complicated" is necessarily to be to be avoided.  Often the results are well worth the effort.