Steve Ray’s Footprints of God series airs on EWTN

Steve Ray’s Footprints of God series starts airing on a EWTN this upcoming Monday.

I’m looking forward to it. I’ve seen a couple of the Footprints of God series and really enjoyed them. Imagine almost a Crocodile Hunter type documentary. The shows are filled to the brim with solid Catholic teaching and Church history, but Steve manages to present them in a very fun and easy to digest way.

“We are proud to announce that my Footprints of God DVD series begins airing on EWTN this Monday.

You can watch the first of three episodes on St. Paul Monday at 2:30 PM and Friday at 10:30 PM.

The schedule will remain the same each week as we work through the lives of Paul, Jesus, Mary, Peter, David/Solomon, Moses and the Apostolic Fathers. Enjoy!”

Don’t fret. This series doesn’t have that 80’s produced informational video quality to it that many Catholic videos have. In fact, the production value of the Footprints of God series is actually quite impressive. Very clean and bright and a joy to watch.

This should be a good series to watch as a family. Though Steve covers his topics in depth enough to keep me interested, he also keeps things fun enough that even the littlest kids should enjoy it.

Send 12 Swiss Guards to arrest them all!

This blog is not a political blog. I even say so in the About section. But…well…some issues transcend politics and I just cant stay silent any longer. I’ve tried to, but I can’t. Please forgive me.

Watch and listen to one of the Church’s most charismatic leaders, Cardinal Arinze, answer a question some Catholics believe is open to debate.

Amen! And God bless Cardinal Arinze.

Hat tip to Gibralter.

Cleanse the Blood Men

I thought I escaped
The rage and the fight

I thought I behaved
So good and so right

I am not so strong
Maybe even too weak

I am not so nice
Maybe just a streak

When others see me
They might think I’m slight

When others know me
They might know I’d fight

If given a chance
I might impress them

If given the time
I will sadden them

That is my simple
Oath I shall make then

That I need help next
To cleanse the blood men

-Dominic Tramontana

History of the Roman Collar

When you see a Roman Collar, what do you think of?

I think of men of great faith, ministers of the sacraments, teachers, friends, spiritual directors…I think of the Catholic priesthood.

The Roman Collar has become such a symbol for the priesthood that its hard to imagine a priest without one, but it hasn’t always been a part of their attire. Matthew Bunson gives a short, but succinct explanation of the Roman Collar’s origin.

“Roman collar traces its distant origins to the 15th century when clerics began following then current fashion of placing their linen collars over their outer clothing. This became accepted custom, and by the 17th century there were many forms of this linen collar, such as the ornate Roman variety, the collarino, of ornate and expensive lace, and the French adopted the collars worn by the noble classes, of linen and fine lace. As black was increasingly worn by clergy, the collar served as a one of the obvious elements in their attire. Church officials abolished excessive ornamentation for the collars, and a linen band was slowly used to offer protection against dirt and stains. This was the direct origin of the current collar, with priests using a softer style choker of cloth, sometimes merely a scarf; bishops and other prelates could afford a linen choker. From this came the embrace in Rome of the collar as it is known today. The collaro was of starched line that was approximately three inches wide and that was fitted into the rabbi (or rabat), the cloth fitted around the neck of a cleric and placed under a simar or cassock.

Today, the collar (usually made of plastic or linen) is most commonly identified with clergy of many denominations. In Europe, of course, many priests wear variations on the Roman collar. In the United States, an effort has been made in recent years to encourage priests to wear a black suit and especially the Roman collar as identifiable elements in their ministry.” –Matthew Bunson

God bless our holy priests.

Basic Instinct author converts to Catholicism

Another famous writer converts to Catholicism. This time it is the writer of such disturbing screenplays as Basic Instinct and Jagged Edge.

The article on Joe Eszterhas over at toledoblade.com is a mini conversion story, but it isn’t like any I have ever read. Mr. Eszterhas had a “road to Damascus” type conversion. He is a firm believer in the Real Presence and the truth of the Catholic Church, but his opinion of the priestly abuse scandal is completely unsweetened. It may even offend some. It certainly bothered me. But I enjoyed reading his conversion even if it was a little rough. Basically, (pun intended), we just recruited another evangelist.

Joe Eszterhas is now working on a new book.

“In Crossbearer: A Memoir of Faith, to be published Sept. 2 by St. Martin’s Press, Mr. Eszterhas describes how his life got turned around during the summer of 2001.”

The article is a quick interesting read. Check it out if you have time. I’m looking forward to the book.

Cracked Door

Everyone gets the sink of eyes
Droopy emptiness
The urge to return home

Everyone gets the sink of eyes
The profound eternal yearn
To sleep in your parents room

Eyes see horror
Heart wants peace

Rest at your Fathers feet
Sleep
Replenish
Strengthen
Wake up
Move on
Repeat

-Dominic Tramontana

A day in the life of a Trappist Monk

While looking into the diets of various religious communities (what you don’t do that to?), I stumbled upon this wonderful website: A Day in the Life of a Trappist Monk. It is loaded with wonderful photographs of the history of the monks of the Abbey of Our Lady of the Prairies. Beautiful pictures. Beautiful music. And beautiful faith. There is lots to look at. But its worth it.

Trappist Lay Brothers

What is art?

Lately I’ve been wondering.

What is art?

I don’t mean, what qualifies as art. No, that’s a little too subjective. Instead I’m asking, what is art objectively?

So, I started thinking of different kinds of art throughout different periods of human history. I thought of cave paintings. Egyptian hieroglyphics. The drawings in the catacombs. The paintings of the renaissance. Sculptures. Poetry. The plays of Shakespeare. Modern movies…I couldn’t stop coming up with examples. But I started to notice a trend. Something, I thought, which could help me give an objective explanation of what I believe art is.

The trend I saw was storytelling. I saw communication.

Sometimes the story being told is quite obvious and quite intentional. As is the case when one of our ancient ancestors depicts a great hunt on the inside of a cave wall.

Sometimes the message being communicated is still very intentional, but more esoteric in meaning. I would suggest that maybe a book such as The Man Who Was Thursday would fall into this category.

Sometimes the message isn’t even clear to the artist. Often art is one’s own attempt at communicating a story or emotion that exists just outside of his or her conscious grasp. I know for me, for example, when I’m writing a poem, I’m trying to say something, or communicate something I can’t quite get my head around. I know what I’m trying to say. I feel what I’m trying to say. But the only way I can communicate what’s inside is through poetry.

Sometimes art is created for others.

Sometimes art is realized as a way for the artist to communicate with his or her self.

So, my current definition for art is: Art is the result of an attempt at communication.

Does this explanation hold up for all forms of art?

I think so.

Even in the case of cooking, which I consider an art, there is a message being conveyed. The message may be the chef’s attempt at communicating the rustic beauty of a small village outside of Lucca, Italy. Or it may be the home cooks attempt at conveying a childhood memory. Or maybe it’s just a mother expressing her love for her children.

I think this explanation also helps me critique, judge, and/or admire art. On the basis that art is communication, I can judge a piece of art on the quality of the message being communicated as well as the ability of the artist to communicate the message. Some people judge an artists technique. To me, as admirable as technique is, it’s only important in so far as it furthers the communication.

As of this moment, I’m pretty happy with this definition. But I would love to hear your thoughts.

Actress turned Catholic nun

I don’t want to turn this into a news blog, but I thought this story was worth mentioning. Not only for the connection between art and Catholicism, but more importantly to help the Reverand Mother bring attention to peripheral idiopathic neuropathy, a neurological disorder which she herself suffers.

“Dolores Hart, who at age 24 startled the film world in 1962 by leaving a thriving screen career — including two roles opposite Elvis Presley — to become a nun, has returned to Hollywood for her first visit after 43 years in a monastery…

Why? To spread awareness about a largely mysterious neurological disorder that afflicts countless Americans, including herself, called peripheral idiopathic neuropathy…”

Read the full article at MSNBC.

Found Family

We wait until we’re broken and dead
We ask for help from the One we trust
He answers with a hug—and makes us wait
Until our hearts prevail—a new world we’re thrust

We wait until we know we wont give up
He asks us for help for the ones who must
Answer him now with just enough
Or forever drink from an empty cup

We answered a call to help each other
A call to help our brothers
To help themselves
To help each other

We found saints on earth who answered
A call to help others
To help themselves
To help each other

We found parents in saints and saints in parents
We found mentors and guides
We found angels who have dedicated their lives
To teach those who thirst
What and Who comes first

We found friends for life who have guided many
Who believe in us despite our scars

We found family who live for any
Who seek the Son of the Morning Star

-Dominic Tramontana