A propos of nothing: 2 years ago today, I heard a homily entirely dedicated to "there's never a reason for a Christian to avoid someone" from a priest who was preaching to less than ten people, did a psych undergrad, knew notable amounts of my abuse history in the Church, and was an episcopal vicar.

There’s no vintage filter on this photo. And no, this isn’t Mars. 🌫️🔴 This is Hamilton, ON today, with the sun dimmed by wildfire smoke from northern Ontario. A sobering reminder that climate extremes are no longer distant headlines - they’re part of our daily lives. Stay safe, everyone. 💙🍁

Feast day in the U.S. (really no idea why it's not on the actual day she died at Kahnawà꞉ke there)—but I'll celebrate any day!

Oh, hey, you're back 🙃

Ok, yes, thx, I did that part. Giáo sư đó tên là Văn. What I want from you, dear book, is to help me improve my Vietnamese.

Sam Neill truly was a legend. One of my favourite movie details is the patch on his sleeve in Event Horizon which he requested because he was a supporter of Aboriginal rights.

French-language book ordered on a France-located website offers me one tracking option: Australia Post

He's not my namesake, but 90% of Catholics I'm introduced to assume it, so I'm claiming his feast day

Aw, and the next Văn newsletter arrived in the mail today, right on time for the day.

This is a very different kind of post. Let's talk—or rather, if you let me talk—about a couple of things on the anniversary of Marcel Văn's death in a prison camp.

Me in 2007, still in RCIA: holy crap the Maritains were targeted in some way by some creepy abuser guy whom they'd been the first ones to sound an alarm against Rest of the world: crickets Me: huh that's weird this must've been news before and I'm just the new guy

My idea is that the relitigation of old debates inside the dominican order (Chenu vs Garrigou Lagrange for instance) in light of the current situation of the US Church, and intellectual production it generates could greatly benefit from this relatively new light.

Anglophone friends : has "The Philippe Affair" as in Thomas and Marie-Dominique Philippe reached your shores? I think it throws a very interesting light on the debates around thomist thought and dominican life in the 30's and 40's.

We leave Mass truly realising that we don't walk alone through life; a divine power goes with us and gives meaning to our suffering, our hopes, and our projects —St Oscar Romero, 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), 1978 #StOscarRomero

35 years ago today, Fr. Antonio Boucher CSsR passed into eternal life. He was Marcel Văn's spiritual director, got him to write his autobiography, conserved Marcel's writings, translated them into French, wrote a short bio, encouraged a beatification cause. A debt of gratitude of immense proportion.

Just enjoying how the rain sticks to the sealant but not to the stones

Email has title "cor ad cor loquitur". After reading all the way to the end, email tells me it was edited partly with AI.

“Before asking ourselves what to do, we must pause to consider reality, looking at it through the eyes of faith and allowing ourselves to be challenged by listening to our brothers and sisters.” — Pope Leo

I think I lack context on various questions here—but betcha didn't know you could be this Luddite and this hopeful! (I didn't) britmonkey.com/2020s-politi...

”First of all, we are invited to contemplate the world in which the Church is called to proclaim the Gospel. Before asking ourselves what to do, we must pause to consider reality, looking at it through the eyes of faith & allowing ourselves to be challenged by listening to our brothers and sisters.”

helpful coverage from @elpais.com english.elpais.com/usa/2025-08-...

Pope to Swimmers: “Swimming has something special about it. It is practiced while one is immersed in an element - water - that surrounds the person. This recalls an aspect that has been part of us since our mother's womb: to live means learning to move in harmony with others and the environment.”

I love Leo's address as I loved Francis' letter on literature, but the Terrence quote highlights a problem with both of them: they're taking it so seriously, esp. viewpoints of individual characters, that there's hardly space for laughter, comedy, smiles (words and ideas which don't feature at all)

Okay, I have no idea what controversy this is, but you guys yourselves make "art" with generative AI and post it in the Diocese's name

"To give oneself to others, eliminating distances, dwelling in littleness, and living the reality of one's everyday life: this is exquisitely divine." #PopeFrancis

Following the example of Jesus of Nazareth, Applying myself all day to humble work, I also spend the day dusting and scrubbing, Planting vegetables and sewing. Marcel Văn

The little essay this quote comes from and an even more little attempt to draw out how it influenced Pope Francis:

“While the project stands to raze local forests and wetlands, it may also have broader impacts across the province. The proposed data centre is a 390MW operation.” It would generate 6.6% of the province’s emissions and could surpass 10% of New Brunswick’s energy demands.

If you remember how the world reacted to the Notre Dame catching on fire in Paris - the Lavra site is not only older, but also more significant in Ukrainian (and regional) Orthodoxy. The Lavra is an example of Ukrainian Baroque style.

Ruusbroec > severe demystification & loss of community context in Devotio Moderna > Thérèse Ruusbroec > (scholars not agreed on route but there's huge dependence) > John of the Cross > Thérèse Ruusbroec > Osuna > Teresa > Thérèse CarmFam—this is your periodic reminder that you might like Ruusbroec!

"I use AI like an intern" is definitely a clear admission of how a bunch of people view interns as labor to be exploited rather than a funnel for the training of new young talent for your industry

We don't usually see each other's headers. Here's mine; quote post yours (if you feel like it)

The deck chair is evaporating in real time in the dawning sun

Just found out one of Hostalier's books on Marcel Văn was translated and published into Spanish in the year of our Lord *2025*. One day, dude, one day I'm gonna make this right. But if you don't repent of trying to take control of the narrative of an abuse survivor, you're not gonna like that day.

The Indian Act's second-generation cut-off puts First Nations on a path toward legislated extinction. Mark Carney must act now to pass Bill S-2 and end discrimination in the law, argue @pampalmater.com, Sharon McIvor and Jeannette Corbiere Lavell.

If people ever think my use of em-dashes is somehow evidence of AI, I would simply direct them to everything I have ever written ever, and also all of my tired editors and former professors.

Annual thread of quotes and photos of St. Anthony stuff

“I have hidden my face from you; I will not accept your drink-offerings” ~me, to the cat while he is trying to lick me first thing in the morning.

Blague à part, l'apologétique catholique contemporaine ressemble à s'y méprendre à la théologie légaliste des amis de Job: raisonner l'innocent persécuté, blâmer le révolté... Et cette furie de convaincre. A contrario, l'apologétique de Job, et singulièrement de Dieu, paradoxalement, est non de

In which Sarah Augustine, a wonderful teacher who's taught me a lot, is quoted extensively:

Today in contemplative history Memorial of St. Naucratius, younger brother of Macrina and Basil, older brother of Gregory of Nyssa and Peter of Sebaste—the one who first lived as a hermit and loved nature and service for the poor. In his honour, a fav stream—but I'm not fishing and not falling in!

Side note to Pope’s visit to Our Lady of Almudena: normally the Pope would first take some time in quiet prayer before the Eucharist. Not so today, as the frescos in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel in Our Lady of Almudena Cathedral were painted by Marko Rupnik, whose canonical trial is ongoing.

"AI for All" sounds like a threat, to be honest

Pope Leo: “Every expression speaks, transmits; it can wound or heal, destroy expectations or open horizons, sow division or awaken hope in the possibility of building together something genuinely human.”

Le pape François avait demandé à ce que sa "papamobile" soit convertie en ambulance pour les enfants de Gaza. Alors les gens s'y sont mis, avec leur coeur et leur bonne volonté. Et comme d'habitude, ces deux choses ont été brisées. www.indcatholicnews.com/news/54882

Five favourite books of all time in no particular order (subject to variability) Wisdom of Solomon The Spiritual Espousals, John of Ruusbroec Autobiography, Marcel Văn The Living Flame of Love, John of the Cross The Berry Pickers, Amanda Peters

For anyone curious, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms 2(a) likewise uses the language “the claimant sincerely believes in a belief or practice that has a nexus with religion”: www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/...

Sometimes I wish I could know exactly *what* a Vatican IP address is reading on my blog...

When it was becoming obvious that there weren't going to be many, if any, Indigenous Turtle Island theologies in this quiz, I started to wonder what the result could even be—but "The New Testament in Color" (ed.) is certainly not wrong given the premise