BEST CATHOLIC NEWS SOURCES (updated Jan. 2017)

Why keep up with "Catholic news" from (trusted, authentic) Catholic sources? Why also get "secular" news from a (trusted, authentic) Catholic perspective? (If you're reading a Catholic blog, I'm probably LITERALLY preaching to the choir, but here goes.)

1. There's a lot going on in the Church and in the world today, good and bad. We just can't afford not to know. Ignorance is not bliss, it's blindness. It's not knowing where we're going or why. Lack of knowledge leaves us open to be easily manipulated, misled, disillusioned.

2. There's a lot going on in the intersection of the Church and the world today, good and bad.

3. If we don't keep up, we'll drift from our Faith and suddenly be surprised by developments and not comprehend them. Because we weren't keeping up. If we love something, we want to know it always better and keep pace with it. If we love Jesus' Church, we'll do the same.

4. We need knowledge first and then wisdom to understand the times we're living in and the challenges and opportunities for the Faith.

"The sons of Issachar, who were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do...." 1 Chronicles 12:32

5. Jesus admonished those who couldn't "read the signs of the times."

What are some top sources for Catholic news? Here are my picks in order of my preference. (I checked with two mainstream Catholic news radio personalities, a Catholic newspaper editor and young adult Catholic journalist to get their input as well.)

These are not just websites, but can be followed/subscribed to on both Twitter and Facebook (you can usually just go to the site and sign up from there, as well as follow by email: they'll send updates into your email inbox).

www.Twitter.com is my #1 source of breaking Catholic news. Wanna get started on Twitter? It's pathetically simple to sign up. Then just "follow" me: @SrHelenaBurns and click on "Tweets" and then "Lists" at the top of my Twitter page. I only have one list: "news-secular-and-Catholic." Click on it and voila! You are instantly following 150 top Catholic (and secular news sites), as well as some very informed individual Catholics (including bloggers) who will keep YOU informed. I don't agree with ALL the sources/folks on that list, just so you know. I personally read "everything."

However, the following sources ARE vetted, and I recommend 'em:

www.WordOnFire.org   Bishop Robert Barron instantly comments on current issues with solid Catholic guidance via short YouTubes (see also his YouTube channel). Fr. Barron's YouTubes are easily shareable and very popular among young adults. It seems even young atheists will watch his stuff because "at least this guy makes sense." Or as Brandon Vogt says: "Fr. Barron is on a mission to show that Catholicism is smart, and has one of the world's most brilliant intellectual traditions."

www.CatholicWorldReport.com (from Ignatius Press--thoughtful in-depth articles about stuff I promise you you didn't know and need to. They JUST discontinued their fine, fine print magazine which was my all-time favorite Catholic periodical.)  (can subscribe via email) See also: www.IgnatiusInsight.com

www.RelevantRadio.com  (Listen online!) Hi-quality 24hr Catholic radio station mostly in Chicago & Midwest. Get their app for iPhone & Android: www.relevantradio.com/app. Constant secular and Catholic news updates as well as in-depth instruction, talk shows and news analysis from Emmy-winning journalist, Sheila Liaugminas (show: "A Closer Look"). Shows are also instantly archived and easy to find on their website.

www.ThePopeApp.com is the most pathetically simple way to keep with all things papal and Vatican. 

CATHOLIC RADIO!
Support Catholic radio in your area (and online)! Radio apps for mobile technology means you can take it wherever you go, too.

TEXT ALERTS!
From U.S. Bishops regarding religious liberty (free): text "FREEDOM" to 377377 (for Spanish: "LIBERTAD")

OTHER WAYS TO KEEP UP WITH THEOLOGY OF THE BODY:
--www.TOBinstitute.org (get on their e-newsletter list) AND simply put "Theology of the Body" in Google alerts!

www.EWTN.com Global Catholic TV and radio network. Multimedia, tons of resources, streaming online. Also in Spanish. (Full disclosure: I'm on their Sonrise Morning Show once a month--radio.)

www.NCRegister.com  (Owned by EWTN) National Catholic Register (can subscribe via email) print edition also available. Simply the finest, most balanced, faithful-yet-super-contemporary take on Church and world news. Bravo.

www.Zenit.org (daily headlines from Vatican--unofficial, but quick & easy way to get Vatican news)

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/BadCatholic THE voice of faithful millennial Catholics. But are you hip enough to read it?

www.MarysAggies.blogspot.com The Catholic news blog of Texas A & M's amazing Catholic campus ministry, St. Mary's (a model for the nation). Young adult friendly.

www.News.VA/en  The new, revamped Vatican media site!!! Includes the official Vatican Newspaper (L'Osservatore Romano), Vatican Information Service, Fides New Agency, Vatican Radio, etc.

Blessed James Alberione reading his favorite newspaper:
L'Osservatore Romano (with Bro. Silvio de Blasio, SSP)

Below is L'Osservatore Romano (the official Vatican Newspaper, I believe it's weekly in English). Print edition is well worth the subscription price. It was printed in English in the USA (for USA and Canada) for a little while, but is now mailed directly from the Vatican. Full texts of Holy Father's talks and doings and other important stuff from the Vatican Offices.    

L'Osservatore Romano 

Email. subscriptions@ossrom.va 

www.CatholicNewWorld.com  This is Chicago's Archdiocesan newspaper. Subscribe to your own diocese's! You'll get international, national and local Catholic news. (Full disclosure: I was the movie reviewer for Catholic New World for 6 years.)

www.CatholicRegister.org (Canada) Voted BEST North American diocesan newspaper (weekly). From Archdiocese of Toronto, but goes all over Canada. Canadians are just so classy and literary and in-depth on the issues and such. Especially read Fr. Raymond J. de Souza column: it's incisive like a Ninja. Digital subscription available.

www.OriginsOnline.com  Weekly news from the U.S. Bishops (important statements from Bishops individually and as a whole). Pricey, but worth it. Print or online.

www.CatholicNews.com  This is the user-friendly "CNS" news service of the U.S. Bishops. This website compiles a lot of news resources, including movie reviews (which are short, dry and focus mostly on what is appropriate for children or family viewing, don't look for an appreciation of artistry). It includes links to top news stories from Origins and international  Church news. See at bottom of website: www.InterMirifica.net --int'l Catholic multimedia directory!

www.LifeSiteNews.com A lot of my trusted Catholic sources think this site is a little radical, sensational and inaccurate (I disagree), but boy does LifeSiteNews crank out pro-life news in a constant, exciting fashion! They are not mean-spirited or confrontational, and they REALLY know how to use new media and graphic arts. I often hear about important life issues news from them first.

www.MarsHillAudio.org This is a monthly NPR-style audio magazine (CD or mp3-download subscription, well worth the shekels, about $40 a year) that keeps you up on the latest books (often by Christians) examining our culture under many different aspects. Lots of interviews with authors and professors. MHA is not Catholic, but very Catholic friendly.

www.EnvoyMagazine.com Wicked fun, non-highbrow apologetics. Gorgeous graphic design. Patrick Madrid.

www.MercatorNet.com  Weird title, good info. Dedicated to any issue dealing with human dignity. In-depth and thoughtful digest.

www.LumenChristi.org  Like philosophy? Me, too!!! Watch world-class Catholic (and other) philosophers on video. This amazing Institute (set up by Cardinal George at the University of Chicago, his alma mater) is revitalizing Catholic philosophy. Kind of a think tank. If you live in Chicago you can go to these talks in person. FREE.

www.RelevantMagazine.com My hipster Catholic young adult friends swear by this Evangelical mag. Even the ones who never read. Please note the amazing layout/graphics.

www.BooksandCulture.com  Just like it says. It's a Christian review from www.IntervarsityPress.com Not high-brow, but definitely meant for ministry and often examining intersection of pop culture and faith. You can get their e-newsletter or print edition. Or both.

www.OSV.com (Our Sunday Visitor) Weekly online and print. Looking for a FUN, positive, family-oriented, EASY-READ-but-still-informative Catholic news source? Look no further. Best of its kind.

www.GetReligion.org  One of my consultants swears by this site. It's where religion journalists and editors go to vent. And analyze religious stories in the news.

www.CatholicCulture.org  (top stories) (I've never used it, by all 4 of my "consultants" do)

www.CatholicTV.com (out of Boston) 24 hr, streaming online.

www.NETTV.net  (out of Brooklyn) 24 hr, streaming online.

www.CatholicVote.org

www.CardinalNewmanSociety.org What's going on on "Catholic" college campuses....

Oh yes, and a last-but-not-least reason to keep up with Catholic news:
Papa B asked us to be "an engaged, articulate and well-informed Catholic laity"
specifically in the United States! He said this to a group of U.S. Bishops on their ad limina visit (Jan. 2012)
because of  how religious freedom is being threatened in this country. 

PUHLEEEEZE do not get your Church news from the New York Times. 
When it comes to religion (especially Catholicism) they are intellectually dishonest (misrepresenting, withholding information, pretending they don't grasp the issues) and hostile.

f

As a matter of fact, why trust secular news to:

1. report accurately (it's just all that draconic mumbo-jumbo that doesn't make sense anyway, right?)

2. care

3. comprehend

4. be honest (see #1.)

5. interpret what it all means for us?

AND our dear Papa Francis can be seriously misunderstood by the secular press. I have recently been embarrassed by my fellow Catholics whose ignorance of what Jesus and their Catholic Faith say, coupled with blind trust of secular media has caused them to react in all kinds of unCatholic ways to statements of the pope (and sometimes faulty translations of his words, too). 

Stop it, people! Time to wise up, keep up, and get your Best Catholic News Sources on!

End rant.

NOVENA OF BLESSED JAMES ALBERIONE: NOV. 17--25

Join us in the Novena of Blessed James Alberione, leading up to his feastday, November 26!

(He died November 26, 1971.)

www.MediaApostle.com

Read his biography, "James Alberione--Marvel of Our Times" free online!

http://fsp.paulines.ph/fsp-downloads/marvel-of-our-times.pdf

Want prayercards, 3rd class relics? Comment below with your snail mail.

God bless!

Join us in praying for the good health of:
Sr. Anne (migraines), Sr. Paul (migraines), Debbie S. (back injury), Angela (seizures)

Conrad (cancer from asbestos), Anthony (young father with debilitating mystery illness)
Allen (seriously injured in industrial accident)

Lord, glorify Blessed James Alberione in your Church.
Let him be for all of us a light, guide and support in the work of our sanctification

and in our apostolate. Open the way for evangelization through the media

so that the presence of Jesus Master, the Way, Truth and Life

may shine on the world through Mary, Mother and Queen of Apostles.

Grant me the grace I am praying for at this time.....

            Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

Pope John Paul II at Fr. Alberione's tomb

"DIGITAL CATHOLICS" IN JOLIET, IL -- NOVEMBER 19!

MOVIES: "MARY OF NAZARETH"

The newest film on the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, “Mary of Nazareth” (www.MaryFilm.com), is coming from a good place--directed by acclaimed European film director Giacomo Campiotti (BAKHITA, DOCTOR ZHIVAGO--2002, ST. GIUSEPPE MOSCATI) and written by Francesco Arlanch (RESTLESS HEART—ST. AUGUSTINE, PIUS XII, POPE JOHN PAUL II). It’s another attempt to depict what it may have been like for the Mother of God and those around her to believe and live the unimaginable. As biblical films go, this is not a departure. It looks and feels like so many other Bible movies, which are, in a sense, their own genre. On this count, it feels comfortable and familiar.

There are many inspiring elements in this film, as well as many distracting and detracting elements—almost a 50:50 ratio. For enthusiastic believers (“the choir”) who are not concerned with demanding dramatic standards or rigorous historical accuracy and just want to see Our Lady (and Jesus) walking and talking through Gospel events, “Mary of Nazareth” will fill the bill. For the rest of us, I’m afraid we won’t be able to fully get behind this work, and I’m especially concerned what savvy young people who are used to today’s smart secular acting/dialogue might think of it. Can religious films that are lacking in certain modern sensibilities actually turn people OFF on their subject IRL (in real life)? Are borderline laughable-when-supposed-to-be-solemn moments in these films opening up the sacred to mockery and ridicule? Or just opening up subpar filmmaking to mockery and ridicule?

My biggest objection in “Mary of Nazareth” is that Mary often appears—for a good chunk of the film—well,…simple-minded. Perhaps the thirtysomething actress is trying to appear wide-eyed and youthful, but it doesn’t work. Mary is constantly overgrinning and mincing about without ever seeming to have any tasks to do (she also has a favorite boulder that she rests on a lot). This portrayal of Mary is pretty much the opposite of the teenage actress in “The Nativity Story,” who is sullen and hardly ever smiles (until Jesus is born).

The sullen teenage Mary from "The Nativity Story"

Newborn Baby Jesus (finally sporting brownish skin!) is adorbs, and you have GOT to see how he worshipfully (no heretical pun intended) gapes at and gives Mary the gummiest little smiles. Joseph: “Just like any other little boy….” (Joseph has all the best lines.)

Joseph (as in “The Nativity Story” and “Joseph of Nazareth”) is pretty awesome. Maybe it’s just harder to get Joseph wrong or something.

The grown-up Jesus is not bad. Looks something like Jeffrey Hunter in “King of Kings.” Wears Carl Bloch red and blue colored garments. He’s not goopy, and he’s not the typical hang-ten, laid back, California surfer Jesus.

The 153-minute “Mary of Nazareth” is a tad on the slow side, but is consistently so, lending itself to a new contemplation of oft-pondered Gospel pericopes. Mary begins to be much more sober and somber at the Dedication/Purification in the Temple when Simeon prophesies that Jesus will become a problem for his nation and fellowmen, and that she will suffer along with Him. At this point, Mary and the whole story feel much more grounded. She almost becomes Our Lady of Sorrows from this point on (not in a morose way, but with the approaching Passion a constant undercurrent). There are even flash forwards to the Passion when she is with the boy Jesus (similar to Mary’s flashBACKS during the Passion in “The Passion of the Christ”). Great idea, but could have been better executed.

My absolute favorite part of the film is the recurring sense of Jesus Bridegroom and Mary (the Church) Bride. It is so obvious (after the death of Joseph) that only THEY truly understand each other, only THEY get this Big Divine Secret for now, and their love is so pure and so tangible. If I didn’t know Theology of the Body, I don’t think I would have appreciated this dimension, and I think I would be annoyed by the long, loving, comprehending looks Mary and Jesus engage in. But how else could they communicate/convey this supernatural reality? How else can actors do it? How else can lovers* do it?

There is some truly awful dialogue and some truly spectacular dialogue.

Awful: (Pregnant Mary on donkey to Joseph, halfway to Bethlehem) “Exactly which town are we going to, Joseph?”

Spectacular: (Jesus to a fretful Mary before His Passion) “Remember, whatever happens, it’s all out of love. It’s all love.”

There are also some cool scenes that throw things into a beautiful new light/interpretation:
--a snake approaches Mary under a tree before the Annunciation

--The Magnificat

--Mary and Joseph’s relationship
--Mary clambering up the hillside to the Cross

In my book, “The Passion of the Christ” is still the gold standard for any Mary, Jesus or biblical film, with “Peter and Paul” running a close second (this amazing three hour drama in which Paul is played by a young Anthony Hopkins with hair needs to be much more known and watched). “Jesus of Nazareth” and its follow-up “A.D.” (Acts of the Apostles) are also of unimpeachably high quality.

See “Mary of Nazareth”? Yes!

1995

OTHER STUFF:

--There is another, earlier film with the title “Mary of Nazareth” (1995), and one called “Mary, Mother of Jesus” (1999) (produced by Eunice Kennedy Shriver with Christian Bale as Jesus!) Each with their own merits like this present film.

--Blessed James Alberione www.MediaApostle.com produced the FIRST color film ever done in Italy: “Mother of God” (1950), in neo-Realistic style. The government of Italy restored it in 2000 for its 50^th anniversary!

--Mary’s simpleton qualities for the beginning part of the film make her very unrealistic. Perhaps she was an outwardly joyful person (who wouldn’t be, without original sin and filled with the Holy Spirit?), but she seems, instead, to be living on her own planet and incapable of gauging actual human nature and reactions around her.

1999

--Much of the acting is stiff human interactions with people speaking in DECLARATIONS!, overblown melodrama and general mugging, but that is rather par for the course in Bible films.

---Some more great Joseph lines:

“This is too much for me, I’m just a man.”

“Do you think people will understand a family like ours?”

“The Baby will take care of us.”

--The Annunciation is pretty hideous. I’m still waiting for a good one, maybe modeled on some masterpiece artwork.

--Awful: Mary trying to explain her pregnancy to Joseph. Oy vey!

--Annoying: If Mary had nothing to do before her pregnancy, you should see her after. Her hand is just constantly holding her belly and the camera keeps zooming in on that.

--WOULD Joseph have proposed to Mary directly? WOULD Mary and Joseph have had a wedding celebration with her very pregnant? WOULD the townspeople just suddenly have “forgiven” her?

--“Mary of Nazareth” is way better than “The Nativity Story” in that we see Mary’s FAITH/relationship with God.

--Love the birth/stable scene, and especially the shepherds. The Magi are ALL wrong (they did not arrive right after the shepherds—that’s why Herod had all boys up to two years old murdered), and they were all Persian, not from different countries. Love that the animals, domestic AND wild, know that something big is going down this night (Isaiah 1:3).

--Following along the lines of traditional art/piety (as with the Magi and many other), Jesus drags His cross as a big, flat, smooth, already-assembled affair.

Olivia Hussey ("Jesus of Nazareth")

--Mary kind of looks like Olivia Hussey (dimples, eye teeth). 

--Mary quotes prophesies from Isaiah about HERSELF. Oy vey! Oy vey!

--Mary to Joseph: “Without you, Jesus wouldn’t be the man he is.” J

--Nice pauses, not all yakking.

--Mary asks God if she can suffer in Jesus’ place. J True mother!

Alissa Jung ("Mary of Nazareth")

--The Apostles even try to stop Jesus’ Passion by telling Mary: “He’ll listen to you like He did at Cana!”

--Mary Magdalene is a harlot. Sigh. And she starts off as one of Herod’s bimbos. But I like the actress.

--Love Mary’s last line in film.

--The end of the film has a beautiful dedication to all mothers and some words of Pope Benedict!

__________
*By “lovers,” I am in no way suggesting even a hint of Oedipal-complex type love. The heavenly Bridegroom/Bride love is of a nature that we can’t fully grasp yet: “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard…” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Revelation 19:7

Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.

Revelation 22:17

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

Revelation 22:20

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 

MOVIES: "GRAVITY"

“Just when you thought it was safe to go back in space…”--a terrifying movie like “Gravity” hits you in the face.

I read and heard nothing but effusive ballyhooing and mad props being given to “Gravity” from all quarters, and I was confused. Space is hip* again? What is this, 1969? And…I thought “Gravity” was one of those horrific solo, exposition-by-monologue-or-silently-mumbling-to-one’s-lonely-isolated-self  flicks OR  simply a whole movie of deafening, penetrating silence (cf. the 3-hour “Into Great Silence”) OR (very worst) “Castaway” in the Cosmos. Thankfully, it was none of these things (although Sandra Bullock’s character didn’t need to keep telling us what she was thinking and doing as much as she did. The silence WAS eloquent, and we got it. Good “showing,” so stifle the telling!

“Gravity” is one of those films you have to see for yourself, and I hate to give away even the barest of plots, but here goes. Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock: America’s sweetheart or a total heavyweight actress? Or both?) is a second-career astronaut floating around fixing something up there with the incredibly seasoned (this is his last mission) Matt Kowalski (a chipper George Clooney who is so marvelous at doing either upbeat or downbeat characters). Come to think of if, Bullock is also great at comedy AND tragedy also.

Everything is more or less going well until those Ruskies (who else?) do something stupid to compromise the Americans’ mission. Didn’t they get the memo? Once again, the Russians are simply our favorite frenemies, and, let’s face it: we miss the Cold War. Good times, good times. But back to our plot. No, not back to our plot. That’s all I’m going to tell you. Pleeeeeeze try to see this in theaters. I saw it in REAL 3-D (excellent use of 3D, which should be used sparingly). It’s true what audiences are saying: “It’s like you’re UP there with them.” OR get the full experience with IMAX digital 3D.

The entire story takes place within about 24 hours. But one of the tensest (and most horrifying 24 hrs for Sandra,  91 minutes for us) time periods ever spent in a “movie house” (Ma’s archaic terminology). I was literally twisting and contorting in my seat like Mr. Bean and letting out rather loud “Oh, no!”s and strange bellows along the line of what a young calf might make. This is an EXTREMELY uncomfortable film. Space is the new deep water or haunted house or Bates Motel or forest or woodshed or whatever. However, the dazzling fear of becoming U-N-T-E-T-H-E-R-E-D and floating off into the dark forever was mitigated when I realized one wouldn’t die of starvation (as I previously thought), but of lack of oxygen when the source is quickly depleted.

THE SPIRITUALITY/RELIGION? Nice touch. More than a touch. There’s a St. Christopher icon in the Russian space station and a Buddha in the Chinese space station. Dr. Stone wants someone to pray for her, wants to pray for herself, but “no one ever taught her” how. This seems to be the line many people are coming out of the theater with. (I kind of liked “thank You” the best.) Obviously, the Latino filmmaker(s) are trying to tell us something (Alfonso Cuaron: “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” “The Children of Men”).

___________________________________________________________________________

TWITTER:

The director of the new movie 'Gravity' clearly wants his audience to reflect on spirituality. But what kind? http://t.co/vOMAkwtbhu
— The Gospel Coalition (@TGC) October 29, 2013

____________________________________________________________________________ 

Is it ALL that? Yes and no. Could someone else have taken our BIG-TIME FEMALE PROTAGONIST’S place other than Sandra? Maybe. Who? I don’t know. Oscar material? Maybe. (Certainly for cinematography, VFX and audio.) Some of it really did feel like “we’ve heard this sob story before,” and the orchestral soundtrack was rather noticeably cloying at times.

As exciting and groundbreaking as this film is--several years in the making--I’m still holding out for
Cate Blanchett (“Blue Jasmine”) for Best Actress as of this moment.

OTHER:

--If writing a screenplay is “running your main character up a tree in Act One, then throwing rocks at them for the rest of the movie,” “Gravity” succeeds like no other film I’ve seen! And as the next thing goes wrong and the next thing and the next thing, it didn’t feel improbable. At all.

--The film does not feel long. It actually felt a hair on the short side.

--“sun on the Ganges” (a lovely quote and reflective moment)

--Fill up your gas tanks, you evil Commies!

--the Chinese baby :)

--Dr. Stone talks to herself exactly the same way I do when I’m alone. Ha ha.

--The decisive pep rally speech was just sooooo “on the nose,” heavy-handed, Obviousman. A real false note at a pivotal point. But it kinda redeems itself because of the “surprise.”

--Heads up! Here come da trash again! J

--My new nightmare leitmotif is definitely going to be outer space.

--Wanna check the accuracy of the space logistics? Astronauts "weigh" in:  http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/10/08/gravity-questions-science-experts/

______________
*I suppose Space never became unhip, what with all the celebs and billionaires vying for seats on shuttles to Uranus.

VOCATION DISCERNMENT SATURDAYS IN TORONTO!

MOVIES: "DON JON"

When I first heard about the subject matter of “Don Jon,” a new film written by, directed by, and starring child-star-turned-very-successful-adult-star, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, I was thrilled. Gordon-Levitt was taking on porn addiction! Astoundingly, the very existence of porn addiction is often considered  “controversial,” and is questioned as a true malady. Then I saw that “Don Jon,” was a comedy. Hmmm. Downplaying the gravity of porn? Probably not. In interviews, Gordon-Levitt seemed pretty intent on examining the damage done by unrealistic media images of the human body, sex and relationships. But he knew that no one is going to see a film upbraiding porn users. He’s going to entertain, or as Oscar Wilde said: “If you’re going to tell someone the truth, make them laugh. Otherwise they’ll kill you.” So far so good. I started thinking I might even be able to watch this film.

The storyline unfolds thusly: “Don Jon”—a nickname--(Gordon-Levitt) is a “Jersey Shore”-esque Casanova but prefers his daily dose of porn to the hot babes he picks up at clubs. (An online “Entertainment Weekly” article noted that most porn addicts are NOT picking up hot babes at clubs.) Barbara Sugarman (Scarlett Johannson) is just such a hot babe that Don Jon picks up at a club, but she’s addicted to her Hollywood love stories in which men are hopeless romantics and attentive to a woman’s every emotional need.

The more I read about the film, the more I realized I could NOT go see it (and not because I'm a nun, but because I'm a human being). A simulated porn montage is featured along with “strong graphic sexual material and dialogue throughout, nudity.” Porn is simulated sex and this film contains simulated porn. These are definitely postmodern times. Therefore, this “review” of “Don Jon” will be my second “historic” review, i.e., the second time I have “reviewed” a movie without watching it. (My first ever non-review was “Magic Mike” www.tinyurl.com/NunReviewsMagicMike.) So perhaps you could say I’m reviewing the subject matter, context and conversation surrounding “Don Jon.”

Many new films are dealing—from various perspectives--with porn/the porn industry. (How could they not—with its overwhelming prevalence today?) “Lovelace,” “The Look of Love." All this just goes to show the mainstreaming and normalization of pornography. Porn is now accessible (available everywhere, any time), abundant, affordable (free), anonymous and…acceptable. Even expected. Films on sex addiction are also cropping up: "Shame," "Thanks for Sharing."

Is Gordon-Levitt’s flick doing what Flannery O’Connor prescribes: “to the hard of hearing you shout,” or is porn in a category by itself, something so terrible and desacralizing of the human person that we cannot SHOW porn to cure porn? I applaud Gordon-Levitt for addressing this elephant in the middle of the room, and the film is getting rave reviews from many quarters. In interviews, Gordon-Levitt expresses Karol Wojtyla’s “personalistic norm” very well: “If you’re comparing your lover* to a checklist, that’s not romantic—that’s consumerism. What’s romantic is finding the nuances and the details that are unlike anybody else.” I do not doubt Gordon-Levitt’s altruism, but showing porn to critique porn can be like tobacco giant Philip Morris not hesitating to sponsor anti-smoking campaigns (as they do): because there’s no such thing as bad publicity. Even the mention/sight of a cigarette triggers cravings in smokers. Oh, and a real porn site paid to have it’s URL featured in “Don Jon.” In the end, it’s strictly business, I guess.

_________________________________________________

What is the solution for our thoroughly “pornified” culture? There is only one: Theology of the Body. The body reveals God and reveals the person.

1. See the body and beauty rightly.  (Porn automatically excluded.)
2. Reclaim human relationships. “We must find a new way of relating to each other as persons.” –Pope Benedict XVI

*3. Sex is only for the married because the language of sex says: “you alone, forever.” And a baby that may result from sex ideally deserves to be raised by their own Mom and Dad. In Theology of the Body, sex—the verb—is called “the marital embrace.”
4. “Heal wounds.” –Pope Francis     www.ReclaimSexualHealth.com

5. Repeat as needed.

CHICAGO VOCATION DISCERNMENT AFTERNOON, OCT. 19!

Women 18-35

HEY NYC! JOIN US SEPTEMBER 28!

I will be there! 

MOVIES: "LIGHT OF LOVE" -- THE IMAGINE SISTERS FILM

“Light of Love” is a new 60-minute documentary by Imagine Sisters. What, you ask, is “Imagine Sisters”? And whatever “Imagine Sisters” is, isn’t it bad syntax? “Imagine Sisters” is a movement (begun by Chicago seminarians—out of the goodness of their hearts and under the patronage of St. Therese) to encourage women’s religious vocations.

“Imagine Sisters” greatest success has been on an eponymous Facebook page which currently sports over 16,000 “likes,” and has more than 2,000 “talking about this” at any given time. The Facebook page features many different congregations’ photos, links, retreat events, and the ever-popular nun memes. It’s serious and funny, poignant and light-hearted. The aim? To SHOW the joy and simplicity of the calling to be a bride of Christ; to be a meeting place for young women in discernment; and to make the charisms and ministries of various congregations known.

The priesthood has had the glorious “Fishers of Men” film/DVD to portray and encourage priestly vocations (commissioned by the U.S. Bishops) for several years now, but there was no film on the Sisterhood. Until now. “Light of Love” is meant to fill that need. Individuals, young women, non-Catholics, Catholic schools, religious education programs, RCIA, and any other gatherings of the curious will now be able to hear it from “the horse’s mouth”: these women of God explaining their way of life.

Five congregations were highlighted. One Sister from each congregation is interviewed, and we follow her through her day: prayer, community life, ministry. We also get to hear something of her own vocational story, struggles and joys. The “Imagine Sisters” movement is often criticized for painting “too rosy” a picture of religious life (on their exuberant Facebook page)—but certainly an ideal is being put forth there. The film, “Light of Love” could never be accused of this. It is a minimalistic, almost understated take on feminine religious life. No bells and whistles, very little music. It doesn’t get any realer than this! (My favorite profile is that of the Salesian Sister at the end. She seems to blend an extremely active life—she’s a vice-principal—and a life centered on her Spouse and holiness with such ease and peace.)

The five communities chosen are all active congregations (no cloistered), but with varying degrees of contemplation mixed in: Carmelite, Salesian, a newer congregation founded in Argentina, and two Franciscan congregations are represented. Healthcare, education, and working with the poor are the ministries of these particular Sisters.

Where can you view “Light of Love”? Just above you there. At the top of this post. :)

(Free, online! YouTube or www.ImagineSisters.org)

VOCATION RETREAT IN TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA! OCTOBER 4-6

 www.DaughtersOfStPaul.org

SEPTEMBER 8 -- TWICE BLESSED FOR DAUGHTERS OF ST. PAUL!

New Mother General! Sr. Anna Maria Parenzan (on the left)

3 New Postulants! Danielle, Julie & Putri
with Sr. Rebecca Marie

COME MY WAY MY TRUTH MY LIFE

SKATEBOARDING MONKS. YEAH, BELIEVE IT. (AND BIOLOGICAL BROTHERS, TOO!)

MOVIES: "BLUE JASMINE"

“Blue Jasmine” is a worth-seeing Woody Allen film. It's a funny, enjoyable story of a woman in denial. There is a fair amount of lying, stealing and cheating going on by and around our main character, Jasmine (if Cate Blanchette doesn’t get an Oscar, shame on the Academy), but—as a review in “America” magazine ventured: the film is about what happens when we refuse to look at the source of our deepest desires.

“Blue Jasmine” is a typical Woody Allen film in that it’s a drama, deeply moral, mostly dialogue, dialogue-as-action, dialogue-as-contact-sport, dialogue-as-though-everybody-is-Jewish, lots of ad-libbing and exceedingly genuine banter.

After getting started with bumpy, heavy-handed, talky-talky exposition, the film begins to flow nicely. Jasmine was married to Hal (the always excellent Alec Baldwin), a Madoff-like fraudulent New York financier, until it all fell apart and she was forced to go live with her blue-collar sister, Ginger (the always interesting, always-adorbs-but-not-saccharine Sally Hawkins), in San Francisco. Jasmine’s former life suited her perfectly, but it was also a lie and the truth quite literally shattered her.

The incredibly prolific Woody Allen has an uncanny sense of how both men and women think and react. He “knows human nature” even though he struggles with God. (God is not a character in this particular film beyond His images running around.) Allen could have written a chick flick here, but he did not, and can a man, really? I’m just fascinated by Allen’s ability to penetrate female (and male) brains.

I do not consider myself an Allen or Blanchett fan, but this film is a marvelous clicking of the two of them. Blanchett never breaks character. She is consistently hilarious as the high society, social climbing woman trapped in a “plugger’s” existence. Her effete vocabulary and manners would be considered affected, but because she has bought so deeply into this world (and has lived it so long), it really IS her, now, and she does it so well.

Jasmine’s presence upsets Ginger and her boyfriend’s (the always exciting Bobby Cannavale) plans. New male/female alliances are made, but all the while we are watching flashbacks to Jasmine’s fairytale life, and learning more about exactly what Jasmine knew or didn’t know about Hal’s shams and scams.

Not a Hollywood ending. Good on you, Mr. Allen.

SPOILER ALERT: Jasmine could endure (and enjoy) many things from Hal, but not infidelity. Faithful love, I believe, is the one thing Jasmine REALLY wanted and could NOT live without, could not look the other way over, no matter how materialistic she was. She was willing to lose it all and even destroy herself in the process, because “hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”

It is just terribly intriguing that Woody Allen himself left Mia Farrow for a teenage girl.

OTHER STUFF:

--THEOLOGY OF THE BODY? Allen is from a generation that knows men and women are different. And how they are different. His women are strong, but in a Woody Allen way.

--Is Allen kind to his characters? He leaves them free, they are flawed, and there is a certain amount of forgiveness for them.

--Fantasy cast. Dream cast.

--Allen uses two known-for-foulmouthedness comedians as regular Joes: Andrew Dice Clay and Louis C. K. They are clean as a whistle and act quite well.

--Excellent transitioning to and from flashbacks. Just excellent. Flashbacks are well-placed and we just jump right into them and know THAT they’re flashbacks and exactly when they start and end. Not an easy feat, that.

--Jasmine is accused of being a “phony.” Many times.

--What am I in denial about?

--What am I a phony about?

--Great typical 20’s/30’s Allen soundtrack.

--Jasmine talks to herself OUT LOUD. Uh-oh.

--“Not everyone can just ‘put things behind them’ as easily as you, Jasmine.”

--I feel bad for Jasmine. Sort of.

MOVIES: "THE CONJURING"

“The Conjuring” is a scary Mary, based-on-a-true-story, supernatural thriller about demonic entities harassing a family in Rhode Island in 1971.

The story is personal and intriguing with much naturalistic acting and loving attention to details. There’s a very gradual build to the full-blown horror stuff. The art direction is impeccable and we are transported to a simpler time (if you can believe the 70’s was a simpler time). The Perron Family: Mom (Lili Taylor—great 70’s Mom), Dad (Rob Livingston) and four girls are of modest means, and have moved into an old farm house with high hopes. It doesn’t take long for things to deteriorate. Bizarre happenings necessitate enlisting the help of Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and the born-to-do-preternatural-visuals Vera Farmiga),“demonologists” connected with a “Fr. Gordon” and the Catholic Church. Ed and Lorraine have a daughter of their own. (Yeah, you can guess the demons are going to leave HER alone.)

We become involved in the lives of these two young families and cheer for them as things go from bad to hellish. Unexplainable, creepy little abnormalities begin happening, but then we being to see full-blown hissy-fitting demons and ghosts (which always ruins it for me). I’ve never been scared by or able to get into Stephen King tales for this reason. However, “The Conjuring” IS very scary, even when over the top.

The theology is both accurate and squishy at the same time which, of course, is problematic. Examples:

Accurate: Laypersons are not authorized to do exorcisms.
Squishy: In an emergency, laypersons are authorized to do exorcisms.

Accurate: Phenomena such as cold rooms, bad smells and things going bump in the night can accompany the presence of evil spirits.

Squishy: All kinds of ghosts, demons, birds, destruction, storms, possessions and other paranormal incidents happening wildly all at the same time in the same place.

Accurate: It’s good to have your kids baptized.
Squishy: The Vatican needs to give permission to do an exorcism for the unbaptized (???).

Accurate: The devil doesn’t possess things, things are only vessels in order to be able to possess humans.
Squishy: The house still needed an exorcism because the evil entities attached to “the family” and would follow them wherever they go (???).

There seems to be a heavy-handed Christian message below (with a begrudging tip of the hat to the Catholic Church). My guess? Evangelicals.

Witches are real and they’re evil. Evil humans. They engage in child ritual sacrifice.

The strength of a mother’s love and the love of family is a strong theme. But even stronger than this theme (repeated SEVERAL times) is the chillingly “pro-life” statement: “The demon possesses the mother so she will kill the child.” At one point, Caroline (the mother of the haunted family) asks Lorraine Warren: “But how could a mother [the witch] kill her own child?” Lorraine: “It’s not a child to her. She uses her God-given gift [giving birth, but then killing her child] to raise herself in the eyes of Satan.”

I usually never watch devil flicks (I’ve only seen “The Exorcism of Emily Rose”—excellent! and “The Rite”—good) because they scare the daylights out of me, and I hate making Satan a movie star. This is probably my last devil flick. But Fr. Gabriele Amorth, SSP, one of our Pauline priests, former head exorcist of Rome and author of “An Exorcist Tells His Story,” thinks that any movies about the demonic that help people believe in and understand the reality of evil and the devil are good, even if they’re somewhat theologically off base.

Me, Father Amorth & Andy, 2011
Society of St. Paul Generalate, Rome
(where Blessed James Alberione lived for many years)

OTHER STUFF:

--Lady at cinema ticket booth called “The Conjuring”: “nasty scary.”

--This film will worthily enter the canon of devil flicks.

--"Poltergeist"-like. Even an homage: lengthy shot of a TV gone all static-y.

--I haven’t done any background research on the actual story of either the Warrens or the Perrons (but you will see their photos at the end during the credits).

--Just the right amount of jerky handheld, but not too much! (Common mistake in horror/thrillers.)

--Lotsta rosaries! Yay!

--The pop music soundtrack was too psychedelic 60’s, but the scary soundtrack? Marrow-shriveling.

--There are a few hokey and tension-breaking moments, especially with the skeptical cop and “ghost-hunting” assistant.

--SHOULDA interviewed the young adults in my theater! They were cracking jokes and talking quietly during most of it. Were they scared? Skeptical? Did they think movie was cheesy? Had they seen better, scarier? What did they think of the film? [I think they WERE scared. The girls kept jumping in their seats.] After the film, they turned around, and, on seeing a nun in the last row were kinda transfixed like: OMGosh is this for real?! Is she a nun-specter? I am grateful for their fidgeting ‘cause it made me way less freaked out. Also, Ma kept dropping her water bottle which was a good distraction.

--I kept reaching over to Ma: “Are you OK, are you scared?” Ma: “Ha ha. Of course not. But this music is TOO LOUD!” [covers ears, drops water bottle] And later: "I'm sorry I had to learn about these things."

--The Malaysian director, James Wan, did two of the “Saw” installations. Yuck. He also did "Insidious" cuz he wanted to prove he could scare without gore. Well, he definitely can.

--ALL the horror tropes! Creaking doors and floors; knocking/banging [our quaint Boston cinema had an old wooden door that was making weird noises all during the film]; bogeyman behind the door; haunted Narnia-style wardrobes; bells and chimes tinkling; voices; grotesque dolls; animals see stuff people don’t; remote, dilapidated, old house; creepy cellars [I totally made Ma come to the cellar with me to do laundry after the movie]. A word about Boston "cinemas." Some of them (in the 'burbs) are ridiculous. They look like something Longfellow would have frequented. Some--in wealthy 'burbs actually have loose wooden folding chairs in re-purposed spaces--not built as cinemas. (See Lexington and Belmont.) And forget about decent technology.

--OK. At a certain point I’m like: “GET THE SAM HILL OUT OF THE BLESSED, I MEAN CURSED HOUSE! What?!  You’re too poor too move? Well, are ya too poor to be DEAD? Really? You’re still SLEEPING WITH YOUR KIDS IN THIS HOUSE? And you’re actually SLEEPING?” Did NOT suspend disbelief at these moments.

--The “thing” is incredibly HATEFUL. Yup. That’s about right.

--The camera is wonderfully fluid as it moves around the marvelously rambling and spacious old house.

--The set and props are so right on. Back in the day, I had a bathrobe exactly like one of the Perron girls.

--The only actor not up to snuff was the Dad (Ron Livingston). Way too detached. Earnest eyebrows. Does humble/ordinary rather well, but not Dad or hubby.

--Some of the actors already have other horror movies under their belts.

--SORTA SPOILER: Seemed like way too many hideous episodes connected with this one house going back in history.

--DEFINITE SPOILER: Were there any REAL Salem witches? One figures into the story.

--Witches is real and is bad people.

--Witches is women.

--“It” really is all about women. Satan always attacks “the woman.”

--“God entrusts women with the new person in special way.” –BJP2G “On the Dignity and Vocation of Woman”

--Now I really have to see “Mama,” a critically-acclaimed, “old-fashioned ghost story” (2013) starring Jessica Chastain. It, too, is about motherhood.

--THEOLOGY O’ THE BODY? M-O-T-H-E-R-H-O-O-D.

Fascinating article from "Entertainment Weekly" about the real goings on. Seems the film IS pretty faithful to the reality: http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20717859,00.html

THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS IN ONLINE MARKETING

15 MINUTES OF SHEER, EPIC ANNOYING

MOVIE REVIEW: "DESPICABLE ME 2"

Gru and his yellow, gobbledygook-spewing, Contac-capsule-shaped minions are baaaack! “Despicable Me 2” picks up where “Despicable Me” left off, but if you didn’t see the first installment, no worries, “2” is a hoot without it. All you need to know is that Gru (Steve Carell) is former dastardly doer of evil deeds on a planetary scale. A villain stylin’ like a Russian spy from the Cold War, complete with a 1960’s oversized turtleneck and skinny slacks.

Gru has settled down as a “legitimate businessman,” but what matters most to him now is his girls: “I’m a father now” is the excuse that keeps him out of a lot of trouble. He glories in his responsibilities toward his three spirited fillies, and the littlest one, Agnes, can melt his heart with the bat of an eyelash. But, of course, this domestic bliss is not to go unchallenged. Evil forces are at work in the world, and Gru is recruited to counteract them on account of his super villain skills (he stole the moon, but as Gru is quick to remind everyone: “…but I put it back”).

A fourth spunky female enters Gru’s life in the form of red-headed agent Lucy (Kristen Wiig) of the Anti-Villain League. When they become partners in anti-crime, Gru is too frozen in his bad childhood memories of playground rejection and humiliation by girls to even entertain the thought of asking Lucy out. But his daughters pour on the pressure because “it’s time” for Gru to date, and little Agnes would sure love a Mom. Speaking of dating, the eldest girl, Margot, is getting sweet on a boy, and all the fiery Papa Grizzly in Gru comes out (to hilarious effect, of course).

There are so many great scenes and sequences in “2” that it’s hard to know where to start. Gru in love? It’s like the scene in “Enchanted” where Amy Adams’ character flounces through the park. The minions turning purple? The lipstick taser? The ice cream truck? The minion firemen? “El Macho” grabbing a random woman off the street to dance with? The minions as Boys To Men and then Village People cover bands (singing in minion language, of course)? There are just too many to count.

Kids will love this film (especially for the endlessly entertaining “sideshow” but also “main plot” minions), but adults will love it even more because of all the subtle and sophisticated humor. The only objectionable parts were the way a “bad date” of Gru’s gets treated (the violence done to the young woman is a bit extreme, even though partially unintended), and some heavy-duty, maximum Mexican stereotyping in bad guy “El Macho.” And, I’d like to know who declared open season on fat people and fake people.

“2” is a delightful collaboration (two directors and two screenwriters with impeccable credentials) with a strong dose of what feels almost like French whimsy, brought to you by Universal Studios, not known for animation, but certainly rivaling the best of Pixar. Sharpen your eyes and ears because there’s much to miss in every packed, juicy minute.

OTHER STUFF:

--Funny, funny, funny.

--Ma caught something I didn’t. When a hi-tech scope zeroes in on Gru’s macabre little lower-mandible challenged “dog” (also in the first film), the scope registers “species unknown.” :D

--There are some incredibly great and funny lines that I would love to share with you, but I’m #nospoiler.

--“2’s” equipment and contraptions are better than Bond’s any day.

--THEOLOGY OF THE BODY? Yup! Gru is just so respectful of women! AND so cutely shy! AND: “What is fun without rules?” could be applied to TOB! AND “147 dates”! AND Gru has to rescue Lucy! AND other stuff!

--Revenge of the lab bunnies!

--Once a spy, always a spy.

--One of my fav scenes: the rogue purple minion POV cam!

--Secret weapon: Agnes’ bloodcurdling scream.

--The attack chicken could actually have been funnier. IMHO.

--Lots of DISCO! Yesss! It’s LONG OVERDUE  for a comeback! Thank you, Daft Punk! Props also to Heitor Pereira and Pharrell Williams for great original music.

--Google: “1960’s men’s turtleneck.” Ha ha.

--Google: “lipstick taser.” They exist!

--Very fun, cool and swinging “Mission Impossible-esque” themed soundtrack.

--One of the screenwriters, Cinco Paul, went to USC film school AND graduated summa cum laude from Yale. Um, that’s prolly why the script is so SMART.

--The minions always teeter on the brink of taking over the movie, but never do.

--Minions speak a mixture of Minion, French, Spanish and English!

--LOVE Lucy’s lady-spy turquoise raincoat!

--Gru: “What is fun without rules?”

--“I choose Gru!”

--Look for a quick cameo by Gru’s mother!

--I believe that, perhaps in general, American audiences are spoiled. In the sense that they are ruined. In the sense that maybe they have a surfeit of (often high quality) entertainment and so cannot savor, linger on the genius and joy of something like “Despicable Me.” People hardly laugh at the funniest movies. Have you noticed this??? Is it because they SKIM everything in life now with receding attention spans and nothing sinks in, nothing sticks, nothing deeply tickles the funny bone? Or brings pure delight to the imagination? Are they just mundanely going to watch a piece of something from Netflix on their smartphone in the cinema parking lot or play Candy Crush? FOLKS IN MY THEATER FILED OUT AS THE CREDITS ROLLED AND THEY COULD CLEARLY SEE THAT THERE WAS A TON OF MINION EXTRAS AND STINGERS!!!! MEH???!!!

--I am so ready for “Despicable Me 3” and a gajillion other movies like it.