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Escape to the Wild


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My First SSPX Mass

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I do not write to stir up the SSPX/FSSP debate. Nor do I write to raise allegations and threats concerning being  in communion ,  schismatic , or  a   loyal son of the Church . I find doing so tiresome. If a person cannot recognize the Church is in a crisis; if a person thinks it spiritually superior to attend a polka Mass (they still exist, I assure you) over an SSPX Mass; if the mention of Archbishop Lefebvre angers a person more than the deeds of  James Martin  or the writings of  Cardinal Fernandez ; heaven help this person. Lord knows I can’t. If one “gets” what I’m saying, read on. If not, I suggest  this book  instead. It happened this past summer. My wife and I were planning our usual family pilgrimage to the Canadian Rockies. Climbing mountains while carrying a kid or two, eating rehydrated chili and peanut butter wraps, all while living like dirtbags in a tent, is the closest experience to heaven I know. Moments to live for. All e...
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The Slow, Undignified Death of a Rural Church

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I thought Covid would have killed it. It should have, as an act of mercy. Better to die living than live dying, or however hippies put it. I do not speak of Anthony Fauci’s career but of a rural Saskatchewan parish a mere thirty minutes from my home. A Catholic parish that remains open to this day, though how or why I cannot say. I recently attended Sunday Mass there with my wife and five children. We had to stop in before traveling onward to visit relatives. This small church is the sister parish of our usual hometown parish and, therefore, is serviced by the same young priest. It seemed low risk.  The air had a crisp autumn chill as we pulled into the low-key town with an official population of about 500 . We bumped along the pothole minefield known as Main Street—thanks local politicians—past the 50 Shades of Green Cannabis shop—thanks Trudeau—towards the tired, rundown-looking church—thanks Vatican II . The parking area, a patch of yellowing grass that serves as a parkin...
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Some Concerns with the Exodus 90 Program

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An update of my thoughts on Exodus 90 can be found HERE . Exodus 90 is underway for many Catholic men. It is an intense 90 day program based on prayer, asceticism, and fraternity. For 90 days these men will take cold showers, abstain from alcohol and most media, fast twice per week, give up snacks and desserts, along with various other spiritual tasks. I applaud such a penitential spirit. The inevitable…. HOWEVER… However, I do have two concerns about Exodus 90 which could use some explaining. 1: Sundays The Church already has a wise, if not perfect, system of fasting and feasting. Catholics are encouraged to do penance on Wednesdays and Fridays (some add in Saturdays as well). In addition, there are specific periods of penance (Lent, Advent, Ember Days). Feasting occurs on Sundays as well as on major Feast Days and Solemnities (e.g. the Assumption of Mary). There is a built in balance to life. My problem with Exodus 90 is that, from what I hear, Sundays and F...
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Why I Will Not Be Doing Exodus 90 Anytime Soon

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  There is always a certain amount of fear and trembling when I begin writing a piece on a somewhat unfamiliar subject. Perhaps all that will be demonstrated here is my ignorance and incompetence. To which I suppose my wife would reply: “You’d think you’d be used to that by now.” But I write this piece simply for the fact that Catholic trends, even good ones, need sober reflection and refinement. I  refer to the Exodus 90 program. [i] Earlier in 2020 – simpler times to be sure - I listened with interest to a podcast on Exodus 90. In it I heard that this program, which was founded in 2013, is an intense 90 day program based on prayer, asceticism, and fraternity. For 90 days men take cold showers, abstain from alcohol and most media, fast twice per week, give up snacks and desserts, meet weekly with a small group of participants, exercise regularly, all the while following a regimented prayer schedule. I applaud such a penitential spirit (though it seems that cold showers ...
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The Christmas Letter - 2024

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“You’re going to use the same old Christmas letter template again, aren’t you?” These are dangerous words when they come from your wife. “What’s wrong with my Christmas letters?” I asked. I intended the sharpness of my voice to be felt.  “Oh, nothing.” “Well, do you want to write the dumb letter this year?” “No! Look, it’s just…it’s fine. We don’t need to talk about it.” Being married for fourteen years, I know two things: 1) It’s not fine. 2) I was about to change my Christmas letter style. It’s not my fault Becca wants a different letter. It’s the fault of our friends. You see, each year, I imagine because we’re so popular, we receive a flurry of letters from families far and wide. The problem is these letters are entertaining. Too entertaining. These people out-write me—ME, the author of FIVE BOOKS, darn it!—as though I’m unworthy to unlatch the strap of their laptop case. They make me look bad; a real amateur hour. These friends. “Friends.”  Jerks. I joke. Sort of. Either ...
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Announcing the Summer Rome Pilgrimage of Hope

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  There is a piece of very exciting news I'm finally able to share with you. I'm heading to Italy! Yes, me! I haven't been out of Canada since August, 2003. Then it was Buffalo, NY. And now...Rome!  Briefly, I've been invited to join the Rome Pilgrimage of Hope taking place in July. I have been asked to give one talk per day on the topic of modern saints embracing the modern world. There will be other speakers as well, including the Japanese liturgical sensation, Tayo Marshasuki, and Scriptural scholar Sue Althemen.  Some of the stops on the pilgrimage will include praying at the tombs of modern saints like SAINT Paul VI and SAINT John XXIII. Sunday Mass will be at the Jesuit parish in Rome, the Chiesa del Gesu. We will also get a chance to meet Pope Francis! Though I'm told that if he passes before we get there then we will go to his tomb instead (assuming he doesn't want his body shipped back to Argentina). Either way, we will get to see him. The timing for th...
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