Passion is no ordinary word

David Scott is interested in Catholicism as made vividly manifest by artists, poets, and saints. In The Catholic Passion, he seeks to get to the romantic, dramatic, visionary, vibrant core of Catholicism, in all its cultural manifestations. It's a rewarding and rewarded effort.

This book takes as its starting point Chesterton's assertion that the most perilous and exciting path is not heresy but Christian orthodoxy. Scott is not interested in detailing doctrine and dogma, but in dramatizing and fleshing out the faith as it is embodied and lived out in the Church. Scott tells stories of people such as Blessed Charles de Foucauld, Dorothy Day, Francis Thompson, Eugene O'Neill, and St. Catherine of Genoa. Certainly not all are saints -- some are not even believers. But all stories lead the reader to an intimation of what it is that draws so many of us to the Church.

The "passion" of the title is a word that evokes romance, suffering, and engagement. Scott shows us how this passion is a part of life as lived, with a voice that is committed and honest. His words give us not a set of catechetical propositions, but a body, a corpus of Catholicism that is set before the eye of the reader. If you get a chance, pick it up -- it's an excellent, enjoyable, nourishing read.

Be afraid -- be very afraid

New York Daily News caught my eye with this article on TomKat. I don't usually follow this story (shooting fish in a barrel). However near the end of the story, filled with creepy details of Tom Cruise's attempts to script Katie's birth according to Scientologist, uh, for lack of a better word, ideas, comes this disturbing line: "Cruise said the couple has a 'plan B' for the birth if things don't go their way, but he didn't reveal it."

Oh. Scripting "shifts" for your other children and drilling all involved in childbirth to maintain silence through great pain in order to thwart Xenu's evil is just the standard plan. Plan B -- what on earth can that be? I'm picturing Tom in a Devil mask, screaming "Don't you $#%*!@ look at me!" while a hostage situation unfolds in L. A. Heaven help us.

Judas manuscript came from sleazy dealer

Judas Gospel Figure Has Tainted Past - Los Angeles Times:

In its unveiling of the Gospel of Judas last week, the National Geographic Society credited Swiss antiquities dealer Frieda Nussberger Tchacos with 'rescuing' the ancient manuscript, described as one of the most important archeological finds of the last century.

But National Geographic made no mention of a suspended sentence Tchacos received in Italy four years ago for possession of looted antiquities, nor her alleged involvement for years in antiquities trafficking.

'In the past, she was at the center of the looting in Italy,' said Paolo Ferri, the Italian state prosecutor who has led an investigation of the illicit trade for 10 years.

Looks like National Geographic doesn't mind dealing with Belloq.

Tiny KISS on The Situation

Ok, I've really missed out by not having a TV. Tucker Carlson on MSNBC has shown us Tiny KISS, a tribute band for the 70's band composed entirely of little people. What a country!

Warning: unfortunately, this link can only be viewed in Internet Explorer (because Mister Softie likes it that way). It's worth it.

New patristics blog: The Way of the Fathers

Big welcome to Mike Aquilina, who has come out to the blogosphere with The Way of the Fathers, a blog on patristics. Mike's a writer who's both inspired and inspirational, and his book of the same name is a wonderful introduction to early Christian writing and thought. He also plays a mean piano.