Dwight Longenecker's Blog, page 187

Trendies and Traddies

Sorry I have been away from the blog for a few days. Things have been busy in the parish–busy good with detailed design drawings for the new church completed this week. I also had an invitation to Rome later this month for a conference on Evangelization in the Media, so I’ve had to get that [Read More...]

Myth for the Masses

Here is an important article. Why do we use liturgy? What does it mean and how does it connect us with the other realm? With references to the mythologist Joseph Campbell, the article explains why we worship in an ancient way in a modern world. In The Power of Myth he lamented thus: “There’s been a reduction [Read More...]

A Rabbi Comments on Pope Francis

Here is my latest post for Aleteia–in which I comment on a rabbi’s appreciation of Pope Francis. Pope Francis seems to have taken us beyond Catholicism to Christ. What I mean by this is that he has opened our eyes to the charism and person of Jesus Christ himself. We are able to see through [Read More...]

Poetry? Why Bother?

Did you know T.S.Eliot was friends with Groucho Marx? And here’s Marilyn Monroe in conversation with Edith Sitwell. Edith is saying, “How does that tune go again, ‘I wanna be loved by you…’” Here is my latest article for Intercollegiate Review. It explains why we should bother with poetry. It applies especially to college students, [Read More...]

Where Did the Wise Men Come From?

Where did the Magi come from? The usual answer is from Persia. They are identified with a caste of Zoroastrian astrologers and philosophers known to be active in Persia from the sixth century BC. The term “magi” is derived from the Greek magos which in  turn was derived from the Persian term for the philosopher-astrologer-priests. [Read More...]

Krispy Kreme Evangelization

Today on the way home from Mass I stopped at Krispy Kreme for a dozen donuts. I’m wearing my cassock and Benedictine scapular. Here’s what happened. First guy I see is about thirty. Hospital scrubs. He says, “What church are you?” “Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church.” “I’m the son of two Lutheran pastors.” [Read More...]

No More Monsignors

News today that the Pope abolishes the title Monsignor in a bid to end careerism in the church. What a shame for all those faithful Catholics who were proud of their parish priest’s genuine accomplishments and were pleased that he got a little bit of recognition. How sad for those faithful folks who enjoyed referring [Read More...]

Poem for Epiphany

Here is a treat for you: a recording from the BBC of T.S.Eliot reading his poem, The Journey of the Magi.  This was one of the first of Eliot’s poems I encountered, and I have loved it since. I especially like the way he uses various imagery from the gospels to load the poem with a [Read More...]

The Nightmare of Nihilism

Joseph Pearce writes here on the nightmare of nihilism and the false promise of progressivism. This spiritual entropy, which theologians prefer to call Original Sin, is a via media[5] between the fallacy of progressive optimism, otherwise known as the ascent of man, and the opposing fallacy of nihilistic pessimism, which could be called man’s descent. “One [Read More...]

Henry VIII and the Little Sisters of the Poor

The Obamastate has told the Little Sisters of the Poor that they should just go ahead and sign the waiver form by which they authorize someone else to pay for contraceptives and sterilization. “Come along now sisters, it’s just a piece of paper. With one little signature you will have the exemption you want! What’s [Read More...]