Dwight Longenecker's Blog, page 96

10 Reasons Why I Love Hearing Confessions

It’s Lent and I’m in the confessional more than usual. At times it is wearying, but more often it is refreshing. I actually love hearing confessions and here are ten reasons why; 1. A Truly Penitent Person is Beautiful - It is always pleasant to be with beautiful people, and when a person is truly penitent they [Read More...]

Are Dolce and Gabbana Catholic Heroes?

  My latest article for CRUX analyzes the feud between gay fashion designers Dolce and Gabbana and Elton John. Italian fashion designers Dolce and Gabbana waded into a gay rights hurricane last week by criticizing same sex marriage and “designer babies.” The storm started when Stefano Gabbana said in an interview with Italy’s Panorama magazine, “We [Read More...]

Learning Deep Repentance in Lent

Why do you go to confession anyway? There’s a first level of repentance which is simply duty. The church says you should go to confession at least once a year. So off you go. You stand in line. You “make your confession” but it’s a superficial grab at some top level sins. Maybe you aren’t [Read More...]

Wolves of ISIS Attack Christian Sites

London’s Daily Telegraph reports here on the latest waves of vandalism against Christian shrines in Iraq. Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) militants have released new images showing the destruction of Christian churches in the terror sect’s strongholds in northern Iraq. The photos depict groups of fanatics removing a cross and bell from the top [Read More...]

The Importance of Patrick in Spiritual Warfare

There is this legend that St Patrick drove all the snakes out of the Emerald Isle. “Hogwash!” say the skeptics.  “Typical of gullible Christians to believe in superstitious miracle stories. There never have been any snakes native to Ireland. The climate is too cold.” However, there is more to the legend than the literal meaning. [Read More...]

The Poet and the Starlet

Did you know the eccentric English poet Edith Sitwell was friends with Marilyn Monroe? My article this week for Imaginative Conservative looks at their lives and learns a lesson Having known for some time of the unlikely friendship between the dour T.S. Eliot and the zany Groucho Marx, I was intrigued to learn that the [Read More...]

Does Cardinal Kasper Believe in Friendly Ghosts?

Let’s face it, the aged Cardinal Walter Kasper is a modernist of the old school. He doesn’t believe in friendly ghosts. The “friendly ghost” I’m thinking of is Jesus walking on the water. You know the story. It’s three in the morning and the disciples are out in a fishing boat in the storm tossed [Read More...]

The Pope, the Prince and the Pauper

  My latest article for Aleteia reports on the universal appeal of the Catholic Church and the papacy. The extent of the pope’s reach was re-affirmed recently as he welcomed King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium. At fifty-four Philippe is one of Europe’s youngest reigning monarchs. He ascended the throne in 2013 after the [Read More...]

Divine Mercy Celebration with Johnette Benkovic

Join me, Steve Wood and Johnette Benkovic for a Divine Mercy Weekend at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Greenville, SC April 11 and 12. for more information go here.

Bogged Down in Lent? Here Are Five Prayer Pointers

We’re supposed to pray more in Lent. So pray more why dontcha? Here are  some ideas for kickstarting your Lenten Prayer life. 1. Pray the Divine Office - The complete daily Divine Office consists of Morning Prayer, Mid Day Prayer, Evening Prayer, Office of Readings and Night Prayer. But if you’re not a priest you don’t have [Read More...]