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The Curt Jester

"It is the test of a good religion whether you can joke about it." GKC

The Weekly Francis

The Weekly Francis – Volume 394

by Jeffrey Miller January 12, 2022January 12, 2022
written by Jeffrey Miller
pope-francis2-300x187

The Weekly Francis is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc which I also cross-post at Jimmy Akin’s blog.

This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 10 December 2021 to 12 January 2022.

Angelus

  • 9 January 2022 – Angelus, Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

General Audiences

  • 12 January 2022 – General Audience, Catechesis on Saint Joseph’ 7. Saint Joseph the Carpenter

Messages

  • 10 December 2021 – 30th World Day of the Sick 2022

Speeches

  • 7 January 2022 – To a Delegation of French Catholic entrepreneurs
  • 8 January 2022 – To Members of the Saints Peter and Paul Association
  • 10 January 2022 – To the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See

Papal Tweets

  • “The Lord works wonders with those who are lowly, with those who do not believe that they are great but who give ample space to God in their life. He extends His mercy to those who trust in Him, and raises up the humble.” @Pontifex, 8 January 2022
  • “Today’s Gospel shows us the #BaptismOfJesus. He who is the Son of God, the Messiah goes to the Jordan River to be baptized. He lines up with the sinners, He shares our plight, He goes down into the river and at the same time into the wounded history of humanity to heal it.” @Pontifex, 9 January 2022
  • “When we pray, the Father says to us, as he does to Jesus in the #GospelOfTheDay: “You are my beloved child” (Lk 3:22). Being God’s children began on the day of our Baptism, which immersed us in Christ and we became beloved children of the Father. #BaptismOfJesus” @Pontifex, 9 January 2022
  • “We belong to Christ, we are joined to him through Baptism; His presence is in us, His light is in us, His life is in us. Let us therefore walk joyfully in hope sustained by his Word: it is the Word of life. #BaptismOfTheLord” @Pontifex, 9 January 2022
  • “#LetUsPray for the victims of the protests that have broken out in recent days in Kazakhstan and for their families. I hope that social harmony will be restored as soon as possible through the search for dialogue, justice and the common good.” @Pontifex, 9 January 2022
  • “The prophet Jeremiah tells us that God has “plans for our welfare and not for evil, to give us a future and a hope” (29:11). We should be unafraid, then, to make room for peace in our lives by cultivating dialogue and fraternity among one another.” @Pontifex, 10 January 2022
  • “The issue of migration, together with the pandemic and climate change, has clearly demonstrated that we cannot be saved alone and by ourselves: the great challenges of our time are all global. Speech” @Pontifex, 10 January 2022
  • “Sometimes, looking at our lives, we see only the things we lack and forget the talents we possess. Yet God gave them to us because He trusts us and asks us to make the most of the present moment, not yearning for the past, but waiting industriously for His return.” @Pontifex, 11 January 2022
  • “At times due to the pandemic, many people experience the ordeal of not having a job that allows them to live tranquilly. Often they become so desperate that it drives them to the point of losing all hope and the desire to live. Let us #PrayTogether for them.” @Pontifex, 12 January 2022

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The Weekly Francis

The Weekly Francis – Volume 393

by Jeffrey Miller January 6, 2022
written by Jeffrey Miller
pope-francis2-300x187

The Weekly Francis is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc which I also cross-post at Jimmy Akin’s blog.

This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 30 December 2021 to 6 January 2022.

Angelus

  • 1 January 2022 – Angelus, 1st January, Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God
  • 2 January 2022 – Angelus
  • 6 January 2022 – Angelus, Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

General Audiences

  • 5 January 2022 – General Audience of 5 January 2021’ Catechesis on Saint Joseph – 6. Saint Joseph, Jesus’ foster father

Homilies

  • 1 January 2022 – Holy Mass on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (1st January 2022)
  • 6 January 2022 – Holy Mass on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

Messages

  • 30 December 2021 – Holy Father’s Message, signed by the Secretary of State, to the young people taking part in the annual Taizé encounter
  • 6 January 2022 – Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for World Mission Day 2022

Papal Tweets

  • “God was born a child in order to encourage us to care for others. His disarming love reminds us that our time is not to be spent in feeling sorry for ourselves, but in comforting the tears of the suffering. #Christmas” @Pontifex, 31 December 2021
  • “All can work together to build a more peaceful world, starting from the hearts of individuals and relationships in the family, then within society and with the environment, and all the way up to relationships between peoples and nations. #WorlddayofPeace https://vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/peace/documents/20211208-messaggio–55giornatamondiale-pace2022.html…” @Pontifex, 1 January 2022
  • “I wish to propose three paths for building a lasting #peace: dialogue between generations as the basis for the realization of shared projects; education as a factor of freedom, responsibility and development; and labour for the full realization of human dignity.” @Pontifex, 1 January 2022
  • “The New Year begins under the sign of the Mother. A mother’s gaze is the path to rebirth and growth. Mothers know how to overcome obstacles and conflicts. They know how to instill peace. Thus they succeed in transforming problems into opportunities for rebirth and growth.” @Pontifex, 1 January 2022
  • “Let us all make greater efforts to promote mothers and to protect women. How much violence is directed against women! Enough! To hurt a woman is to insult God, who from a woman took on our humanity.” @Pontifex, 1 January 2022
  • “As we begin the New Year, we place ourselves under the protection of the #MotherOfGod, who is also our mother. May she help us to keep and ponder all things, unafraid of trials, in the joyful certainty that the Lord is faithful and knows how to change crosses into resurrections.” @Pontifex, 1 January 2022
  • “Faced with our frailties, the Lord does not withdraw. He does not remain in his blessed eternity and in his infinite light, but rather he draws close, he makes himself incarnate, he descends into the darkness. This is God’s work: to come among us.” @Pontifex, 2 January 2022
  • “#Christmas invites us to reflect on the drama of history, in which men and women, wounded by sin, search for truth, mercy, redemption; and on God’s goodness, who has come to us to communicate the Truth that saves and to make us sharers in His life.” @Pontifex, 3 January 2022
  • “By giving us His Son, God offers us a fraternity based on true love, making it possible for me to encounter others who are different, feeling com-passion for their sufferings, drawing near and caring for them even though they do not belong to my family, ethnic group or religion.” @Pontifex, 4 January 2022
  • “How many sick and elderly people are living at home and waiting for a visit! The ministry of consolation is a task for every baptized person, mindful of the word of Jesus: “I was sick and you visited me” (Mt 25:36). Message” @Pontifex, 4 January 2022
  • “Let us #PrayTogether that those who suffer discrimination and religious persecution may find in the societies in which they live the rights and dignity that comes from being brothers and sisters. #PrayerIntention” @Pontifex, 4 January 2022
  • “Saint Joseph, you who loved Jesus with fatherly love, be close to the many children who have no family and who long for a daddy and mommy. Support the couples who are unable to have children, help them to discover, through this suffering, a greater plan. #GeneralAudience” @Pontifex, 6 January 2022

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Liturgical Savings Time
Liturgy

Liturgical Savings Time

by Jeffrey Miller January 4, 2022January 4, 2022
written by Jeffrey Miller

I was thinking yesterday how celebrating Epiphany on the 2nd has really thrown off my liturgical time clock. I really dislike Liturgical Savings Time. Everything seems so compressed without the time to take in and process the liturgical season.

If the USCCB is actually serious about ‘National Eucharistic Revival’, they might think about this mixed message.

  1. The Mass is the source and summit of our faith.
  2. Yet we wouldn’t want you to have to endure Mass two days in a row or be forced to go during the week.

Plus we talk about how great it would be if we could share the same date for Easter with the Orthodox. We can’t even share the same date for Solemnities within the Church around the world.

If we try to make Catholicism more convenient, people will just find it is even more convenient not to be Catholic or practice their faith.

This morning I get an email from the head of our schola that we will be having a Low Mass on Epiphany. Apparently, Fr. Briggs Hurley must have felt the same way I did, since this Mass had not been previously scheduled. I am so thankful for him in many ways.

I feel some joy in anticipation of this. This Mass will be during my work hours in the morning—so this is a good excuse to take a day off and spend some time in Adoration. I think about the Magi who“fell down and worshipped him”, and I will follow their lead as best as I am able.

As Brant Pitre references in his commentary:

Now this is extremely important because the word used here for worship, proskyneō, literally means to bow down prostrate before someone. It actually means to get down like a dog before another person. So you bow down before them prostrate.

And in some contexts the word proskyneō can be used for the kind of homage that you pay to just an ordinary king, but in the Gospel of Matthew he uses this term for the kind of expression of adoration and veneration that you give to God and God alone.

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The Weekly Francis

The Weekly Francis – Volume 392

by Jeffrey Miller December 29, 2021December 29, 2021
written by Jeffrey Miller
pope-francis2-300x187

The Weekly Francis is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc which I also cross-post at Jimmy Akin’s blog.

This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 19 December 2021 to 29 December 2021.

Angelus

  • 26 December 2021 – Angelus, Feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth

General Audiences

  • 29 December 2021 – General Audience ’ Catechesis on Saint Joseph – 5. Saint Joseph, persecuted and courageous migrant

Homilies

  • 24 December 2021 – Holy Mass on the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord

Letters

  • 26 December 2021 – Letter of His Holiness Pope Francis to Married Couples for the ‘Amoris Laetitia Family’ Year, 2021–2022

Messages

  • 19 December 2021 – Video message of the Holy Father for the inauguration of the academic year of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, in Milan, on the centenary of its foundation
  • 25 December 2021 – ‘Urbi et Orbi’ – Christmas 2021

Speeches

  • 23 December 2021 – Christmas Greetings of the Holy Father to the Roman Curia
  • 23 December 2021 – To the employees of Vatican City State for the exchange of Christmas greetings

Papal Tweets

  • “This is the lesson of #Christmas: humility is the great condition for faith, for the spiritual life and for holiness. May the Lord grant it to us as a gift.” @Pontifex, 23 December 2021
  • “Let us allow ourselves to be evangelized by the humility of #Christmas, of the manger, of the poverty and simplicity with which the Son of God entered the world. Let us allow ourselves to be evangelized by the humility of the Child Jesus.” @Pontifex, 23 December 2021
  • “Dear sister or brother, if as in Bethlehem, the darkness of night overwhelms you, if the hurt you carry inside cries out ”You are worthless“, tonight God responds and tells you: “I love you just as you are. I became little for you. Trust me and open your heart to me”. #Christmas” @Pontifex, 24 December 2021
  • “For it to be truly #Christmas, let us not forget this: God comes to be with us and asks us to take care of our brothers and sisters, especially the poorest, the weakest, the most fragile, whom the pandemic risks marginalising even more.” @Pontifex, 24 December 2021
  • “Tonight a light has been lit, a kindly light, reminding us that in our littleness, we are beloved sons and daughters, children of the light. Let us rejoice together, for no one will ever put out this light, the light of Jesus, who tonight shines brightly in our world. #Christmas” @Pontifex, 24 December 2021
  • “The Word became flesh in order to dialogue with us. God does not desire to carry on a monologue, but a dialogue. By the coming of Jesus, the Person of the Word made flesh, into our world, God showed us the way of encounter and dialogue. https://vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/urbi/documents/papa-francesco_20211225_urbi-et-orbi-natale.html…” @Pontifex, 25 December 2021
  • “This is what we should ask Jesus for at #Christmas: the grace of littleness. “Lord, teach us to love littleness. Help us to understand that littleness is the way to authentic greatness”.” @Pontifex, 25 December 2021
  • “Jesus is born close to the forgotten ones on the peripheries. He comes to ennoble the excluded and He is first revealed to them: not to educated and important people, but to the shepherds, to poor working people. #Christmas” @Pontifex, 25 December 2021
  • “As the message of the birth of the Saviour, the source of true peace, resounds in the whole world, we continue to witness a great number of conflicts, crises and disagreements. Let us implore God to stir up in the hearts of everyone a yearning for reconciliation and fraternity.” @Pontifex, 25 December 2021
  • “Christ “dwells” in your marriage and he is always waiting for you to open your hearts to him, so that he can sustain you, by the power of his love. Our human love is weak; it needs the strength of Jesus’ faithful love. #LetterToMarriedCouples” @Pontifex, 26 December 2021
  • “Dear married couples throughout the world! In this “Amoris Laetitia Family” Year, I am writing to express my deep affection and closeness to you at this very special time. #LetterToMarriedCouples Letter” @Pontifex, 26 December 2021
  • “Please, each day, let us pray a little bit together to ask God for the gift of peace. And let us all commit ourselves – parents children, Church, society – to sustain, defend and safeguard the family! #HolyFamily” @Pontifex, 26 December 2021
  • “Let us embrace Jesus in the little ones of today, love Him in the least of our brothers and sisters, serve Him in the poor. They are most like Jesus who was born poor. It is in them that He wants to be honoured. #ChristmasSeason” @Pontifex, 27 December 2021
  • “The new Herods of our time devour the innocence of our children under the oppression of illegal slave labour, prostitution, exploitation, wars and forced emigration. Let us #PrayTogether today for these children and defend them. #HolyInnocents” @Pontifex, 28 December 2021
  • “Saint Joseph, you who have experienced the suffering of those who must flee to save the lives of their loved ones, protect all those who flee because of war, hatred, hunger. Guide their steps and open the hearts of those who can help them. Let us #PrayTogether #GeneralAudience” @Pontifex, 29 December 2021

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Book Review – ‘Introduction to the Spiritual Life’ by Brant Pitre
Book Review

Book Review – ‘Introduction to the Spiritual Life’ by Brant Pitre

by Jeffrey Miller December 22, 2021December 22, 2021
written by Jeffrey Miller

Introduction to the Spiritual Life: Walking the Path of Prayer with Jesus

As a fan of all of Brant Pitre’s books, his online efforts, and his work with others—I was intrigued that he had taken up this subject. I had wondered how he would provide an introduction to a topic so much has been written on.

I was not surprised to find how well his knowledge of the Old Testament and Jewish practices enlightened this book. This is an exciting meld of the discussion of the spiritual life and how to advance in it—mixed in with looking at the development of prayer for the Jewish people. We are given a list of well-selected quotes at the start of a chapter and sometimes also before a significant section in that chapter. For me, there was a lot to highlight and think about.

I especially liked the scriptural exegesis with the source of practices and various etymologies. I find them helpful in seeing past what we have accepted and become immune to when we need to be shaken up and remember what a tremendous gift prayer is – to converse with our very maker.

Most of this book concentrates on the Purgative Way, the first part of the spiritual life. There is a discussion regarding the Illuminative Way and the Unitive Way. Still, this book can be beneficial for beginners and those who want to go deeper into the spiritual life.

I also really liked the various tables showing comparisons in scripture and the parallels that are often intended, but many of us miss. In this regard, his later chapter on “Lectio Divina and Jacob’s Ladder” is phenomenal. I was thinking of these comparisons while at Mass, and not in a distracting way.

There are four sections:
– Prayer
– The Spiritual Path
– Vices and Virtues
– Making Progress

I found, for myself, “Vices and Virtues” to be especially helpful with the distinctions made. Some things I had lumped together or not understood became clarified for me.

This is a book that I will return to. I also bought the Audible version, which I have not yet listened to.

Michael Lofton, who hosts the Reason & Theology podcast, interviewed Brant Pitre regarding this book. Introduction to the Spiritual Life – Dr. Brant Pitre – Reason and Theology

Reason & Theology is a podcast I had only started listening to over the last year, and it has quickly become one of my favorites.

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The Weekly Francis

The Weekly Francis – Volume 391

by Jeffrey Miller December 22, 2021December 22, 2021
written by Jeffrey Miller
pope-francis2-300x187

The Weekly Francis is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc which I also cross-post at Jimmy Akin’s blog.

This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 8 December 2021 to 22 December 2021.

Angelus

  • 19 December 2021 – Angelus

General Audiences

  • 22 December 2021 – General Audience ’ Catechesis’ The birth of Jesus

Messages

  • 8 December 2021 – LV World Day of Peace 2022 – Dialogue Between Generations, Education and Work’ Tools for Building Lasting Peace

Speeches

  • 10 December 2021 – To the delegations which donated the Christmas Tree and the Nativity Scene in St. Peter’s Square and in the Paul VI Hall
  • 11 December 2021 – To Participants in the Plenary Assembly of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
  • 17 December 2021 – Presentation of Letters of Credence by the Ambassadors of Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Namibia, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Chad and Guinea-Bissau
  • 18 December 2021 – To a delegation of young people from Italian Catholic Action

Papal Tweets

  • “Each of life’s stages is a time to believe, hope and love.” @Pontifex, 17 December 2021
  • “Let us look into the eyes of the discarded people we meet, let us be provoked by the faces of children, the children of desperate migrants. Let us allow ourselves to be moved by their suffering in order to react to our indifference. #MigrantsDay” @Pontifex, 18 December 2021
  • “The first act of charity we can do for our neighbour is to offer a serene and smiling face. It is to bring them the joy of Jesus, as Mary did with Elizabeth. #GospelOfTheDay” @Pontifex, 19 December 2021
  • “I express my closeness to the population of the Philippines, struck by a strong typhoon that has caused many deaths and destroyed so many homes. May the “Santo Niño” bring consolation and hope to the families of those most affected. #PrayTogether” @Pontifex, 19 December 2021
  • “The #Christmas tree is a symbol of rebirth, God’s gift by which He is united forever to humanity. He gives us His life. The lights on the fir tree recall the light of Jesus, the light of love that continues to shine in the world’s nights.” @Pontifex, 20 December 2021
  • “The Season of #Advent is meant for us to stop and ask ourselves how to prepare for #Christmas. We are so busy with all the preparations, with gifts and things that pass. But let us ask ourselves what we should do for Jesus and for others!” @Pontifex, 21 December 2021
  • “Let’s choose a concrete commitment, however small, that’s adapted to our situation in life, and let’s continue to do it to prepare ourselves for #Christmas: call a person who is alone, visit that elderly or ill person, do something to serve a poor person, someone in need. #Advent” @Pontifex, 21 December 2021
  • “Jesus is the name and the face of the love of God who came to dwell among us. I hope that each of you might have the desire of seeking Him and the joy of finding Him this #Christmas.” @Pontifex, 22 December 2021
  • “There are many local Churches, religious congregations and Catholic organizations who are ready to welcome and accompany migrants toward a fruitful integration. All that is needed is an open door!” @Pontifex, 22 December 2021

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Suffering from the Church
Theology

Suffering from the Church

by Jeffrey Miller December 19, 2021December 19, 2021
written by Jeffrey Miller

“It’s to feel the contemporary situation at the ultimate level. I think that the Church is the only thing that is going to make the terrible world we are coming to endurable; the only thing that makes the Church endurable is that it is somehow the body of Christ and that on this we are fed. It seems to be a fact that you have to suffer as much from the Church as for it but if you believe in the divinity of Christ, you have to cherish the world at the same time that you struggle to endure it.” Flannery O’Connor (Habit of Being)

Just to emphasize:

“It seems to be a fact that you have to suffer as much from the Church as for it but if you believe in the divinity of Christ, you have to cherish the world at the same time that you struggle to endure it.”

Gee, I wonder why I am thinking about suffering from the Church. Still, this puts this into contextual reality. I will focus on gratitude to God.

Earlier today I read this from Brant Pitre.

“In fact, the word “patience” (Latin patientia) comes from the same root as “suffer” (Latin pati).”

From: Introduction to the Spiritual Life (p. 192)

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Aquinas on Peace
Saints

Aquinas on Peace

by Jeffrey Miller December 18, 2021
written by Jeffrey Miller

From Aquinas’ Commentary on Romans regarding verse 2:10.

204. Second, he shows this in regard to the good: first, he repeats the two things mentioned above, namely, glory and honor, but the third, namely, peace, he mentions instead of immortality, which includes peace among many other things.

For a man’s peace cannot be complete as long as he fears he might lose the good things he has; rather, one has true peace of heart when he has everything he desires and no fear of losing them: my people will abide in a peaceful habitation (Isa 32:18).

I read this earlier this week and it has stuck with me. It made me realize that true peace can only be found in the love of God. This can never be taken from you. Everything else is changeable and it can fail us or we can lose those good things we have. God is unchangeable and in whom we can place all our trust without disappointment. At least if we truly trust even when we cannot understand.

Realizing this is one thing. Living it is another.

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Retreading Homilies
HumorLiturgy

Retreading Homilies

by Jeffrey Miller December 17, 2021December 17, 2021
written by Jeffrey Miller

I was reading a post from a priest concerned that his homily for the 4th Sunday of Advent was exploring similar themes from 3 years ago.

I do not think priests need to worry about retreading homilies.

First off, if most people are like me, five minutes after we hear a homily we have forgotten it. Priests have the charism of forgetting what people said in the confessional and the laity can do the same with homilies – even a well-crafted one.

Secondly, those in the pew are much like a river where you can never step into the same place. Often something that passes you by one day strikes you on another.

“If you look at a thing 999 times, you are perfectly safe; if you look at it for the 1000th time, you are in danger of seeing it for the first time.” G.K. Chesterton (The Napoleon of Notting Hill)

As to my first point, even if made in jest, there is a reality to it. Still not being able to recall the details of a homily is not the same as not hearing it. I have often been frustrated in reading books and finding that so many of the details have now escaped me. At least this was true until I realized that this was not the same thing as this being a waste of time. There is much that we internalize and process that we are unaware of. We are not made of the stuff of constant epiphanies. It takes time and reprocessing what we know into how we live.

Now as to bad homilies, by all means, retire those.

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The Weekly Francis

The Weekly Francis – Volume 390

by Jeffrey Miller December 15, 2021December 15, 2021
written by Jeffrey Miller
pope-francis2-300x187

The Weekly Francis is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc which I also cross-post at Jimmy Akin’s blog.

This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 6 December 2021 to 15 December 2021.

Angelus

  • 12 December 2021 – Angelus

General Audiences

  • 15 December 2021 – General Audience ’ Catechesis on Saint Joseph – 3. Saint Joseph, man of silence

Letters

  • 8 December 2021 – Chirograph of the Holy Father Francis on the institution of theFratelli tutti Foundation

Speeches

  • 6 December 2021 – Apostolic Journey to Cyprus and Greece’ Press Conference on the return flight to Rome
  • 10 December 2021 – To members of the Union of Italian Catholic Jurists
  • 15 December 2021 – To the Organisers and Artists of the Christmas Concert in the Vatican

Papal Tweets

  • “We’re all called to contribute courageously and decisively to respect everyone’s basic rights, especially of those who are ‘invisible’: the hungry and thirsty, the naked, the sick, strangers or prisoners, those living on the margins or are discarded from society. #HumanRightsDay” @Pontifex, 10 December 2021
  • “God never tires of waiting for us. When we turn away, He comes to look for us; when we fall, He picks us up; when we return to Him after losing our way, He waits for us with open arms. His love is always gives us the courage to start anew.” @Pontifex, 11 December 2021
  • “Today I would like to extend my best wishes to Caritas Internationalis on its 70th anniversary. May you continue to witness to and incarnate the love of the Church for the poor and the most vulnerable all over the world! @iamcaritas” @Pontifex, 12 December 2021
  • ““What should we do?” (Lk. 3:10). With this question, the #GospelOfTheDay reminds us that life has a task for us. Life is a gift that the Lord grants us, saying to us: discover who you are, and work hard to make the dream that is your life come true!” @Pontifex, 12 December 2021
  • “Let us #PrayTogether for dear Ukraine, so that the tensions be resolved through dialogue, not with weapons. I am saddened that this year more weapons were produced than last year. Weapons are not the way. May this year’s celebration of the Lord’s Birth bring peace to Ukraine.” @Pontifex, 12 December 2021
  • “Life is a time for making decisive, eternal choices. Trivial choices lead to a trivial life; great choices to a life of greatness. In fact, we become what we choose. If we choose God, we grow daily in his love, and if we choose to love others, we find true happiness.” @Pontifex, 13 December 2021
  • “#Advent invites us to prepare ourselves for Christmas, welcoming Jesus without fear. If we open wide the doors of our life, everything takes on a new light and our family, work, suffering, health, friendship, become opportunities to discover His consoling presence.” @Pontifex, 14 December 2021
  • “As we draw near to #Christmas, let us learn from Saint Joseph how to cultivate spaces for silence in which another Word can emerge, that of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. #GeneralAudience” @Pontifex, 15 December 2021
  • “In the past few hours there has been a devastating explosion in #Haiti in which many people, including children, lost their lives. I am close to the families of the victims, as well as the injured. Let us #PrayTogether for these our brothers and sisters who are so sorely tried.” @Pontifex, 15 December 2021

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About Me

Jeff Miller is a former atheist who after spending forty years in the wilderness finds himself with both astonishment and joy a member of the Catholic Church. This award-winning blog presents my hopefully humorous and sometimes serious take on things religious, political, and whatever else crosses my mind.

Conversion story

  • Catholic Answers Magazine
  • Coming Home Network

Appearances on:

  • The Journey Home
  • Hands On Apologetics (YouTube)
  • Catholic RE.CON.

Blogging since July 2002

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  • The Weekly Leo – Volume 7

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  • My Year in Books – 2024 Edition

  • I Have a Confession to Make

  • A Mandatory Take

  • Everybody is ignorant

  • Sacramental Disposal, LLC

  • TL;DH (Too Long;Didn’t Hear)

  • A Shop Mark Would Like

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  • The Weekly Leo – Volume 6

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  • The Curt Jester: Disturbingly Funny --Mark Shea
  • EX-cellent blog --Jimmy Akin
  • One wag has even posted a list of the Top Ten signs that someone is in the grip of "motu-mania," -- John Allen Jr.
  • Brilliance abounds --Victor Lams
  • The Curt Jester is a blog of wise-ass musings on the media, politics, and things "Papist." The Revealer

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About Me

Jeff Miller is a former atheist who after spending forty years in the wilderness finds himself with both astonishment and joy a member of the Catholic Church. This award winning blog presents my hopefully humorous and sometimes serious take on things religious, political, and whatever else crosses my mind.
My conversion story
  • The Curt Jester: Disturbingly Funny --Mark Shea
  • EX-cellent blog --Jimmy Akin
  • One wag has even posted a list of the Top Ten signs that someone is in the grip of "motu-mania," -- John Allen Jr.
  • Brilliance abounds --Victor Lams
  • The Curt Jester is a blog of wise-ass musings on the media, politics, and things "Papist." The Revealer

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I also blog at Happy Catholic Bookshelf Twitter
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Email: curtjester@gmail.com

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Catholic Sites

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