My One Mass with Pope Benedict - It Brought Me into the Catholic Church!

A photo from the Mass I attend with Pope Benedict

In 2006, when I was still an Episcopalian priest, Joy and I visited Rome. Intellectually we were coming to recognize that the Catholic Church was the true Church, but we needed the emotional push to bring the decision to fulfillment.

In Rome, we were able to take the Scavi tour underneath Saint Peter's Basilica. At the end of the tour, we saw the bones of Saint Peter. I prayed earnestly that I would soon enter into full communion with Saint Peter and his successor on earth, Pope Benedict XVI.

After the tour, the Belgian priest, who had been our tour guide, stayed behind and struck up a conversation with us. We had been so excited and impressed by the tour. When I told him that we were not Catholics, but that I was an Episcopalian priest, his face lit up. He was writing his dissertation in Rome on some ecumenical matter. 

Then he surprised us with a question: “Would you like to attend Holy Mass with the Pope this evening?” The answer to that question was obvious. The Belgian priest was pleased to make arrangements. We walked from the Scavi entrance on the south side of Saint Peter’s, across Saint Peter’s Square, and then up a staircase to the north. At the top were two Swiss Guards with pikes. The Belgian priest told us to wait there. He mumbled some Italian to the guards and disappeared.

A few minutes later he returned with two orange tickets, which were marked with that evening’s date and were issued by the Palazzo Apostolico Vaticano. The Belgian priest told us to return to Saint Peter’s an hour before the Mass with those tickets. We had a nice chat, and the priest went about his business. To my shame, I don’t know his name. (Father, if you're out there, let me know!)

That evening, my wife and I attended the Holy Mass of the Purification with Pope Benedict. At this particular Holy Mass the Holy Father recognized the various religious orders of the world. We were in line with hundreds of nuns, friars, and monks. We were clearly out of place—a married Episcopalian priest in a cassock with a pregnant wife. My dear! I hope we did not scandalize all those nuns.

The Holy Mass was glorious. It began in total darkness. Pope Benedict XVI entered the back doors with only a candle. From this candle was lit all the candles of the nuns, monks, and friars. For the whole Mass, we were near the bronze statue of Saint Peter. I could see the Holy Father clearly. I knew that His Holiness was the true successor of the Fisherman, and recalling that just that morning I had been deep underneath that altar at the bones of Saint Peter, the connection between the ministry of Saint Peter the First Pope and that of Benedict XVI the present Pope was made manifest right before my eyes.

When it came time for Holy Communion, I knew that I could not go forward to receive. Although the Basilica was now lit with glorious light and joy, my soul remained in the darkness.

I was not a Catholic. I was not in communion with the Holy Father. I was in schism. It was a sickening feeling. I was out of communion with the Vicar of Christ, and I knew in that moment that my relationship with Christ was impaired. I also knew what I had to do. I had to resign the Episcopalian priesthood and become a Catholic.

That Mass was one of the most important events in my life. When we got back from Rome, the process began. When I think of Pope Benedict, I'll always recall that Holy Mass on February 2, 2006 - a Holy Mass that changed my life forever. Viva Papa!

The post above is excerpt from my new book: The Eternal City: Rome & the Origins of Catholicism. Please take a quick look at the new book by clicking here.



Question: What was your favorite moment during the reign of Pope Benedict XVI? Please leave a comment below.

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Video: Meatless Family Dinners

I sat down with Philip Onochie for our second YouTube video on Lent. Each of us has young children and we share our thoughts about a variety meatless Friday meals for the family. 

Please watch the short video, and leave a comment with your own meatless Friday meal ideas.

Do you enjoy reading these posts by Dr. Taylor Marshall? Make it easier to receive daily posts. It's free. Please click here to receive daily posts through e-mail. Privacy Guarantee: Your e-mail will never be shared with anyone. Please also explore Taylor's books about Catholicism at amazon.com.

Pope Benedict Has Embraced Mary's Title "Mediatrix of All Graces"

Yesterday we asked the question, "Did the Blessed Virgin Ask Pope Benedict to Step Down?" 

To review, there is a suggestion that Pope Benedict XVI received a special locution or apparition from Our Lady about the Catholic Church and gave him explicit permission to step down from the Holy See.

On the day His Holiness announced his resignation, the Pope publicly referred to Mary as the "Mediatrix of All Graces." Pope Benedict entrusted the mission of the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care "to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary Immaculate, Mediatrix of all graces (Mediatricis omnium gratiarum)."

Many other news sources and blogs jumped onto this story because it signals something new in Pope Benedict's thought. Pope John Paul II frequently employed the title "Mediatrix of All Graces." However, Pope Benedict has been reticient up until recently.

[If you're interested in the theological difference between "Mediatrix of All Graces" and just the simple title "Mediatrix," please click here.]

It's no secret that the young Father Joseph Ratzinger at the Second Vatican Council was openly opposed to the term "Mediatrix of All Graces" preferring instead "Mediatrix." It seems now that the Holy Father has reversed course and has made Mediatrix of All Graces part of his papal vocabulary. This is a major event in the life of the Catholic Church. Saint Louis de Montfort said that all the saints of the later ages will be deeply Marian. Mary is the channel of all grace and sanctity.

Questions: Is Pope Benedict XVI paving the way for the future declaration of the Fifth Marian Dogma ("Mediatrix of All Graces")? Does His Holiness' use of this Marian title indicate an even deeper devotion to Our Lady? What would happen in our era if a Pope declared a Fifth Marian Dogma?

Please leave a comment and share your thoughts with us.

Do you enjoy reading these posts by Dr. Taylor Marshall? Make it easier to receive daily posts. It's free. Please click here to receive daily posts through e-mail. Privacy Guarantee: Your e-mail will never be shared with anyone. Please also explore Taylor's books about Catholicism at amazon.com.

Did the Blessed Virgin Ask Pope Benedict to Step Down?

Did Mary Reveal Something to Pope Benedict?

How does a Pope make the decision to resign from the Papacy? The effects of such a decision are staggering. It's a decision that affects every Catholic, and even every person on earth. He is the Vicar of Christ. His prayers and actions (through participation in the High Priesthood of Christ) win graces for the world.

It is obvious that Pope Benedict XVI appreciates and venerates the Petrine Office. His Holiness also has a profound understanding of redemptive suffering. Pope Benedict, it would seem, would desire to fight it out to the end. Failing physical health and old age have captured Pope since Saint Peter. Surely, poor health alone would not lead our Holy Father to step down from the Holy See of Saint Peter.

This raises the question: Why, then, is Pope Benedict making this historic decision? Is his decision based solely on poor health...or something else?

I recently heard a homily from a priest that I greatly admire. This priest suggested that Pope Benedict was getting "orders from above." Pope Benedict, after all, does have a superior whom he must obey: Jesus Christ Our Lord. 

This priest suggested that Pope Benedict received a message or apparition from the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is speculation, but the announcement of His Holiness' abdication on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes may indicate a Marian origin to his decision.

There are enemies both inside and outside the Catholic Church. Personally, I believe there is spiritual rot festering in the machine work of the Vatican. When he became Pope, His Holiness referred to the "wolves" that were within the Church. It is no secret that there are cardinals who are opposed to Pope Benedict. I suspect (and this is pure speculation), that Heaven is about to intervene in a way that we could never foresee.

I believe that Pope Benedict would have never resigned unless he was told to do so through a heavenly command. I believe that Jesus and Mary told His Holiness to make this historic decision and announcement. Our Lady is the Exterminatrix of Heresies. She is about to clean house. 

As Saint Peter (our first Pope) once said:

"For the time is, that judgment should begin at the house of God." (1 Pet 4:17)

Pope Benedict XVI implicitly indicated that he had received a heavenly command just the other day is his final Angelus address from the papal window:

"But this does not mean abandoning the Church, indeed, if God is asking me to do this it is so that I can continue to serve the Church with the same dedication and the same love with which I have done thus far, but in a way that is better suited to my age and my strength."

- Pope Benedict XVI "Angelus Address" Feb 23, 2013.

Divine judgment begins first with His own people. The resignation of Pope Benedict may be the first domino to fall leading to a chain reaction of important events. Again, I think we are seeing a mystery of supernatural intervention. Who would have thought that Year of Faith would require so much faith!

Keep praying the Rosary daily, go to confession weekly, say your morning and evening prayers, begin reading the Bible daily. Make it a good Lent.

Question: Do you also think that Pope Benedict is responding to a command from heaven? Is Our Lady guiding him through these final days of his pontificate. Please leave a comment and share your thoughts on this heavy matter.

Do you enjoy reading these posts by Dr. Taylor Marshall? Make it easier to receive daily posts. It's free. Please click here to receive daily posts through e-mail. Privacy Guarantee: Your e-mail will never be shared with anyone. Please also explore Taylor's books about Catholicism at amazon.com.

Free MP3 Audio: A Fun and Upbeat Interview about my New Book, The Eternal City

Sometimes you talk to someone that you've never met before, and it seems like you've been friends for years. I recently experienced this phenomenon with Kris McGregor of the Discerning Hearts Radio Program. Kris and I sat down to discuss the how's and why's of my recently published book The Eternal City: Rome & the Origins of the Catholicism.

Kris' enthusiasm for the Catholic Faith is infectious. She actually got me more excited about my own book! She help me to see how providential it is that this book was released just before the abdication of our Holy Father. 

The theology for the role of Rome in the Catholic Church has never been more crucial. The office of Pope and the historical and theological basis for the Roman Primacy and Supremacy must be understood in our times.

Kris makes for a fun and upbeat interview. We cover a lot of material in under 30 minutes. Please listen to it by clicking on the "play triangle" below. You can also download the mp3 file and listen to it while you work-out or commute.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (26.9MB) | Embed

If you enjoyed the interview, please consider reading The Eternal City: Rome & the Origins of Catholicism. The book is available in paperback and Kindle formats (it's currently on sale at amazon.com):

10 Quotes That Will Change the Way You Attend Holy Mass

Saint Gertrude the Great once reported that for each and every Mass that we hear with devotion during our lives, Christ sends a saint to comfort us in death. I was deeply moved the first time I read this.

Intellectually, I know that great value of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass - it is the solemn re-presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ to the Father in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world. It's the source and summit of the Christian life. However, it is often difficult to remember this amazing truth in the midst of our common distractions during Holy Mass.

Saint Thomas Aquinas taught that with the Holy Eucharist, the five senses fail. Only faith can lift the veil and perceive the reality of Christ's presence and sacrifice.

I recently came across 10 quotes from the saints about the importance of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

I'll be speaking at Texas A&M this Thursday

I have been excited all week, because I'll be presenting a talk on Thursday night at Saint Mary's Catholic Church at Texas A&M University - my alma mater. I was not a Catholic in college. However, as a Protestant college student, I once had a run in with a priest from Saint Mary's. I debated him on the topic of transubstantiation. It looks like he won in the long run...

The title of the talk is "Anti-Catholic to Aggie Catholic."

If you're near College Station/Texas A&M, please come by for the talk and say 'hello.' It's Thursday night, Feb 21 and begins at 7pm. Click here for the event details. I'll be available afterward to sign books and hang out.

Most of you probably know Marcel LeJeune who is the celebrated Assistant Director of Campus Ministry at St Mary's at Texas A&M. He blogs at the popular "Aggie Catholic" blog. It's one of the Catholic blogs that I follow regularly. 

Are you interested in having me speak at your next event? Please visit my Speaking Page to learn more.

Saint Malachy Prophecy: Why Pope Benedict is the "Glory of the Olive"

Christ at the Mt of Olives in Agony

Is this why Pope Benedict the "Glory of the Olive"?

Like Father "Z"uhlsdorf and others, I've been thinking a lot about the Saint Malachy "Prophecy of the Popes." Saint Malachy's prophecy is a series of 112 phrases predicting the Popes from Pope Celestine II until what seems to be the very last pontiff identified as "Peter the Roman". If the prophecies are true, then Pope Benedict XVI is the second to last Pope, and he is identified as the "Glory of the Olive". In this post, I want to investigate why Pope Benedict XVI is called there the "Glory of the Olive."

Many have said it has to do with an obscure connection between the Olivetans and his pontifical name "Benedict." Like others, I have always found this to be a strained explanation. In light of the Holy Father's recent abdication, I think we may have a new hint as to why Pope Benedict XVI is the "Glory of the Olive."

Warning: If what I'm about to suggest is true, it may make some feel uncomfortable. In other words, we may be headed for some difficult times...

Did the Virgin Mary & the Apostles Keep Lent?

Did the Blessed Virgin Mary keep Lent? Did the Apostles keep Lent? How far back does Lent go in Catholic tradition?

One of the earliest references to Lent is found in Pope Leo the Great's (d. 461) sermons from the fifth century. Pope Saint Leo the Great maintained that the forty days of Lent were instituted by the Apostles:

"ut apostolica institutio quadraginta dierum jejuniis impleatur."

(Patrologia Latina 54, 633)

"That the Apostolic institution of forty days might be fulfilled by fasting."

St. Jerome (d. 420) and the church historian Socrates (d. 433) also assumed the apostolic institution of the forty days of fasting before the celebration of Christ's resurrection.

Nowadays, modern historians cast doubt on the practice of Lent in the first century.

How to Create a Strategy for Lent's Meatless Fridays (Plus 12 Meatless Meal Ideas)

It's Lent and for many this is a time to create an intentional game plan for meatless Fridays. A couple of years ago, Joy and I prayed about it and switched our family over to meatless Fridays all year long. This has been a wonderful blessing. If you are interested in making this switch personally, Lent is the perfect time to build the habit and then extend it to the rest of the year.

[I've discussed the theological reasons for why we Catholics don't eat meat on Fridays in another post: Please read "Why is Fish Okay But Not Meat."]

Here's how not to do meatless Fridays. Before creating an intentional plan for "Friday fare" or "fish Fridays," Joy and I would just sort of wing it: "Oh it's Friday. Shucks. Mmmm. I guess we'll have to order some cheese pizzas." Even worse, we'd remember after the fact. I'd order a chicken sandwich at lunch and then suddenly remember.

This is playing defense. You want to plan offense. Defense reacts. Offense creates a clear strategy. You need to make a plan. Write it down and post it on the fridge. 

Video: How to Keep (and Not Keep) Lent

Yesterday I shared a story about how I experienced a Lenten crash and burn a few years back. Well, I sat down with my friend Philip Onochie and we talked that story and about the history and how's of Lent. We take a look at what Saint Thomas Aquinas had to say on the Christian norms for fasting, and then look at some of the practical elements of keeping a holy Lent.

Please watch the video and share a comment with you ideas, thoughts, and suggestions about Lent:

Do you enjoy reading these posts by Dr. Taylor Marshall? Make it easier to receive daily posts. It's free. Please click here to receive daily posts through e-mail. Privacy Guarantee: Your e-mail will never be shared with anyone. Please also explore Taylor's books about Catholicism at amazon.com.

Lent: Official Catholic Rules for Fasting and Abstinence

Pope Benedict Receiving Penitential Ashes
after his resignation announcement of 2013

In the United States pregnant women, nursing women, people over 60 and children under 18 are not obligated to fast (eat only one full meal) on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. However, all Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence (no meat) for those 14 and older.

Here's what the current Code of Canon Law says:

Can. 1250 The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.

Can. 1251 Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference [for Americans, this refers to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops], is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence [not eating meat] and fasting [not eating food - see clarification below] are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Can. 1252 The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year [translation: no meat for those fourteen and up]. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority [18], until the beginning of their sixtieth year. Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence, are taught the true meaning of penance.

Can. 1253 The conference of bishops can determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence as well as substitute other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety, in whole or in part, for abstinence and fast.

According to the United States bishops, "fasting" on Ash Wednesday for a Catholic Christian entails two collations (small, light snacks) and one full meal on Ash Wednesday - all without meat.

Easy Summary:

Probably the best direction concerning Fast and Abstinence is:

1. Fasting everyone 18 thru 59th birthday.
2. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are both fast and abstinence.
3. All Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence for those 14 and older.

SOURCE:  "Penitential Practices for Today's Catholics". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Do you enjoy reading these posts by Dr. Taylor Marshall? Make it easier to receive daily posts. It's free. Please click here to receive daily posts through e-mail. Privacy Guarantee: Your e-mail will never be shared with anyone. Please also explore Taylor's books about Catholicism at amazon.com.

How My Strict Lent Once Ruined Easter - A Lesson on Lenten Crash and Burn

Let me tell you about the embarrassing story of how my "best" Lent turned into my worst Easter.

After hearing of the Lenten adventures of my Eastern Orthodox friend, I decided one year to be hard-core about Lent. The Eastern Christians often give up meat, eggs, and dairy. In other words, they go fully vegan for Lent.

Upon hearing this, I gave up all meat, alcohol, and sweets/desserts for Lent. It was really tough, especially the "no meat" part of it. However, I toughed it out and had traveled the distance. As we entered Holy Week, I was staring down Easter like a lion tracking a gazelle. I was ready to descend from the 30,000 foot altitude of Lenten penance into the realm of chocolate, corn syrup, and filet mignon. After the Easter vigil, I came back from church and starting gorging on Cadberry eggs, those sickening fluffly Peeps, meat, wine, whiskey, cupcakes, and sugar cookies...

Photos: Pope Benedict's Symbolic Placement of the Papal Pallium on the Tomb of St Celestine V

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, Pope Benedict subtly signified his thoughts about resignation over three years ago when he removed his papal pallium, and then placed it on the coffin of Saint Celestine V - the only sainted Pope to have resigned the papacy. The pallium is the white woolen garment the Pope wears on his shoulders. It signifies that the Pope carries the sheep of Christ upon his shoulders as the Vicar of the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ. The Holy Father also allows the cardinal to wear the pallium as a sign of their communion with Rome.

Below is a photo collection telling the story in images. The photos depict the Holy Father receiving the pallium in 2005 and then his symbolic placement of the pallium on the glass sarcophagus of Saint Celestine:

Pope Benedict's Devotion to Saint Celestine Signaled His Resignation from the Papacy

Pope Benedict venerating St Celestine, 

the only Pope Saint to have resigned

When I heard Pope Benedict's announcement this morning that he would be retiring from the Chair of St Peter at the end of February 2013, I was sad but not entirely surprised. In fact, here on the blog, we've been following Pope Benedict's devotion to Pope Saint Celestine for over two years now, and wondering whether our beloved Holy Father may be contemplating this decision. Saint Celestine, as you may know, was the last Pope to resign...and he is a canonized saint. Pope Benedict's visits to Saint Celestine's grave revealed that His Holiness was contemplating this decision.

Two and a half years ago, I posted an article on this site from Robert Moynihan called, "The Celestine Sign." In this article, Mr. Moynihan detailed Pope Benedict's growing devotion for Saint Celestine. As one who personally knows Pope Benedict, Moynihan speculated that Pope Benedict may have been subtly revealing his hand. The Holy Father's growing love for the saint that resigned from papacy may indicate the prayerful decision of his own heart.

Think about it for a moment. If you were a Pope and completely overwhelmed and feeling inadequate,  to whom could you turn?

Scotch Whisky is the "Extraordinary Form" of Alcohol: My Interview with The Whiskey Catholic

Michael Reer at the "Whiskey Catholic" recently interviewed me about the Latin Mass, Catholic college education, being a Catholic gentlemen, and, of course, my favorite whiskeys.

In a previous post, I compared the Latin Mass to beer: You have to drink it in a few times before you begin to like it, but once you acquire the taste, there's no going back. Well, in this interview, I had to upgrade the analogy: When it comes to alcohol, scotch whisky is the "extraordinary form."

Here's a sample from the interview with the Whiskey Catholic:

Can you share your thoughts on virtuous drinking?

TRM: Virtuous drinking involves male friendship, plain and simple. It’s usually a time for men to remove themselves from the company of women that they love and sit together around a fire pit, in the darkness, or on the back porch. Some of the most meaningful conversations that I have had with my father, my brother, and my friends have been over a Scotch. Real relationships are forged. It’s a beautiful thing.

Please read the entire interview, and let's drive some traffic over to the Whiskey Catholic.

Do you enjoy reading these posts by Dr. Taylor Marshall? Make it easier to receive daily posts. It's free. Please click here to receive daily posts through e-mail. Privacy Guarantee: Your e-mail will never be shared with anyone. Please also explore Taylor's books about Catholicism at amazon.com.

Did You Know that Padre Pio Agonized Over Whether to Become a Franciscan Friar?

When I was still a Protestant, someone gave me a holy card of Padre Pio. At that time, Padre Pio was still a "blessed," as he was not yet canonized. The friend explained that the bearded priest depicted on the holy card had experienced the stigmata. I still have the holy card around here somewhere.

I remember being impressed by two things. First, that someone could actually receive the stigmata. Secondly, that modern people believed that these sort of things could still happen in our "enlightened age." Since then, I grown to love Saint Pio more and more. Perhaps he was praying for me along my way into the Catholic Church.

How Does Chastity Relate to the Restoration of Catholic Culture?

I'm really excited about our lecture this evening at Fisher More College. I'm presenting a talk about my conversion to Catholicism, but also on the necessity of being in communion with Rome. In many ways, it's a message about God's special providence in choosing Rome as his spiritual capital on earth. In short, it's a mini-version of my recently published book: The Eternal City: Rome & the Origins of Catholicism.

This relates to an article I posted entitled "Are We Catholics Willing to Die for the Sake of Virginity and Modesty?" The early saints and Church Fathers loved and revered virginity. Read the writings and letters of St Jerome. These early Fathers wrote poems and hymns to and for the great virgin martyrs. They saw true beauty and femininity in Saint Agatha, Saint Agnes, Saint Dorothy, Saint Anastasia, and others. The explosion of devotion toward St Philomena in the 19th century is another example of Catholic devotion for holy purity. Even more, the Church's perennial devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is the highest expression of this Catholic sentiment.

The flip side is male purity.

iMapping Your Daily Spiritual Life (Make a GPS Plan)

Sometimes we can allow ourselves to go adrift in our spiritual lives. It happens to me often. Like Saint Peter walking on water, we take our eyes off Christ and we begin to sink. If it could happen to the first Pope, it can happen to all of us.

Many of us use GPS systems or the Maps app on our smart phones to find our way to destinations. In my morning commute, I check the Map app on my iPhone to check the traffic and then choose the way of least resistance. 

If that's true for traffic, it's certainly true for life. All of us want to go to Heaven. We have the same goal. However, we need a way to get there. We need more than a map. We need an interactive voice or set of directions. So that if we take a wrong turn (which we often do), then we can re-route and get back on track. 

What is your GPS system? It includes your spiritual director. He is often the voice that alerts you about a wrong turn and suggests a new route. Your spouse and close friends likely help you in this way, too. Your map is your plan for daily mental prayer, Rosary, or whatever other devotions draw you close to God. These point you in the right way. Quiet and prayer are key. The subtle work of the Holy Spirit is more powerful than the voice of a friend. His is the voice of God. 

For me personally, I find that quiet time in the morning of at least 30 minutes is absolutely necessary. We all have different vocations and I know that commutes, preparing children for school, and other such duties fill up our mornings. However, be encouraged and try to just check in and look at the map. By this I mean, look for upcoming traffic in that day. Plan a route. Execute the plan. I find that if I just plan 2-4 things that must be done that day and do them, I feel more at peace and experience a greater momentum in the day.

Currently, I'm trying to see how this "Spiritual GPS" idea fits with morning rituals. How can I best begin the day energized and positive. Even more, how can I bring happiness to other people around me?

Do you have any suggestions? Also, if you have morning prayer routine that works for you, would you mind sharing it with us?

Do you enjoy reading these posts by Dr. Taylor Marshall? Make it easier to receive daily posts. It's free. Please click here to receive daily posts through e-mail. Privacy Guarantee: Your e-mail will never be shared with anyone. Please also explore Taylor's books about Catholicism at amazon.com.

Why I Entered the Roman Catholic Church

I'd like to personally invite those of you in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to a public lecture that I am giving on Thursday February 7 at 6pm. I'll be giving a lecture based on my new book: The Eternal City: Rome and the Origins of Catholicism at Fisher More College.

I'll be tying together the Roman legacy of the Catholic Church in evangelization along with my recent post on "The Great Catholic Migration of the 21st Century." God has given you a gift. How can you share it to bring about the great restoration? Please join us to learn more.

The event is free and open to the public. We are providing free wine, beer, and food. I'll be available to answer questions and sign books (the book will be available after the lecture).

Our monthly Fisher More College events are always fun and enjoyable. Lots of great, like-minded Catholics come together for an edifying time.

Date:

Thursday, 2/7/2013, 6:00 P.M.

Location:

Our Lady of Victory Hall

Victory Arts Center,

801 West Shaw, Fort Worth, TX 76110

For more information call Marilyn: 817-923-8459 ext. 0.

I look forward to meeting you and shaking your hand!

Godspeed,

Taylor

Are We Catholics Willing to Die for the Sake of Virginity and Modesty?

I didn't watch the Superbowl, but I heard that half time show was not wholesome. 

Let me be completely honest. Many of you may disagree, but I'm going to say it any way:

The Superbowl is one of the most successful studies of human nature and concupiscence. Marketers spend millions of dollars studying what will cause a human being to buy beer, chips, cars, etc., and they have it down to a science. The Superbowl's commercial apparatus is the Pontifical Solemn High Mass of our sensual nation. It is a planned liturgical event to appeal to our appetite for materialism and sexuality.

Here's what I worry about: Do Catholic girls know more about Beyonce than they do about Saint Agatha? If that's the case it's time to take same action. 

Please let me make a suggestion: The feast days of Saints Agatha, Agnes, Cecilia, Philomena, Lucy, Anastasia, Dorothy, and Maria Goretti should be Catholic "International Daddies take their Daughters to Mass days." We must create a culture that loves the great virgins of the Catholic Church.

Is Jesus Christ the "Genetic Twin" of the Blessed Virgin Mary? Let's ask St Thomas Aquinas...

A reader recently wrote in with a comment relating to the physical likeness of Mary and Jesus.

Dear Dr. Marshall, 

I just bought your book on St. Paul at Amazon because I wanted to read about Paul's Mariology. I was NOT disappointed. Your many brilliant insights brought tears to my eyes. 

Have you ever considered the fact that Mary and Jesus were IDENTICAL TWINS??? Jesus was made from the DNA of Mary just as Eve was made from the DNA of Adam. 

Sincerely, 

Joseph Allen Kozuh, Ph.D. Austin, Texas

Who Was the First Photographed Saint? (Plus Great Photos of Certain Famous Saints)

Early photo of St John Bosco

Christian iconography went through a major shift with the advent of photography. What we now recognize as camera photography began in 1835. Film cameras didn't arrive until 1884. Color photos had to wait until 1908. Before then, the Catholic Church did not usually possess historically accurate portraits of her saints.

To be honest, this is something that I had never before considered. Photography does in fact change the way we identify with saints. For example, I began to love and appreciate Pope Leo XIII in a new way when I first witnessed the archaic video footage of this holy pope. Here is the video for your viewing pleasure (if you cannot see it in your daily email, please visit the site):