Community - Faith. Life. Culture.

Love, Food and Healing in Italy

TCS — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:33:55 +0000

Book offers real look at how relationships, food traditions intersect "Keeping the Feast: One Couple's Story of Love, Food and Healing in Italy" by Paula Butturini. Riverhead Books (New York, 2010). 272 pp., $25.95.

Consumer warning: Don't read "Keeping the Feast" on an empty stomach. Paula Butturini's book is an enjoyable adventure through her experiences with family, food and emotions, but her descriptions of Italian cuisine can only leave the reader salivating for the green asparagus, fresh garlic and olive oil of which she so reverently speaks. Both an exploration of culinary traditions and an honest examination of depression, Butturini's story is a very real look at relationships and the food traditions that keep families together.

The book opens as Butturini meets and falls in love with her future husband in Italy. Fun and loving, their stress-free early relationship abruptly changed when the journalist duo was transferred to cover the fall of communism in Eastern Europe. Butturini was brutally beaten while covering a story in Czechoslovakia and her husband was shot, nearly fatally, while chasing down a story in Romania.

Although they both eventually healed physically, Butturini's husband's deeper illness -- his chronic depression -- festered and exploded after these tragic and violent incidents.

Depression was not something new to Butturini, whose mother suffered from the sometimes crippling disease, but the slow, intimate struggle of loving and living with her oftentimes zombielike husband was something she never wished to experience. Butturini's book is truly educational. Through her story, she teaches that chronic depression is not a fleeting case of the blues solved by popping a pill daily. It can be destructive, paralyzing and seemingly incurable.

Although food, faith, family and friendship helped repair their souls, the journey was long, painful and arduous. Butturini's description of their struggles is so real and raw, the reader cannot help but feel compassion.

But glimmers of hope exist and joy is found, making the book engaging and so enjoyable to read. "Keeping the Feast" leaves the reader fulfilled and hopeful for the future of a marriage shaken by depression.

Lordan is former assistant international editor of Catholic News Service and contributor to Catholic Radio Weekly.

Keeping the Feast: One Couple's Story of Love, Food, and Healing in Italy
Buy this book on Amazon!

New books offer wealth of spiritual reading options for Lent

TCS — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 01:11:58 +0000

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Here is a selection of recent releases that might be suitable for your spiritual reading during Lent:

-- "Following Christ: A Lenten Reader to Stretch Your Soul" by Carmen Acevedo Butcher. Paraclete Press (Brewster, Mass., 2010). 210 pp., $16.99.

-- "Lent and Easter Wisdom from St. Ignatius of Loyola" by James L. Connor, SJ. Liguori Publications (Liguori, Mo., 2009). 113 pp., $10.99.

-- "Come Meet Jesus: An Invitation from Pope Benedict XVI" by Amy Welborn. Word Among Us Press (Ann Arbor, Mich., 2010). 160 pp., $11.95.

-- "The Spiritual Legacy of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen" by the Rev. Charles P. Connor. Alba House (Staten Island, N.Y., 2010). 241 pp., $19.95.

-- "Faith and the Media: Reflections by Christian Communicators," edited by Dennis D. Cali. Paulist Press (Mahwah, N.J., 2010). 98 pp., $9.95.

-- "U Got 2 Love" by Father Stan Fortuna, CFR. Our Sunday Visitor (Huntington, Ind., 2010). 254 pp., $13.95.

-- "The Spirituality of Fasting: Rediscovering a Christian Practice" by Charles M. Murphy. Ave Maria Press (Notre Dame, Ind., 2010). 114 pp., $12.95.

Suggested books available online from Amazon.com

Amazon.com Widgets

-- "Faith at the Edge: A Book for Doubters" by Robert N. Wennberg. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing (Grand Rapids, Mich., 2009). 182 pp., $14.

-- "The Book of the Shepherd: The Story of One Simple Prayer and How It Changed the World" by Joann Davis. HarperStudio (New York, 2009). 183 pp., $19.99.

-- "The Mystery of Faith: Meditations on the Eucharist" by Father Tadeusz Pajczer. Paraclete Press (Brewster, Mass., 2010). 111 pp., $17.99.

-- "Get Out of the Boat: Discover the Meaning of Your Life" by Thomas J. Winninger. Liguori Press (Liguori, Mo., 2010). 97 pp., $14.99.

-- "Faith-Based Reflections on American Life" by William J. Byron, SJ. Paulist Press (Mahwah, N.J., 2010). 192 pp., $14.95.

-- "Beatitudes: Eight Steps to Happiness" by Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap. Translated by Marsha Daigle-Williamson. Servant Books (Cincinnati, 2009). 146 pp., $13.99.

-- "The World as It Should Be: Living Authentically in the Here-and-Now Kingdom of God" by Gregory F.A. Pierce. Loyola Press (Chicago, 2010). 144 pp., $14.95.

Best movies of 2009

TCS — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:14:22 +0000

NEW YORK (CNS) -- This year, for the first time since 1943, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences -- as the folks behind the Oscars are formally known -- allowed for 10 nominees, rather than five, in the category of best picture. At the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Office for Film & Broadcasting, the tradition of selecting a roster of 10 top films each year -- based on a combination of spiritual and moral as well as artistic criteria -- dates back to 1965.

Since a number of these films are appropriate viewing only for adults, more recently the office also has compiled a further list of the 10 best family films of the year.

Though there's no red carpet or golden statuette involved, following, in alphabetical order, are the selections for 2009, together with their USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classifications and Motion Picture Association of America ratings:

Based on real events, "The Blind Side" recounts how a wealthy white couple -- portrayed by Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw -- offered shelter to a homeless black student. Writer-director John Lee Hancock's unapologetically Christian tale of human solidarity is funny, shrewd and uplifting (A-III, PG-13).

The thoughtful French-language docudrama "The Class" re-creates the experiences of an idealistic literature teacher over the course of an academic year. Director and co-writer Laurent Cantet creates an engrossing meditation on social and class divisions and on the possibilities of an educator's vocation (A-III, PG-13).

"Fantastic Mr. Fox" -- a droll stop-motion animated adventure -- tells how the titular creature (voiced by George Clooney) tries to recapture his wild past as a chicken thief. Director and co-writer Wes Anderson's clever, lovingly crafted film offers abundant fun for youngsters and a few insights for adults as well (A-I, PG).

A diverting fact-based comedy, "The Informant!" follows the exploits of an up-and-coming agribusiness executive (Matt Damon) who suddenly turns whistle-blower. Director Steven Soderbergh's offbeat tale benefits from Damon's intense performance as a curiously sympathetic egomaniac (A-III, R).

In "The International," an intense thriller, a dogged Interpol agent (Clive Owen) and a New York prosecutor (Naomi Watts) investigate the elusive leaders of a global bank implicated in murder. Director Tom Tykwer's sleek conspiracy yarn focuses on the frustrations of operating within the law and the perils of acting outside it (A-III, R).

The uplifting fact-based drama "Invictus" -- starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon -- charts South African President Nelson Mandela's campaign to unite his country behind the national rugby team. Director Clint Eastwood's account effectively chronicles how Mandela used sporting enthusiasm to break down lingering racial prejudice (A-III, PG-13).

"Julie & Julia" is the charming dramatization of passages in the lives of master chef Julia Child (Meryl Streep) and Internet blogger Julie Powell (Amy Adams). Writer-director Nora Ephron whips up a delicious melange of the two women's memoirs and details the ingredients requisite for a successful marriage (A-III, PG-13).

"Star Trek" -- an exhilarating prequel -- sees the youthful James Tiberius Kirk (Chris Pine) forgoing his delinquent ways to join the crew of the Starship Enterprise. Director J.J. Abrams skillfully balances well-executed action sequences with an absorbing human story (A-III, PG-13).

The animated instant classic "Up" tells the story of a grumpy widower (voiced by Ed Asner), who decides to relocate his home to South America with the help of thousands of balloons. This touching fable from director and co-writer Pete Docter offers lessons on love, loss, marriage and perseverance (A-I, PG).

In the intriguing fantasy "Where the Wild Things Are," a young runaway (Max Records) sails to the island abode of a community of giants. Director and co-writer Spike Jonze's subtle adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic book is a wistful meditation on the interior struggles of childhood (A-II, PG)

The top 10 family films were:

"Astro Boy," a charming animated adventure about a scientist (voiced by Nicolas Cage) who replaces his dead son with a robot replica, only to rejects his creation, leaving the innocent boy 'bot vulnerable to widespread prejudice. Director and co-writer David Bowers' film is, by turns, amusing, exciting and poignant (A-II, PG).

"Bandslam" is a genial comedy with music about a newcomer at a New Jersey high school who overcomes his socially disastrous past when befriended by a popular fellow student. Director and co-writer Todd Graff offers an exuberant salute to clique-defying friendship (A-I, PG).

Disney's lavish but frequently eerie animated adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic "A Christmas Carol" recounts yet again the tale of miserly misanthrope Ebenezer Scrooge (voiced by Jim Carrey). Writer-director Robert Zemeckis' largely faithful retelling is unabashed about the Christian context of its conversion story (A-I, PG).

The animated fantasy "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" concerns a young inventor who fashions a machine that makes food fall from the sky. Co-writers and directors Chris Miller and Phil Lord's cautionary tale warns against overindulgence and extols the virtues of persistence and ingenuity (A-II, PG).

The breezy romance with music "Hannah Montana the Movie" tells how a teen singer (played by Miley Cyrus), who has gained fame under a pseudonym, is forced by her concerned father to retreat temporarily to the Tennessee farm where she grew up. Director Peter Chelsom's delightfully innocent country idyll emphasizes the primacy of family obligations over professional goals (A-I, G).

In the sequel "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," the now-teenage wizard (Daniel Radcliffe) ingratiates himself with a Hogwarts instructor who once taught his archenemy. As directed by David Yates, this sixth adaptation of the hugely popular fantasy novel series is a richly textured narrative in which good and evil are clearly delineated, but characters present a range of moral shading (A-II, PG).

In the affable animated comedy-adventure "Monsters vs. Aliens," a trio of kindly monsters and a woman who became a giant after being struck by a meteor combat an evil alien. Co-directors Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon celebrate teamwork and the heroic potential of everyday people (A-II, PG).

"Ponyo" is the enchanting English-language version of a Japanese animated fable about a determined goldfish who comes under the protection of a plucky, affectionate 5-year-old boy. This mythic tale uses masterful artistry to recapture the innocence and wonder of childhood (A-I, G).

The delightful animated musical "The Princess and the Frog" recounts the effects of a voodoo sorcerer's mischievous spell. Directed and co-written by John Musker and Ron Clements, the lavish hand-drawn romance emphasizes the value of love over material wealth (A-I, G).

"Shorts" is a clever children's fantasy about a rainbow-colored rock that grants the wishes of anyone holding it. Told in a series of nonsequential episodes, writer-director Robert Rodriguez's lively yarn carries messages about the dangers of power and the isolating effects of contemporary technology (A-II, PG).

The Office for Film & Broadcasting classifications for the films listed above are: A-I -- general patronage; A-II -- adults and adolescents; and A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America ratings for the films listed above are: G -- general audiences. All ages admitted; PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children; PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13; and R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

Mulderig is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. More reviews are available online at www.usccb.org/movies.

What's your favorite Meatless Meal for Lent?

TCS — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:37:22 +0000

Here we are . . . another Friday in Lent and a day of abstinence. Considering that until 1966 Catholics did not eat meat year-round on Fridays, we have a rich history of grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. Lobster probably doesn't fulfill the 'spirit' of penance, but what are your favorite 'meatless' meals?

Share them in our comments below. If you'd like to know more about the abstinence regulation, here's an article by Father Michael Van Sloun that does a great job of explaining it all. And if you didn't already know, we have a 'Meatless Meal Contest' running.

Stranded on a deserted island - Part I: What 5 tools are in your toolbox?

TCS — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 04:18:31 +0000

The first in our series of questions related to being stranded on a deserted island.

What five tools do you want in your toolbox? Sorry, but this deserted island doesn't have electricity, so no power tools. ;)

Share your list in the comments below . . .

Extra credit if your five tools can get you off the island.

Vatican's top 10 list of albums

TCS — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:25:41 +0000

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican newspaper has come up with a "semi-serious" list of 10 essential rock and pop albums, including works by the Beatles, U2, Michael Jackson and Pink Floyd.

The list was offered in a tongue-in-cheek article Feb. 14 as an alternative to the music of Italy's biggest pop music festival, which was to begin two days later.

The "10 albums worth taking to a desert island" were listed in the chronological order of their release:

-- "Revolver" by the Beatles, described as more innovative than any of their successive albums.

-- "If I Could Only Remember My Name" by David Crosby. Its songs used experimental musical forms to express an "existential fragility," the article said.

-- "The Dark Side of the Moon" by Pink Floyd, which the newspaper called an "amazing" and eminently enjoyable milestone in the history of rock music.

-- "Rumours" by Fleetwood Mac, which the article said mixed the sounds of blues, pop and country.

-- "The Nightfly" by Donald Fagen of Steely Dan. A niche album, but "brilliant and ironical," according to the Vatican newspaper.

-- "Thriller" by Michael Jackson. The article described this album as "the masterpiece of the king of pop" and said its original approach went against the stereotypes of black music.

-- "Graceland" by Paul Simon, who used South African music with his own to create a multiethnic album that marked the birth of "world music," the newspaper said.

-- "Achtung Baby" by U2, a disk that stands out for its music and lyrics, and remains a symbol of the '90s, it said.

-- "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?" by Oasis. The group picks up the great tradition of the Beatles, but with a harder edge of punk and rock, it said.

-- "Supernatural" by Carlos Santana, seen as an avant-garde mix of blues, soul, salsa and rock.

The article ended by explaining why it left Bob Dylan off its list. While acknowledging his "great poetic vein," it said Dylan's greatest fault was to have inspired a generation of amateur singer-songwriters who have "severely tested the ears and patience of listeners, thinking that someone might be interested in their tortured meanderings."

Agree? Disagree? You know something's missing or doesn't belong. Leave your comments below.

Cell phone used to help young men hear call to priesthood

TCS — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:04:13 +0000

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (CNS) -- Allentown Bishop John O. Barres has taken a new approach to fostering vocations to the priesthood: making sure young men personally receive a call.

One morning in late December, many college-age men received phone calls or voice mail messages from Bishop Barres or two other diocesan priests asking them to consider a vocation to the priesthood.

"In this phase of the vocation initiative -- 'Hearing His Call' -- the focus has been on helping young men consider that the Lord might be calling them to this wonderful vocation," said Father Andrew Gehringer, diocesan director of vocations.

The priest, who also made the phone calls, told The A.D. Times, Allentown's diocesan newspaper, that the bishop's idea was inspired by New York Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, whom he heard made a personal call to a young man who was discerning a vocation to the priesthood.

In response to the idea, Father Gehringer and Father Scott Ardinger, at the time a diocesan official who is currently pursuing doctoral studies at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, Mundelein, Ill., composed a list of names and cell phone numbers of more than 35 young men.

The priests listed those "who have either thought about the possibility of a vocation to the priesthood or who just have the good qualities and natural goodness that we are looking for in possible candidates for the priesthood," Father Gehringer said.

These young men were some of those presented to the diocesan Office of Vocations by various priests throughout the diocese or those whom Father Ardinger had known from his contacts with high school and youth ministry.

Father Gehringer said the men were surprised when either he or Father Ardinger made the initial contact with them telling them that Bishop Barres would like to speak to them.

"A few of the men, naturally as college students, were actually sleeping at the time of the initial contact made by Father Ardinger or myself. However, some of the men actually expected the call," he said.

"But to get that one-on-one time with the bishop, who spoke to them about how their semester was going and how they were doing in their prayer life and discernment of their vocation, was the biggest surprise," he continued.

"Men attending universities like Scranton, Drexel, Fordham and Penn State, as well as other universities, heard Bishop Barres' sincere desire to encourage them to think about the possibility of being a priest," Father Gehringer said.

Such personal contact "is crucial" in the bishop's mind, he added.

"To form a culture of vocations, we need to cultivate the soil of the minds and hearts of our young people with the knowledge that God has wonderful plans for them," Father Gehringer said. "Once they hear and believe this truth, their hearts can expand around God's desire for them."

The priest said prayer was the focus of many of the conversations with the bishop. By the very question "how is your prayer life going?" these young men heard how important it was for them to make prayer a crucial part of their life so that they can seriously be open to what God has in store for them, he emphasized.

The phone call effort led up to a vocation awareness week in the diocese at the beginning of the year. Bishop Barres also used this year's Catholic School Week, which ended Feb. 4, to challenge all Catholics to continue to promote vocations, especially to the priesthood, in the lives of young people.

Rocker's road to sobriety and faith

TCS — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:54:28 +0000

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- For rock singer Christopher John Campion, the road to sobriety led him back to his Catholic faith and the church.

"I really feel like God has had his hand in my entire journey," Campion told Catholic News Service in a Feb. 11 telephone interview from his home in New York City.

Campion, 44, the lead singer in an indie-rock band called the Knockout Drops, had many lows on his bumpy road toward sobriety, which he achieved 10 years ago.

"I was so hot-wired into the mythology of drinking and boozing -- and drugs, too, but ... alcohol was my great love when it comes to all that stuff," said Campion, whose memoir, "Escape From Bellevue," came out in paperback after Christmas. "I was into all that myself: Jim Morrison and Jack Kerouac and (Irish author) Brendan Behan, (rock singer) Shane McGowan, you name any drunk artist, I was a fan of him."

Campion never defined himself as a nonbeliever, even during his most rambunctious periods. He recalled a face-to-face talk with Brother Gerard, an Augustinian monk who lived at Villanova University near Philadelphia, where Campion went to college.

"I was at the lunch table one day, and sat next to him, told a couple of off-color stories, made everybody laugh. When they all went away, I sidled up to him, and told him my problem. He invited me to his room," Campion told CNS.

He recounted that conversation with the monk, who asked him if he knew who St. Augustine was.

"He struggled with faith his whole life. And he was this boozing, womanizing saint," he told Campion, who replied that sounded like his "kind of saint!"

"He went on to tell me, 'Faith is dark. It requires a leap.' It was really an important moment," Campion said. "I said, 'You know, I miss that kind of belief and I really don't feel like going through life as an atheist, as someone who just has no hope.' I missed the camaraderie and a relationship with God, as well as the security of it."

Campion said he also has the utmost regard for the late Father Peter Sweisgood for staging an intervention to bring Campion's father back to sobriety.

When Campion was 14, the priest "drove a convertible. He looked like Ken Howard, the guy who played the coach on 'The White Shadow.' I think he played football at Fordham. And so my dad met him and he had a lot of respect for him. He was a man's man."

Alcoholism runs in his family, Chris Campion said. "We got to having so many interventions we started calling them 'surprise parties.'"

His brother, Billy Campion, also a rock musician, has gotten sober. Their parents are daily Massgoers. Chris Campion goes weekly, mostly to St. Joseph Church in his East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, but also to either St. Francis Assisi or St. Francis Xavier, also in Manhattan if he's not going to make it to St. Joseph on time.

One thing Campion feared was that drying out would rob him of his creative spark. "It turns out I was dead wrong. As soon as I got up on dry land, my imagination came back threefold. It was an avalanche of ideas."

And not just songs, either. Campion wrote a stage play that shares the same title as his memoir, "Escape From Bellevue." The play details his sobering up at the Bellevue Hospital Center in New York, where he escaped not once but twice from earlier attempts to get him straight.

His memoir -- released in hardback last June -- is not for the faint of heart as it serves up, often in vulgar detail, events of Campion's booze-drenched odyssey. "Some people may find it profane, but I never intended to be that way. I did not write to try to shock anybody," he said. "I said a prayer to the Holy Spirit and let whatever come out, come out. There was very little editing."

Despite the episodes showing Campion careening in despair toward his eventual redemption, there are still moments so touching that even the author remains affected by them.

"I'm doing this weekly serialization of the book at a place in the East Village," he said. "I read a short passage from each chapter. I was going to do Chapter 1 about my first Communion and how my father was cleaning me off (after he got sick in church). I was practicing the reading, but I got so choked up thinking about it, I went over to a different reading. I didn't think I was going to make it through that first one without crying onstage."

Purchase from Amazon
Escape from Bellevue: A Dive Bar Odyssey

Catholics see U.S. moral values as declining

TCS — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:35:59 +0000

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Although they are more likely to describe themselves as liberal, the youngest American Catholic adults believe almost as strongly as other generations that the nation's moral values are headed in the wrong direction.

The millennial generation of Catholics, ages 18-29, also are more likely than those of Generation X (ages 30-44) or the baby-boom generation (ages 45-64) to say that commitment to marriage is not valued enough in this country.

Eighty-two percent of Catholic millennials said marital commitment is not valued enough, exceeded only by the 89 percent of the "greatest generation," those over 65, who said so. Seventy-nine percent of Generation X Catholics and 77 percent of baby boomers agreed.

Those were among the results of a survey commissioned by the Knights of Columbus and made public Feb. 11.

The survey -- conducted by the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. -- included a number of values-related questions along with others about ideology, religious practices and beliefs, life goals, business ethics and feelings about the nation's future.

Asked whether "moral values in this country are headed in the right direction or the wrong direction," 67 percent of Americans said it was headed down the wrong path.

The percentage of those who felt that way increased with age; 72 percent of those 65 and older and 60 percent of the millennial generation saw a decline in moral values. The Generation X and baby-boomer respondents were at 65 percent and 69 percent, respectively.

The survey also asked whether respondents considered themselves liberal. One-third of the millennials said they were, as compared to 28 percent of Generation X, 29 percent of baby boomers and 18 percent of the greatest generation.

Respondents also were asked whether each of 12 "social virtues" were "generally valued or not valued enough."

The only virtue that at least 77 percent of every generation said was undervalued was commitment to marriage.

Three-quarters of Catholic millennials said respect for a person's hard work and honesty and integrity were not valued enough.

Among Generation X Catholics, 80 percent said respect for other people was not valued enough, while 74 percent said honesty and integrity were undervalued.

Seventy-five percent of Catholic baby boomers said they thought personal responsibility and respect for other people were not valued enough in American society, while 75 percent of the oldest Catholics said respect for the law was not valued enough.

The social virtue seen as undervalued by the smallest percentage of each generation of Catholics was religious observance. Only 43 percent of millennials, 47 percent of Generation X, 51 percent of baby boomers and 52 percent of the greatest generation said religious observance was not valued enough.

Although the percentages were slightly lower in most cases, the same patterns emerged among the total population of each generation, with commitment to marriage and personal responsibility seen as undervalued social virtues by the largest percentages of each group.

Marist conducted the survey Dec. 23-Jan. 4 among 2,243 Americans, including an oversample of 1,006 millennials.

The margin of error for the survey was plus or minus 2 percentage points for Americans and plus or minus 3 percentage points for millennials.

5 best Catholic films of all time

TCS — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 04:38:32 +0000

It's nearly impossible to define the 5 'BEST' Catholic films of all time — but hey, give it your best shot. What is a 'Catholic' film anyway? For the purposes of this list, it should contain elements that are unique to the Catholic Church, Catholic life or have a Catholic theme. Share your choices in the comments below . . .