Free Republic

The Recovery of the Sacred The Dutch historian and philosopher of religion Gerardus van der Leeuw once said, “The modern man is not capable of finding himself in several circles simultaneously as his primitive cousins did. ‘When we dance, we do not pray; when we pray, we do not dance. And when we work, we can neither dance nor pray.’” In a word, the sense of the sacred has disappeared. But not completely nor irretrievably. The Liturgy of the Church is a moment where all the dimensions of our lives come before the living God. It is the place where...

I was doing a Wikipedia search on Our Lady of Lourdes and I came across this website. I didn't realize the 150th anniversary was coming up and that there was a large event planned for it and, as far as I know, not many other people have heard of it either. This would be a wonderful pilgrimage opportunity for Church groups. I am thinking about going, and I'll probably take my mother along as well. Check out the website, they even have a live feed! What do you think?

Simpsons: Protestant Vs. Catholic Heaven One of my friends sent me this YouTube video on Myspace, enjoy!

BEIT HANOUN, Gaza Strip — Hamas' supreme leader on Wednesday called off a cease-fire with Israel and the group's military wing threatened to attack Americans after 18 members of a family, including eight children, were killed in an Israeli artillery barrage on a densely populated neighborhood.

Whether in a bar or on the battlefield, it’s easier to fight knowing friends have your back. The same is true in the ant world. A new study shows ants are more aggressive when they think they’re part of a larger group. The research showed that ants fighting for a piece of tuna soaked in pineapple juice—a precious commodity for the invertebrates—acted more aggressively if they felt they were part of a community.

I found one of my dad's old National Geographic magazines, and it had some neat pictures on the crusades that I thought I would share. Peter Bartholomew, a servent in the Crusader army, told the nobles that St. Andrew had revealed to him the hiding place of the lance that pierced Christ's side at the Crucifiction. Here, after a search beneath the Church of St. Peter, Crusaders gasp as Bartholomew uncovers a corroded lance head. Hope rekindled, the knights broke the Muslim siege the next day.Braving a Rain of Arrows, Europeans Route the Turks on the Plains of Antioch.Crusaders Marching...

RICHMOND, Va. - Sometime around 1610, archaeologists figure, a thirsty colonist in Jamestown set his brass pistol on the side of a well as he pulled up some water and accidentally knocked the weapon in.

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Gunfire erupted as hundreds of young people left a party at a Knights of Columbus hall early Sunday, killing two men and injuring nine, some critically, police said.

Imagine: you are a foot soldier in a paramilitary group whose purpose is to remake America as a Christian theocracy, and establish its worldly vision of the dominion of Christ over all aspects of life. You are issued high-tech military weaponry, and instructed to engage the infidel on the streets of New York City. You are on a mission - both a religious mission and a military mission -- to convert or kill Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, gays, and anyone who advocates the separation of church and state - especially moderate, mainstream Christians.

6 Gitmo Inmates Hurt in Fight With Guards May 19 3:56 PM US/Eastern Email this story By BEN FOX Associated Press Writer SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico Prisoners wielding improvised weapons attacked military guards trying to save a detainee pretending to commit suicide at the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the base commander said Friday. Six prisoners were injured.

Less than six months after Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson announced that the Knights of Columbus would expand to Poland, the Order is beginning to take hold there. A development team led by Supreme Master Joseph P. Schultz, Ronald J. Tracz, administrative assistant to the supreme knight (fraternal affairs), and Wojciech Dadak, a Supreme Council office consultant for Polish affairs, has made two trips to Poland to lay the groundwork in several areas in central and southern Poland, including Krakow and the capitol, Warsaw.

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's Reform Minister Roberto Calderoli has had T-shirts made emblazoned with cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad in a move that could embarrass Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government.

TURIN, Italy - Chad Hedrick cut through the ice in his first Olympic race — arms swinging furiously, body gently swaying, mouth hanging open. When he crossed the line, flipped back his hood and caught a glimpse of the scoreboard, it was time to let out a Texas-sized yell. Yeeeaaaaah! "The Exception" was downright exceptional.

Hi everyone, I need some informational help in regards to conservative seminaries, preferably in the New Jersey area, but anywhere in the US is fine. I was hoping that some of my fellow Catholics here would be able to provide me with the info I need.

ANKARA, Turkey — A court has approved the release from prison the man who shot Pope John Paul II in 1981, saying he completed his sentence for crimes he committed in Turkey, the semiofficial Anatolia news agency reported Sunday.

First European Councils to be Established in Poland in 2006 As the Knights of Columbus prepares to establish its first European councils in Poland, the organization has unveiled a special section of its Web site in the Polish language. The Polish section of the Knights of Columbus Web site is located at www.kofc.org/polski. Polish becomes the fourth language of the Web site, which has long had sections in English, French and Spanish. Among the 1.7 million members of the Order are approximately 100,000 French-speaking Canadian members, and thousands of Spanish-speaking members in the United States, Mexico and Central and South...

Attn: NJ Freepers Does anyone know if the 2 propostions that we voted on last night passed or failed? I can't seem to find them anywhere. They were to create a lieutenant governor position, and a tax raise for some kind of underground sorage tank project. If you have any info on these, please let me know! I really hope they did not pass.....