Catholic Adventure Novelist Todd Smith's Summer Reading Picks

Guests for Friday, 6/5/2009

Dan Egan is online at bibletidbits.blogspot.com.

Mike Aquilina is online at fathersofthechurch.com.


Information on Theology of the Body for Teens classes is online at ruahwoods.org.

If you're planning on joining us to Cross the Bridge for Life on Sunday (and we know you are), you can visit walkthebridge.com for all the details.

Steven Greydanus' review of "My Life in Ruins" is online at decentfilms.com.

Fr Greg Friedman is online at franciscanradio.org.


Dr Matthew Bunson, author of "The Encyclopedia of Saints"


Michael Walsh is online at yomichael.com.

Rich Leonardi is online at richleonardi.blogspot.com.

Scott Campbell, author of "The Ten Testaments"


Cheryl Dickow is online at bezalelbooks.com and woman.catholicexchange.com.

Today's news...

Here's the data from the 2009 Official Catholic Directory.

The Primate of Ireland and Archbishop of Dublin meet with Pope Benedict today to discuss the Ryan Report.

The requirements for the beatification of Pope John Paul II could be met this year, according to a former Vatican spokesman.

Today's news...

Watch Omaha Archbishop-elect George Lucas' introductory press conference.

One priest's views on the 20th anniversary of Tiananmen Square.

Pope Benedict tells pilgrims to find God in their everyday lives - even on vacation.

Rita Heikenfeld's Mint Tea and Spa Water Recipes

Nice and summery- find more at abouteating.com:

MINT TEA
1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves (or 1 teaspoon dry) to a cup of very hot water. Steep a few minutes, strain and add honey to taste.

And also:

SPA WATER

Just fill a pitcher or glass half way up with peppermint. Mint is mentioned in the bible as one of the tithing herbs. Then add some lemon slices. Fill with good quality water and bruise the peppermint and lemon with a spoon as you go. The lemon juice helps you burn carbs more efficiently, helps form and repair collagen and is a gentle liver cleanser. The peppermint is an energizing herb. If you want to sweeten it, add a little honey, another food from the Bible that is energy giving.

Rita's Resources on Mary Gardens for the Visually Impaired

Here are Rita's recommendations for plants:

Anise (Dill): Matthew 23:23. A tithing herb, which later had its translation changed to mean Dill. Dill was a rare herb in Palestine.� Feathery feeling. Tastes like a dill pickle.

Fennel. Matthew 23:23. Another tithing herb that, from a distance, looks exactly like dill. Feathery leaves and a licorice scent and taste make this a beautiful background plant.

Bay: Psalms 37:35. Used to make crowns for Greek heroes and poets. A symbol of both wickedness and wealth, and a great salt buster.� Bay leaves are very smooth to the touch and the aroma is subtle, yet spicy.

Coriander (Cilantro) Exodus 16:31; Numbers 11:7. Coriander, the little round seed of this herb, is so viable that after it was found in Egyptian tombs and planted, it was actually able to sprout.� Cilantro has a clean citrusy scent, and the leaves are lacy.

Cumin: Isaiah 28:25; Matthew 23:23. Another tithing herb. This herb needs a good long season of warmth to grow. I have grown it successfully in my herb garden, but not to the stage where it forms seeds. The aroma of cumin seeds is warm and reminiscent of Indian, Asian and Southwestern foods.

Flax: Proverbs 31:13. Used to make cloth for both the infant Jesus� swaddling clothes and His burial shroud. The beautiful blue flowers have no scent but the leaves and stem are quite unusual, as the leaves are feathery feeling yet the stem is slim but sturdy. A source of linen. Lowers cholesterol and lubricates joints.

Garlic/Leeks, Onions. Numbers 11:5. Just crushing the flat, lance like smooth leaves of these root vegetables releases a strong aroma which wakens the senses. Leeks have a more delicate flavor and the leaves are wider. The leaves come to a point in all three of these plants, and harvesting them is fun, since they all have hairy roots attached to the bulb. All members of this family are good for the heart, and garlic helps the immune system. The slaves who built the pyramids ate garlic as a vegetable for the health giving properties.

Mint: Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42. A valuable tithing herb. Great for digestion. There are so many kinds of mints with so many aromas. Some mints have a clean, medicinal aroma, like peppermint, while spearmint is sweeter and most likely it was spearmint grown during Bible days. Apple mint has wide, furry leaves and smells like apples and mint. Lemon balm is a member of the mint family and has delicate, lined leaves.

Mustard: Matthew 13:31. �The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed��Wild mustard abounds in early spring. The flowers of mustard are shaped like a cross, and mustard has thermogenic properties, meaning it may cause a rise in metabolism, helping to burn fat. The leaves of mustard have a hot, spicy flavor. The seeds are used to make common yellow mustard and are the basis for gourmet mustards.

Oregano (Hyssop): Exodus 12:22. Moses told the Israelites to dip a branch of hyssop in lamb's blood to mark their door posts. Some scholars believe hyssop to be a type of oregano/marjoram. Oregano is peppery in flavor, and the leaves can either be pointy and smooth, or rounded and somewhat hairy. Crushing the leaves releases a scent that reminds one of pizza.

Rue. Luke 11:42. Rue has a sweet scent and small rounded leaves. Grown in the Jewish home garden, it provides an essential oil which was mainly used medicinally. It was used as a disinfectant in prisons and in the Holy Land can grow up to 5 feet tall. A beautiful gray/blue background plant.

Aloe. (John 19:38) An easily grown succulent, the leaves of this plant are fleshy and firm and have very rough edges. The inside of the leaf is a very healing substance.


Fragrant and tactile plants and herbs associated with Bible times:

Chives. Both onion and garlic chives are good substitutes for leeks and onions because they don't take up much room. Onion chives smell like green onions, while garlic chives have a very mild garlic aroma. The flower heads on both feel like clover blossoms.

Rosemary. Rosemary's leaves are needle like, and a strong aroma of pine is apparent when the leaves are crushed. Supposedly this herb was named Rosemary because Mary tossed her blue cloak over the bush and the flowers turned blue. Full of anti-oxidants.

Marigold. Think of the name: "Mary's Gold". Calendula is called pot marigold and is used in salads and in spa treatment. The flower is shaped like a daisy with a center that is very soft. It doesn't have much of an aroma, but the leaves have a somewhat rough, sticky texture.

Costmary. Called alecost in the early days since it was used to make ale, this strewing herb is a member of the Chrysanthemum family and has a balsam, somewhat minty like scent. The leaves are long and oval and have a soft feel. Called Bible herb since people used to use them as bookmarks in their bible. When they opend the Bible, the scent of costmary was energizing and the leaves stayed intact for a long time. In the middle ages this herb was known as Herbe St. Marie. The leaves are edible.

Lavender. Some scholars think the spikenard of the Bible referred to lavender, With its narrow, flat or serrated leaves, the entire plant emits a sweet aroma especially around noontime when the heat of the sun is intense. The flowers are borne on longish spikes.

Lady's bedstraw, Sweet Woodruff and Thyme. Beds were made of straw during Bible days, and legend has it that Jesus' bed had bedstraw, thyme and sweet woodruff lining it. Lady's bedstraw is straw-like yet forms a fairly soft mat when patted down with the hands. Sweet woodruff is a low growing plant that smells like vanilla. Thyme has a peppery, savory taste and there are so many different kinds, from wooly thyme that feels like wool, to the steppin� thymes, which form a fragrant mat to walk on.

Roses. Choose roses with a strong scent. The stems are thorny and remind us of Christ's crucifixion and suffering, the leaves are leather-like and the petals of the flower are smooth and silky feeling.

Guests for Thursday, 6/4/2009

Anthony Buono is online at avemariasingles.com.

Pray for Fr. Shawn Landenwitch as he begins his life as a priest! Visit cincinnativocations.org for more information on vocations.

Kevin Wright and the World Religious Travel Association are online at wrtareligioustravel.com.


Send your questions for Catholic counselor Kevin Prendergast to sonrise@sacredheartradio.com.

Fr Rob Jack is online at revrobjack.com.

Marybeth Hicks is online at marybethhicks.com.


Rita Heikenfeld is online at abouteating.com.

Dan Egan is online at bibletidbits.blogspot.com.

Barry Michaels is online at barrymichaelsbooks.com.


For more information on this upcoming weekend's record-breaking (hint, hint) "Cross the Bridge for Life," visit walkthebridge.com.

Information on this Summer's "Theology of the Body for Teens" classes is online at ruahwoods.org.


Andy Schmitt, VP of Investments for Raymond James and Associates (and a Son Rise Morning Show underwriter!) is online at prolifeinvestor.com.

Sister Judith Metz, SC is part of this year's Spirituality Institute at the College of Mount St. Joseph. For more information, visit msj.edu.

Today's news...

Springfield Bishop George Lucas is appointed to be the next Archbishop of Omaha. Check out more about him on Rocco's site.

The USCCB's Pro-life chair, Cardinal Justin Rigali, recently released a statement condemning the murder of abortionist Dr. George Tiller.

There's a new Major of the Apostolic Penitentiary.

Guests for Wednesday, 6/3/2009

Paula Westwood is online at cincinnatirighttolife.org.

Bill Donaghy is online at twistedmystics.blogspot.com.

Pray for Frs. Matt Lee and Shawn Landenwitch as they live out their priestly vocation!

Jay Richards, author of "Money, Greed, and God"


Mike Aquilina is online at fathersofthechurch.com.
The new video on St Perpetua that he's a part of can be found at catholicheroesofthefaith.com.


Anthony Buono is online at avemariasingles.com.

Fr James Kubicki is online at apostleshipofprayer.org.

Fr Phillip DeVous and the Acton Institute for Religion and Liberty are online at acton.org.

Kevin Wright and the World Religious Travel Association are online at religioustravelassociation.com.


Marybeth Hicks, author of "Bringing up GEEKS"


Bob Lockwood has a new book, "A Guy's Guide to the Good Life"


Rebecca Taylor's thoughts on all things Catholic and Bioethical are online at marymeetsdolly.com.

Awesome New Website on Fr. Damien

The Diocese of Honolulu has made digital preparations for the Fall canonization of Blessed Damien of Molokai. Check it out here.

Supplemental Audio/Visual Materials for Twisted Mystical Accompaniment

Listen along, and think about how Neil might have written things differently if he had read John Paul II's "Theology of the Body."

And if you have trouble making the connection, Bill Donaghy can help.

Guests for Tuesday, 6/2/2009

Dan Turnwald and the Knights of Columbus are online at kofc.org.

Fr Phillip DeVous and the Acton Institute are online at acton.org.

Barry Michaels is online at barrymichaelsbooks.com.


Fr James Kubicki is online at apostleshipofprayer.org.

Bill Donaghy is online at missionmoment.org.
He blogs at twistedmystics.blogspot.com.

Kevin Schmiesing is online at catholichistory.net.

Paula Westwood and Right to Life are online at nrlc.org.

Send your questions for Catholic counselor Kevin Prendergast to sonrise@sacredheartradio.com.

Dr Benjamin Wiker has a new book out, "The Darwin Myth."


Dr Jennifer Roback Morse is online here.


Info on Pigfest at St. Joseph Academy in Walton can be found here.

Rich Leonardi is online at richleonardi.blogspot.com.

Disgusted, Yes. Conservative? Well....

According to syndicated columnist Nicholas Kristoff, if you get disgusted, you're probably conservative, while if you don't, you're probably liberal.

This stunning observation on the human condition is courtesy of unnamed "evolutionary psychologists," who seem to have as much scientific credibility as "symbologist" Robert Langdon of DaVinci Code fame. These academic giants theorize that in the far distant past, disgust protected people from health risks such as spoiled foods, an emotional reaction that later transfered to (or, as Kristof says, that societies "came to apply" to) social risks.

Liberals, apparently, have managed to dispense with this evolutionary (or was that psychosomatic?) development. Nothing disgusts them. They are disgust-free, whether it comes to watching their dogs eat poop or contemplating alternative lifestyles. For them, morality derives from fairness and preventing harm -- unless you define harm as, say, an alternative lifestyle.

Conservatives, on the other hand, feel a great deal of disgust. They are disgust-ful, whether they are surveying the state of a gas station restroom or watching a performance by the local Rainbow Band. For them, morality derives from loyalty and upholding authority -- unless the authority is a liberal such as, say, the President of the United States.

That this pronouncement is false is easy to prove. All you have to do is question global warming in public and you will see fine displays of liberal disgust. That this is just plain silly is even easier to see. All you have to do is finish the column. The cure for this evolutionary trait (never mind that in such contexts, evolution is usually a good thing) is easy: Just sit down to dinner with an opponent and the "battle lines that seem embedded in us" just melt away.

No, the thing that bothers me most about this column isn't its lack of truth or its silliness, it's that I don't fit in either camp. I admit that I do feel disgust on a regular basis, for things like this column as well as for things like my dog's habit of peeing, just every so often, on my dining room rug. So according to these symbologists -- er, evolutionary psychologists -- I'm a conservative. And it's true that I do believe a small government is best, that family is the basis of society, and that human life is sacred at all ages and stages.

But I'm not hot on the death penalty. I know that poor people often do need a break, that the economy must serve people and not people the economy, and that we should all be in solidarity with each other. And distributism doesn't seem like the worst idea I've ever heard.

The way I see it, I'm not liberal or conservative. I'm Catholic. A little liberal here, a little conservative there. What that says about my evolutionary state, I'm not certain. But if Nicholas Kristof wants to talk about it over dinner some time, I'm game. Fish dinner. On Friday.

Today's news...

A number of pro-life groups have decried the murder of abortionist George Tiller. Here are statments from Priests for Life, the Family Research Council, and Women Influencing the Nation.

Pope Benedict celebrates Mass on Pentecost Sunday.

The Holy Father sends the World Youth Day cross to L'Aquila.

Todd Smith's Summer Reading Picks

Guests for Monday, 6/1/2009

Kevin Schmiesing is online at catholichistory.net.

Fr Cedric Pisegna is online at frcedric.org.


Information on the upcoming Pigfest at St. Joseph Academy in Walton can be found here.

Katrina Zeno, author of "When Life Doesn't Go Your Way"


Dr Jennifer Roback Morse is online here.


Randy Hain's article on raising children of character is online at Catholic Exchange.

Marge Fenelon, author of "When's God Gonna Show Up?"


Rich Leonardi runs the blog Ten Reasons.

Dan Turnwald and the Knights of Columbus are online at kofc.org.

Steven Greydanus has a review of "Up" at decentfilms.com.

Steve Abdalla and Wee Believers are online at weebelievers.com.

Continue to pray for Fr. Matt Lee in his first days as a new priest!
cincinnativocations.org.