Convert purchasing power throughout time

Enter a sum of money from one time period, and this calculator will tell you what it's worth in another time period.

via DarwinCatholic

The spiritual benefits of eating locally

Some interesting points by Katie Rose.

The Association of St. Francis de Sales

I wanted to share this comment I got to this post at my other blog, since this organization sounds so cool. Geomama wrote:

I loved the Introduction to the Devout Life so much that I set out to find people who lived that kind of spirituality. Check out the Association of St. Francis de Sales. I'm going through a 2-year "formation" period to become a consecrated "Daughter of St. Francis de Sales" (wish they had a catchier name). It's all about living the devout life in any vocation (I'm the mother of 5). Each person in formation is assigned to a "companion" (a consecrated Daughter) who helps us apply the teachings/virtues to our lives.

Very cool!

A cute interactive dog trick game

Type in a command and watch the doggy do your trick!

Temperaments and conversion

Devin Rose makes some interesting points about the different motives that drive people's religious quests.

A wholeness of vision

A blogger shares the powerful story of two babies who were conceived under far-from-ideal circumstances, whom many people would consider "poster children for the pro-choice movement." A fascinating post.

A video of the world's smallest horse

The little girl who paints God

A really neat video about child prodigy Akiane Kramarik:

A video from 1930: "Fashion in the year 2000"

We cannot forget about the power of beauty

A thought-provoking analysis from Rebecca Teti. She writes:

I agree completely with [Barbara] Nicolosi's longstanding criticism of contemporary Christianity, especially Catholic Christianity: that it has radically abdicated its understanding of the power of beauty; and since beauty might be the only argument for God the people of our time are actually open to, that means we are largely failing to tell the Christian story to the world.

Read the rest here.

Stunning photos from inside the womb

This is some amazing footage, broken down by each stage of development. Click on the links to see the videos. Here's an example of a 9-week-old baby inside the womb.

via Red Cardigan

"How do you reach Easter when you're stranded in Gethsemane?"

A beautiful, poignant article by a woman who unexpectedly lost her mother right before Easter. She writes:

If the Easter message does not apply in every single circumstance of life—however sordid, tragic or mundane—then the resurrection is either a pipe dream or we have failed to glimpse its significance. If the risen Christ cannot answer our deepest agony, redeem the most grotesque sin, kindle flame in the coldest heart, then Christianity, and Jesus Himself, are just childish, pious concepts.

"If Christ is not risen," St. Paul writes, "our faith is in vain."

But if He is...then, as St. Augustine says, the Christian should be an alleluia from head to foot.

Read the rest here.

"Our experience with co-schooling"

Bearing talks about her experience sharing homeschooling duties with other families.

Highlighting beauty in the online world

A site that features Catholic websites and blogs that are well-designed. From their About page:

We believe that being entrusted with the Fullness of Truth, the Church has a responsibility to share this truth with the whole world, so that the beauty of Christ can radiate through his word, his body, and his liturgy.

That includes the way that the truth is presented to people. Eleven hundred years ago, a monk named Theophilus wrote a guide for master craftsmen to follow in creating stained glass windows for churches and cathedrals. Theophilus understood that this technique could be an instrument to teach and inspire people.

It’s our hope that we can inspire the church, just as Theophilus inspired craftsmen to strive only for the highest levels of quality in sharing Christ with the world.

Check out the site here.

Thoughts on the importance of a classics education

As someone who did not receive much education in the classics, I found this article interesting. An excerpt:

The wisest ancients, both sacred and secular, sought as their social ideal the good man or woman who could speak well. A clever use of words wasn't enough; one had to use words for right and good ends...Also, the ancients have taught us to distrust, or at least question, our emotions, our passions, which they seemed to consider guilty until proven innocent. That would be heresy on the afternoon talk show circuit now but, between Seneca and Oprah, I know whom I'd rather trust.

Read the rest here.

A list of Catholic convert bloggers

An interesting, well done list.

A brief history of the hatred of cilantro

As someone who would rather eat dirt than cilantro, I found this fascinating.

Is celibacy healthy?

A great article by bestselling author Fr. James Martin.

"The doctrine of Original Sin gets proven in every generation"

A great article on Church crises, anger and the importance of perspective. An excerpt:

The spiritual perils of anger are often caused a lack of perspective. We see what is going on around us, get angry and suddenly move from the realm of righteous anger to the mindset that “this is the worst age ever!” Problems of today are magnified under the lens of the 24/7 news cycle, while problems of the past are either forgotten or seen in a clinical, detached manner. We study the saints of the past, but ignore the sinners.

Being deep in history thus changes one’s perspective: you see the problems of today in light of past crises....Acknowledging the sins of the past doesn’t mean that we can’t have righteous anger today, but it does put that anger in proper perspective, keeping it from disturbing the peace all Christians should have at all times.

The Catholic who allows anger to be his controlling emotion is a Catholic who is full of fear.

Read the rest here.

The Dorito-stealing seagull!

The meeting on the road to Emmaus as a description of the Mass

Interesting!

"It is that very short distance that forbids us to judge"

A must-read post from Bethany Hudson about her hope for her father's soul after his recent suicide.

Insects with morning dew

Some great pictures.

The fascinating story of Mother Angelica and EWTN

A great story, and a great lesson in trusting that God will provide.

The mentality of a falling empire

Thought-provoking words from St. Augustine.

Quote to ponder: Merton on fear of suffering

"The truth that many people never understand, until it is too late, is that the more you try to avoid suffering the more you suffer because smaller and more insignificant things begin to torture you in proportion to your fear of being hurt."

- Thomas Merton

"Let Us Make This Week Holy"

A beautiful reflection from Sister Thea Bowman.