With the creation of my Young and Catholic blog, I'll be very scarce here. Maintaining one blog is time-consuming enough. Should you be interested in reading my continued ramblings, go here.


posted by Tim Drake at 9:17 AM

Does this sound like most young Catholics you know?

The National Catholic Reporter recently sent correspondent Jeff Severns Guntzel to cover the Nov. 5-7, 2004 Call to Action Conference in Milwaukee. Sensing that their numbers are growing older, the gathering is now reaching out to include a "NextGen" group of 18-42 year olds. My question: does this sound like the majority of young Catholics that you know? Are these the young who attend World Youth Day by the millions?

posted by Tim Drake at 10:33 AM

Advance Praise for Young and Catholic: The Face of Tomorrow's Church

"Chesterton quipped 70 years ago that 'When Ibsen spoke of the new generation knocking at the door, he certainly never expected that it would be the church-door.' Every generation produces its crop of sophisticates who declare the Faith decrepit, only to find that their children are clamoring for Jesus Christ and are not much interested in the lifeless platitudes of sophisticates. Tim Drake shows how, once again, Jesus calls the young to a life of heroism, glory and beauty in a world that offers only timidity, dullness and flash. May the prayers of Our Lady, who was "younger than sin", be with this new generation of Catholics contending for the Faith--and with Mr. Drake and his fine work."
- Mark P. Shea, Senior Content Editor, www.CatholicExchange.com

"There's a whole new generation of saints-in-the-making at the cutting edge of a major revival in the Catholic Church today, and this book tells their story."
- Leon Suprenant, president, Catholics United for the Faith

“Young and Catholic is a much needed hope-filled book for these transitional times. It is filled with “Good News” about the future of the Church – stories of prayerful families yielding fruit, burgeoning seminaries and convents, young people resisting the current by leading active devotional lives. Tim Drake sees a revitalized Church of the future."
- Tom Allen, president, CatholicExchange.com

"Magnificent! In the midst of widespread confusion about what it means to be a faithful Catholic, God has blessed the Church with these courageous young men and women who have independently sought and embraced the splendor of Christ! This book gives hope to even the weariest of souls."
- Patrick Reilly, executive director, Cardinal Newman Society

“Young Catholics giving up on the Church? Don't believe it, says Tim Drake. In Young and Catholic: The Face of Tomorrow's Church he supplies an exciting and--dare I say it?--edifying portrait of vibrant young people proud and happy to accept the challenge of being Catholic. Now the challenge for us older Catholics is to leave them a Church that lives up to their expectations.”
- Russell Shaw, journalist, Our Sunday Visitor and Columbia Magazine

To order, visit:
Young and Catholic: The Face of Tomorrow's Church

or call 1-800-888-9344

Young and Catholic: The Face of Tomorrow's Church (Sophia Institute Press)
by Tim Drake
ISBN: 1-928832-93-8
Price: $16.95



posted by Tim Drake at 11:01 AM

Time to Vote for Your Catholic Movie Favorites

Well, the nominations are in. The National Catholic Register and Faith and Family Magazine have compiled a list of more than 100 nominations for people's favorite "pro-Catholic" films. Now it's time to vote for the finalists.

Those interested in the Catholic Movie Poll can now choose among their personal top five favorites. Voting ends on June 28, 2004.




posted by Tim Drake at 10:25 PM

Catholic Movie Poll

The National Catholic Register and Faith and Family Magazine are conducting a Catholic Movie Poll. What film has made you most proud to be Catholic? Register your nomination here:

http://www.catholicworldmission.kintera.org/catholicmoviepoll


posted by Tim Drake at 7:01 PM

My Life After the Passion
If you haven't seen it, you might check out the "My Life After the Passion of the Christ" web site. It has some inspiring stories of how the film has impacted people's lives.
posted by Tim Drake at 8:28 PM

The Passion
Everyone is weighing in with their thoughts on "The Passion." Why should I be any different?

The difficulty is knowing where to begin, for the film truly does defy any attempt to use words to describe it. Words are superfluous, as many viewers will attest.

I walked out of the theater after experiencing it on Wednesday, and neither my friend nor I said a word to one another. We didn't know what to say. We didn't know what to do with what we had just experienced, and so we sat in his minivan and prayed. I wept.

As I've noted elsewhere, the full bucket of popcorn that I saw sitting in the aisle on my way out said as much to me about the power of the film as theater-goer's tears and silence.

I'm a visual guy. Always have been. Always will be. I grew up on television. Prior to "The Passion of the Christ", the last film I stood in a long line to see was "Star Wars" (the original). When our family purchased their first VCR, and when MTV came into our home, those were significant events.

Thus, "The Passion" has provided something that up until now has been difficult for my mind to imagine. Ever since seeing it, I find myself dwelling upon some of its images. The film abides in me. That's the only way I know how to explain it.

As cliched as it sounds, I also find that I'm looking at the world a bit differently. Lent has been put into a sharper focus. My own failings, and my resolve to overcome them, have taken on greater importance.

The film's Catholicism is overwhelming...

The disciples frequently call Mary, "mother." The film is a living Stations of the Cross, the Sorrowful Mysteries, and a Crucifix. Christ building and testing his weight on a table (an allusion to the Eucharist). The Passover bread being unveiled as Christ's garments are stripped. Mary kissing the feet of Jesus. Veronica wiping the face of Christ. Christ crushing the head of the serpent in the garden. Claudia bringing Mary the linens to wipe up the sacred blood of her Son.

In fact, it's the most overtly Catholic film I've ever seen. The more I reflect on the film, the more meaning I discover. Throughout the day, when I recall certain scenes - most especially the scene where Mary runs to her Son, tears fill my eyes.

The day after the film, I spent time before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament at Eucharistic Adoration. As much as I wanted to gaze upon our Eucharistic Lord, I found it difficult to look at him. Images from the film filled my mind, convicting me of my own complicity in Christ’s suffering and death. My sins nailed him there. His blood was poured out for me.

Gibson’s film doesn’t let me escape that fact. It forces me to confront all that my own sins have done to him, most especially after he is taken from the cross and laid in his mother’s arms. Mary’s penetrating gaze says, “Look what you’ve done to my son,” and “Look what he has done for you.”

As of this writing approximately 19.2 million people have seen the film. I would like to hope that this film would have some effect, not only on those who have seen it, but also on our families and communities at large. May the love of Christ overflow into all of our relationships with one another. May "The Passion of the Christ" lead to a palpable reduction in the sin that our world is so awash in.









posted by Tim Drake at 9:52 AM

States I've Visited


create your own personalized map of the USA
or write about it on the open travel guide

posted by Tim Drake at 2:15 PM

Where I've Been in the Word


create your own visited country map


posted by Tim Drake at 2:08 PM

The Passion of the Christ: What Hasn't Been Covered?
Amidst all of the controversy and all of the reviews, both negative and positive, there's a very important story that has yet to be addressed?

If the film opens big and garners blockbuster status, what will Gibson and Company do with all of the money that they make? Won't that say as much, if not even more, than what the film has to say?

I heard rumors many months ago that some of the money might go toward the creation of a Christian film fund to help fund other worthwhile Christian film products. That story, if there is one, has been completely ignored by the press.

Or, will Gibson and company simply pocket the change?

Given his comments to Sawyer about the emptiness of that lifestyle and his riches, and his lack of desire to go back to acting jobs like those in his previous films, it would stand to reason that "The Passion" isn't about money, or is it?
posted by Tim Drake at 4:12 PM

The Pope and the Passion: Did He or Did He Not Say It?

Peggy Noonan and Rod Dreher have covered the controversy surrounding whether the Holy Father said, "It is as it was," regarding Mel Gibson's motion picture, "The Passion of the Christ".

This morning, Vatican Information Services released the following statement. It says very little.

HOLY FATHER HAS SEEN MEL GIBSON'S FILM "THE PASSION"

VATICAN CITY, JAN 22, 2004 (VIS) - The following statement was released this morning by Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls:

"After consultation with the Holy Father's personal secretary, Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, I can confirm that the Pope has had the opportunity to see the film, 'The Passion of the Christ'. The film is the cinematographic recounting of the historical fact of the passion of Jesus Christ according to the Gospel accounts.

"It is the Holy Father's custom not to express public judgments on artistic works, judgments which are always open to diverse evaluations of an
aesthetic nature."

OP/FILM THE PASSION/NAVARRO-VALLS VIS 040122 (110)

posted by Tim Drake at 8:24 AM

posted by Tim Drake at 8:16 AM