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The Deacon's Bench

“An event that commentators repeatedly described as an ‘only in America’ catharsis had its closest parallel overseas. No inauguration has generated the kinds of crowds and emotions that surrounded Mr. Obama’s. In recent memory, the event that probably came the closest was the pilgrimage that John Paul II made to his native Poland in 1979,…

Over a ZENIT, they’ve posted a little something about a spreading liturgical innovation: ovation. Take a look: Q: The parishioners in our church used to be spontaneous in their reactions to excellent homilies that the priests deliver. The parishioners, sometimes, respectfully applaud after the homily, either to communicate that they are in agreement with the…

Regarding the Rick Warren prayer, a reader dropped me an e-mail to point out that, in one short paragraph, the pastor managed to reference the three great monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam: Almighty God — our Father. (Christians) Everything we see, and everything we can’t see, exists because of you alone. It all comes…

It was, as Rocco notes: Fr. Daniel Coughlin of the archdiocese of Chicago — who offered the closing benediction at the post-inaugural lunch in Statuary Hall. Coughlin’s prayer as delivered: Let us pray. Lord God of history,we have been blessed to witness the meteoric rise of President Obama,the long, faith-filled journey of African-Americans,the vibrant hopes…

The full text, below: Almighty God, our father, everything we see and everything we can’t see exists because of you alone. It all comes from you, it all belongs to you. It all exists for your glory. History is your story. The Scripture tells us “Hear, oh Israel, the Lord is our god; the Lord…

From the swearing in, January 20, 2009. You can read about the bible he used here.

Benedict sent a cable to the new president on this historic day: ON THE OCCASION OF YOUR INAUGURATION AS THE FORTY-FOURTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA I OFFER CORDIAL GOOD WISHES, TOGETHER WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS THAT ALMIGHTY GOD WILL GRANT YOU UNFAILING WISDOM AND STRENGTH IN THE EXERCISE OF YOUR…

Over at TIME, Amy Sullivan looks over the roster of people on the inaugural dais and finds one or two glaring omissions: Inauguration audiences on Tuesday will hear the new President deliver the most anticipated Inaugural Address since John F. Kennedy. They’ll hear the Queen of Soul sing and Yo-Yo Ma play. They’ll listen to…

In Washington state, another married man has been ordained to the priesthood — and he chatted with the local paper about his exceptional journey: Tom McMichael had been a Lutheran pastor. The day after his ordination as a Roman Catholic priest, Father Tom McMichael stood in front of the altar at Assumption Church after Sunday…

Many of us remember Siobhan Fallon Hogan when she was just Siobhan Fallon, on “Saturday Night Live.” But the National Catholic Register’s Tim Drake shows us another side of her: Siobhan Fallon Hogan has forfeited acting projects rather than compromise her faith. The Hollywood actress and mother of three has appeared in television’s “Seinfeld” and…
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