Just a bit of stuff from the emailbox and blogging about…

Two interesting posts from Mike Aquilina: Baby Names of the Early Christians , inspired by a read-through of this book: The Christian Catacombs of Rome: History, Decoration, Inscriptions, which sounds wonderful

and..a wrap-up of recent books:

  I used to complain that Christian scholars did too little to offset the misinformation that ex-Christian scholars were feeding to the popular media — especially about the Gnostic gospels. Now, it seems, we have an embarrassment of riches.

Ave Maria School of Law is apparently…not moving to Fort Wayne. But to Florida…

That link takes you to American Papist, who has an extensive, link-filled post up about a new film Bella, which won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival. The film’s website, which includes a trailer.

Check out the new blog All Manner of Thing.

Jen Ambrose has a helpful post, made even better by her own personal experience, about Catholics in China.

Francis Kissling is apparently retiring as the president of Catholics for Free Choice. A NYTimes profile is coming soon, and the word is that she’s building a house in Uruguay where she will continue her advocacy and writing. Pray for her.

Kissling will be honored at a tribute on March 2 in Washington, DC, which will feature noted author Anna Quindlen, Representative Rosa DeLauro, Global Fund for Women President Kavita Ramdas and Sara Seims of the Hewlett Foundation. The event is chaired by Kissling’s closest colleagues and friends, Kate Michelman, former president of NARAL Pro-choice America, and Marysa Navarro-Aranguren, the chair of CFFC’s board of directors.

Pray for…a lot of people. Including each other.

Finally, many thanks to those of you who voted for this blog in the Catholic Blog Awards, and thanks to the folks at Cyber Catholics for their hard work in running the awards. And to Jeff Miller for designing the award buttons, one among his many talents:

Thanks again. Although I did promise Lino Rulli that he’d get any awards I won…so…name it and claim it, Lino!

(There are no special Lenten plans for this blog, except that there might be fewer news postings and comments will  definitely be closed a lot more. I had meant to start my Spring ’07 rewriting and writing binge last week, but snow and illness have intervened. The snow is melting, but poor Joseph has been home sick for the last few days. He’s not demanding at all, but my stupid writing head is just not very flexible….)

Oh…and there are new St. Joseph and St. Patrick holy card notecards available at Antique Holy Cards, and Tom Craughwell tells us that Easter cards will soon be available.

Back to those awards  – do check out the list of nominees. There is some really fine, incisive writing going on out there. Helpful, clarifying theological thinking, great, inspiring ParentBlogging, thoughtful spiritual writing, vibrant apologetics. Go get a taste.