Some web browsing..........

As we head towards the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks in the USA on September 11th 2001, Sr Mary Ann Walsh recalls "The Church's Noblest at Ground Zero" - how in the depths of tragedy and fear, Catholic priests rose to the heights of their callings.

The WYD analysis continues with Sandro Magister examining how Benedict XVI has innovated WYD with three innovations that characterize the World Youth Days with this pope: moments of silence, the very young age of the participants, the passion to witness to faith in the world.

Fr Steven Wang over at Bridges and Tangents reflects on his WYD.

Catholic News Service captured an almost magical moment at San Lorenzo de El Escorial at the the meeting between Pope Benedict XVI with some 1,600 young religious women and the singing of the Our Father.

Tim Muldoon reflects on WYD and notes that "No Marx, no Nietzsche, no Freud can theorize his way into the hearts of young people the way that the Vicar of Christ can".

Over at First Things, Mark Misulia looks at why the numbers of seminarians has declined and suggests that perhaps the troublingly low number of religious vocations may parallel the troublingly high divorce rate in a fundamental way: a simple lack of commitment.

Dave Brenner, a Word on Fire intern recently returned from a silent retreat at a Trappist Monastery in France. He reflects on his experience commenting on the unexpected joy found in profound silence.

A reflection on the feast of the Queenship of Mary.

As previously mentioned on the blog, Fr Gregory Collins OSB was elected Abbot of the Dormition Abbey in Jerusalem. Originally from Belfast and a monk of Glenstal Abbey, here is an interview with Dom Gregory in Jerusalem.

Archbishop Dolan of New York reflects on the external signs of being a Catholic and ponders whether we lost something in giving them up?

Each one of us is alone in the world. It takes great courage to meet the full force of your aloneness. Most of the activity in society is subconsciously designed to quell the voice crying in the wilderness within you. The mystic Thomas à Kempis said that when you go out into the world you return having lost some of yourself. Until you learn to inhabit your aloneness, the lonely distraction and noise of society will seduce you into false belonging where you will only become empty and weary. When you face your aloneness, something begins to happen. Gradually, the sense of bleakness changes into a sense of true belonging. This is a slow and open-ended transition but it is utterly vital in order to come into rhythm with your own individuality. In a sense this is the endless task of finding your true home within your life -  A reflection on solitude

Nuala O Loan reflects on "Why would any young man become a priest today?"