Did all our consumerism start with the Indian trade? Jason Peters describes how industrial goods can displace a culture in "History as Parable" for The Front Porch Republic.
Holy houses! Charles Cole shares a beautiful travel memoir on NLM of his visit to Nazareth. He even got to play the organ in the Basilica of the Annunciation, which is built over the top of Mary's house.
Francis gleefully continues his "shakeup" of the Church, comforting atheists one day, sympathizing with adulterers the next, while eschewing any duty to preach on abortion, gay marriage, or contraception, in this interview with Civilta Cattolica, via Rorate.