Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Christopher Closeup

Home
Catholic
Religious Music & Entertainment

Christopher Closeup

Select a Category Act One American Idol Andy Griffith Show Audrey Assad Baseball Bible Books Catholic Charities Christmas Christopher Awards Christopher Closeup Christopher News Notes Current Events Down syndrome Education Father Jonathan Morris Father Keller Films Forgiveness Fringe Government Hallmark History Holidays Humor Inspiration Leadership Lost Marriage Media Medical Military Movies Music NY Med Once Upon a Time Once Upon a Time Parenting Patheos Movie Club Person of Interest Politics Pope Francis Prayer Pro Life Saints Senior Citizens Signed Sealed Delivered Special Needs Sports Three Minutes a Day TV Uncategorized Volunteering Women Youth

Select a Month March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012

June 2014

June 03, 2014

No Act of Service Was Beneath Him: Father Emil Kapaun’s Biographer on the Chaplain’s Legacy

“Every day was the day you were going to die. It was pretty much a...

May 2014

May 08, 2014

Faith, Chivalry & Timely Messages: A Look at Hallmark Channel’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered”

"Being a gentleman doesn't make you a wuss." That's one of the truths that former...

May 05, 2014

Role Models, Celebrities Behaving Admirably, & Patheos’s Fifth Anniversary

Now that "Star Wars Day" is over (May the 4th be with you), it's time...

April 2014

April 15, 2014

When Your Baby’s Life is Expected to Be Brief: A Look at Perinatal Hospice and Palliative Care

Pregnancy is supposed to be a joyful time for a couple, but for Amy Kuebelbeck...

April 09, 2014

Faith, Freedom, Nonviolence, and Truth: The Legacy of Polish Martyr Father Jerzy Popieluszko

No praying out loud, no Mass, no rosaries, no group prayers. Those were the Polish...

April 01, 2014

Opening Your Heart to Adoption: One Woman’s Story

Though Christina Beahan grew up in a big Polish/Dutch family in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the...

March 2014

March 04, 2014

TV That’s Changing Lives: A Look at “Bulloch Family Ranch: Season Two”

If Julie and Rusty Bulloch were innkeepers in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago, they would have...

February 2014

February 26, 2014

The Road to Mercy Leads to a Life of Adventure for Author Kerry Weber

Kerry Weber insists that the Jesuit-run "America" magazine office, where she serves as managing editor,...

February 20, 2014

A New Musical About Bernadette of Lourdes

Frequent "Christopher Closeup" guest, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Sarah Hart, has co-written a new musical theater production...

February 19, 2014

Dr. Kevin Hunt and Nicole Schreiner Bring Medicine & Compassion to Uganda’s Poor

Several pregnant women about to give birth lay on a cold cement floor, shivering due...

February 05, 2014

James Cagney in “A Link in the Chain”

If you're a fan of classic movies, you likely know Academy Award-winning actor James Cagney...

January 2014

January 27, 2014

UPDATE: Overcoming Troubles Leads to Life, Hope and a Grammy Award

I just read that former "Christopher Closeup" guest Mandisa won her first ever Grammy Award...

January 14, 2014

Pregnant Teen Finds Hope and Healing: A Look at the Movie “Gimme Shelter”

"Last time I asked for God's help, He put me here," 16-year-old Apple Bailey angrily...

January 09, 2014

Building the Deep Bonds of Spiritual Friendship

The following is the text of the Christopher News Note "Building Spiritual Friendships." If you'd...

December 2013

December 19, 2013

Christ is Born and All is Well

Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Sarah Hart has a gift for music and lyrics so it's a...

December 17, 2013

Making Christmas Happy and Holy

The following is the text of the Christopher News Note "Making Christmas Happy and Holy."...

December 07, 2013

Candace Cameron Bure Talks Jesus, Santa, Parenting, Priorities and Purpose

Actress Candace Cameron Bure, who grew up on television playing D.J. Tanner on the hit...

December 04, 2013

Reflections on the Advent of Christ

Author and theologian Dr. Edward Sri knows we're all familiar with the Christmas story, but...

November 2013

November 21, 2013

Tim Conway’s Hilarious (and Spiritual) Life

You should always follow your mother’s advice. Well, almost always. Consider this story that actor...

November 13, 2013

Build a Marriage That Taps Into God’s Love

“This is a generation that has a real fear about making marriage work, and they’re...

October 2013

October 23, 2013

Prostitutes, Addicts, Prayers and Dreams: Making the Broken Holy

“We made ourselves available in the corners and the crevices and the dark places in...

October 17, 2013

The Condition of Our Hearts Affects the Way We See: An Interview with Danny Gokey

“Fear and faith have one thing in common: they both ask you to believe in...

October 09, 2013

From History and Oppression to Body Image Issues: Author Melissa Kuch on the Themes in Her Novel

Being a huge history buff helped author Melissa Kuch ground her debut young adult fantasy...

October 03, 2013

Love Turns Despair Into Hope: The LaHood Family’s Ministry to Disabled Children

When Dan LaHood was in second grade at St. John Baptist De La Salle grammar...

September 2013

September 25, 2013

Embracing the Darkness to Find the Light: Audrey Assad on Faith, Doubt, and “Breaking Bad”

“For God judged it better to bring good out of evil than not to permit...

September 18, 2013

A Musical Journey Through Grief: From Despair and Anger at God to Hope and Healing

“I asked you for the light. You gave me a long dark night.” Grammy nominated...

July 2013

July 24, 2013

How Music, St. Ignatius and the “Sons of Santa” Led Ben Walther to Jesus

The Sons of Santa. That's the name 16-year-old Ben Walther and his friends chose for...

July 23, 2013

Sadness is Part of the Equation: A Young Widow Reflects on Her Loss

In mid-June, I posted an interview with "Tell My Sons" author, Lt. Col. Mark Weber,...

July 17, 2013

The American Family at Its Best: A look at UP TV’s “Bulloch Family Ranch”

Julie and Rusty Bulloch's ranch in Lakeland, Florida, sits upon acres of dirt and grass....

June 2013

June 14, 2013

Lt. Col. Mark Weber’s Operation True Grit: A Husband and Father’s Final Legacy

(Editor’s Note: My interview with Lt. Col. Mark Weber was recorded a few weeks ago,...