Loose Lips in the Loggia (Saints Perpetua and Felicity Edition)

For those of you who have entirely too much time on your hands and have been following recent events in Catholic new media, this past week has been a doozy. Bones of contention surround us, nations warring upon nations, our own nation at war with itself, clowns and puppets at Mass, you name it.

But no matter, as the Lenten season has begun. The time for contemplation and penance is upon us, when we receive ashes on our foreheads to remind us of the need to repent, and take pictures of ourselves with our smartphones to remind them how we are reminded. Or something. Yes, there are some big stories, two in particular that are too big for this little occasion. They will both be treated to a big occasion of their own in due course.

Meanwhile, here's what's bouncing around the bandwidth of Believers lately:

• If you think the young lass featured above looks happy, it's because she didn't get her ashes from a certain parish in County Cork, Ireland. That's one reminder that will last the whole forty days. [The Irish Independent]

• Recently, the world of Catholic new media has a new place for all the kewl kids to hang their blogospheric shingle, known as “Strange Notions.” Is that like Patheos without the pathos? We report. You decide. [Strange Notions]

• The organization dedicated to the reform of everybody but themselves in the Church is very disappointed in Pope Francis, for supposedly overplaying any progress the Church has made in dealing with clerical sexual abuse of children, and that other institutions have done poorly by comparison. [Voice of the "Faithful"]

• Finally, and speaking of whom, while he's from Argentina, Pope Francis' parents were Italian. You would think he'd be up to scratch with it. But, when speaking the other day, the word “caso” for “case” was accidentally pronounced “cazzo” for ... well, something else entirely. Listen for it at around 00:07. [CONTENT ADVISORY: ... maybe if you're Italian.] [The Daily Caller]

Well, that's our story and we're stickin' to it. Remember to attend Holy Mass this Sunday. Until the next chattel of church chat, stay tuned, and stay in touch.