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** Daily Newsletter: JANUARY 5, 2026
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** In today’s newsletter:
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SCOTT BAILEY: Wake Up Dead Man Captures the Beauty of Priestly Ministry ([link removed])

MARK BAUERLEIN: Diagnosing a Disordered Age: New and Notable Books ([link removed])

R. R. RENO: John Searle’s Minds and Machines ([link removed])
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** Wake Up Dead Man Captures the Beauty of Priestly Ministry ([link removed])
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** SCOTT BAILEY
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Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is the third installment in Rian Johnson’s enormously popular murder mystery series. The film’s plot revolves around the murder of a priest and a small parish community. Fr. Scott Bailey served as a consultant; he reviewed the script and “was a resource for the production team. I answered questions related to costumes, set decoration, and props. I even had some ‘coaching’ conversations with Josh O’Connor, the actor who plays Fr. Jud.”

Bailey writes that the character of Fr. Jud was a compelling portrait of the priesthood. Especially in his little moments of frustration and grace, the character captures “the beauty of priestly ministry.”

For further reading: For more pop culture commentary, check out Leah Libresco Sargeant’s 2025 piece, “Andor’s Galaxy of Greebles ([link removed]) .” And, for a thoughtful consideration of the priesthood, read Fr. Thomas Joseph White’s “Letter to an Aspiring Priest ([link removed]) ” (March 2019).
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** Diagnosing a Disordered Age: New and Notable Books ([link removed])
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** MARK BAUERLEIN
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Always the optimist, Mark Bauerlein continues his irregular book column with a series of books about what is wrong with the modern world. The books mentioned proclaim that we’re scrolling ourselves to death, America has a drug habit, sexual liberation hurts us all, and progressives are campaigning to rid the world of religion.

For further reading: If the negativity is too much to bear, take a silent retreat with the Carthusians. In May 2024, Mark chronicled his visit to America’s only Carthusian monastery: “The Carthusians of Vermont ([link removed]) .” It’s one of my favorite essays.
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** John Searle’s Minds and Machines (ft. Edward Feser) ([link removed])
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** R. R. Reno
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Listen: Edward Feser joins R. R. Reno on The Editor’s Desk podcast to talk about his recent essay, “The Common Sense of John Searle ([link removed]) ,” from the December 2025 issue of the magazine.

Upcoming Events
* February 1, 2026: Second Annual Neuhaus Lecture at the New College of Florida: “Recovering the University’s Soul” ft. Bishop Robert Barron | Sarasota, FL. Register here ([link removed]) .

* March 5, 2026: Annual D.C. Lecture: “Our Crisis is Metaphysical” ft. Mary Harrington | Washington, D.C. Details coming soon.

Until next time,


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JACOB AKEY
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Newsletter Editor
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