Category: Essays & Profiles
Divine Maternal Power by Christine Schenk
People who live close to the earth have much to teach us about living in harmony with a fractured world beloved by God, who in Pope John Paul I’s words is “our father; even more he is our mother.”
Christopher Dawson and a Catholic Philosophy of History by Roger Karny
Notes on a philosopher who felt that the biggest trial of our time was the way in which Western culture must learn to integrate its passion for freedom with the need for unity.
Beauty, Fragility, and the Icon of Tenderness by Michael Ford
There is a relationship between a gentle God and his beloved creation, no matter our disadvantages, inadequacy, or fragility. Living a contemplative life helps us appreciate these connections.
A Lenten Assessment of the State of the Church by Ed Burns
Are we, as a community of Catholic believers, being faithful to our vocation to be the presence of the Risen Christ in the world?
Editorial: “Think Bigger”: On Bishop Robert W. McElroy and the Conscience of the Catholic Vote
Catholic voters are called to reconcile spiritual and civic life in the lead-up to the 2020 elections.
Breaking Hearts and Breaking Rules by Gene Ciarlo
Can a sociological phenomenon as large as the Roman Catholic Church maintain unity and discipline, a common belief and practice, a collective agreement on teachings and expression of belief, and still remain faithful to the mind and spirit of its founder and center of focus, Jesus the Christ?
Editorial: A Culture of Encounter: On the Pastoral Letters of Bishop Mark Joseph Seitz
In his two recent pastoral letters, the bishop offers a roadmap forward, founded on a culture of encounter, infused with the life of the sacraments, and expressive in the end of charity, justice, and hope.
Changes and Transformations by Rose Marie Dunphy
Even if we feel we feel we have fallen short, while there is breath, there is always a chance to “redo” our life and live it to the fullest.
Connecting Church and Labor by Clayton Sinyai
Pope Leo XIII, in the encyclical Rerum Novarum (1891), saw that modern society was dividing into two classes: owners of capital, whose wealth consistently increased, and hired workers, who were pressed toward poverty by highly competitive labor markets.
Contemplation Roots Authentic Revolution by Alex Mikulich
We may miss that this seasonal and societal dark night, so fraught with brokenness in our minds, bodies, and spirits, is God’s milieu of prayer.
From Child Star to Hospital Chaplain by Michael Ford
"One of life’s lessons is that intense pain takes each of us on a highly personal journey—we’re alone with it and have to muddle through in the hope that the sunshine will one day make its way back into our lives."
Small Groups and Social Justice by Claire N. Dale
Opportunities for learning, listening, sharing, and social justice outreach abound in a New Jersey parish.
On Pilgrimage to Jerusalem Part III: Destination: The Holy Sepulchre by Jonathan Parkes Allen
An encounter with the holy works on you, not the other way around. This is especially true when you encounter it alongside other people who are, like yourself, complicated and messy.
On Pilgrimage to Jerusalem: Part II: The Conflict: Outskirts of Jerusalem by Jonathan Parkes Allen
The conflict was far away, and here, at least, we felt as if there were possibilities open beyond merely tracing new permutations in the never-ending struggle.