When I began writing this column, it was the Solemnity of Christ the King; an awesome reminder that while kingdoms and kings of all sorts, up and down the centuries, come and go, our Lord Jesus Christ is King of the universe. And his kingdom will have no end. And the King, as we heard […]
Think of a newborn baby. In your mind’s eye marvel at the beauty, the complexity, the mystery of this tiny human being. And consider that this baby just didn’t magically somehow appear at birth, but rather, was exquisitely knitted together in the mother’s womb through myriad mathematically incalculable step by step, perfectly ordered cellular processes, […]
On the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month in 1918 an armistice was declared, effectively ending one of the worst conflicts in history – World War I. But had the Central Powers and the opposing Allied Powers taken to heart Pope Benedict XV’s call for peace at the beginning of the […]
Hamas brutally, immorally attacked Israel, killing many innocent Israelis. No excuse can justify this. And no excuse can justify Israel’s counter attacks brutally, immorally killing many innocent Gazans. As I write, Israel is preparing to execute a massive military attack into Gaza. This will surely inflict tremendous additional suffering upon countless innocent civilians – especially […]
Reflecting on the worsening climate change crisis in the eight years since he wrote his environmental encyclical letter “Laudato Si’”–concerning the urgent importance of caring for our common earth-home – Pope Francis laments, “I have realized that our responses have not been adequate, while the world in which we live is collapsing and may be […]
Life is God’s most precious gift. Please never consider ending it. No matter what problems you have, no matter how serious they may be, no matter how much pain they cause, God, and many good people, as well as professional organizations, are there to help you. You are not alone! Sept. 10 was World Suicide […]
There’s nothing small about the heartbreaking suffering caused by small arms. Everyday a thousand people die from gunshot wounds, and three times as many people are severely injured. “If the death, injury and disability resulting from small arms were categorized as a disease, it would qualify as an epidemic,” said Rebecca Peters, former director of […]
You may not think about it. You may not pray about it. You may not even know about it. But like it or not, if you’ve been baptized, God is calling you to be a prophet. “A prophet? Who me?” That’s right, a prophet. And yes, you! Now just because you probably don’t predict the […]
During the recent World Youth Day in Portugal, one of the 10 young people who had the unique opportunity to enjoy lunch with Pope Francis, Peruvian Clara Yacolca Farfan, 24, told Catholic News Service, “Some of us asked for his advice on how young people today can face some issues that are difficult, that are […]
In 1965, one of the principal documents of the Second Vatican Council, “Dei verbum (Word of God),” emphasized the use of lectio divina or divine reading, as a method of praying with scripture. Both Pope Benedict XVI and the Synod of 2008 reiterated the use of scripture for prayer and suggested this ancient practice of […]