There but for the grace of God go I
Early in my career, I worked in media research for one of the top advertising agencies in Chicago. Our team was tasked with evaluating the new network TV shows. One of the best parts of my job was attending the...
Category: Feature
“Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things?”
Editor’s note: This is the third article in our series about the response to Pope Francis’s reforms of the contemplative life for cloistered nuns and the responses of sisters in various communities. In the first article, “A Praying Heart: How...
Four for the Catholic Family’s Bookshelf
In the last few years, including during the pandemic, I have attended a few baby showers and noticed one very favorable change to showers of a previous era. Moms and dads asked that families and friends bring their favorite children’s...
The Parting of the Ways – Reactions and Responses to Cor Orans
Editor’s note: This is the second article in “Combat For Contemplative Life,” a series about the responses — inside and outside the cloister — to Pope Francis’s reforms of the contemplative life for women in various communities. In the first...
Keep the timing of the seasons
Timing is everything, so the adage goes. But while the calendar says that it is the first week of November (Halloween was just two days ago!) and the trees here are barely changing color, the Hallmark Channel is already into...
Pope Francis reminds us that we are called to be saints
Today, November 1, is the Solemnity of All Saints, and, as in past years, Pope Francis gave a special noon Angelus address to mark the feast. Today, as he does most years, he spoke about the Beatitudes (Mt 5:1-12), the...
A Praying Heart: How Pope Francis intends to save the cloistered life
Editor’s note: This is the first article in “Combat For Contemplative Life,” a series about the responses — inside and outside the cloister — to Pope Francis’s reforms of the contemplative life for women in various communities. In the first...
Readings for life’s second acts
When I was young, the anticipation of a “big” future birthday came with images in my head of what it would be like having pierced ears (age 12), driving a car by myself (age 16), and voting for the first...
Our Lady of the Weather Forecast
If you own one of those Our Lady barometer statuettes, you will know to expect rain when she turns pink. One of the best-selling souvenirs in Lourdes, in those stores piled high with mass-produced pastel-colored delights of popular piety, is...
Feast of Saint John Paul II
Today is the feast of Pope St. John Paul II, who was pope from 1978 until his death in 2005. As the pope who served at the precipice of the third millennium and who declared the Jubilee year in 2000,...
Maps and their uses
After switching from German, my language of choice for four years in high school, and taking Italian 101 to fulfill my college language requirement my freshman year, I spent my sophomore year in college in Rome. As an undecided liberal...
Feeding the Catholic Child’s Curiosity
When I was young, one of my favorite places in the house was the cushy, swivel chair right next to the built-in shelves in our living room. Because right at eye-level were my most favorite books including the World Book...
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