In the Holy Spirit, there is harmony
The Lord comes to meet us with his promise: I will send you the Spirit, the Comforter, the One who speaks to you in the depths of your being. I will send you the Holy Spirit. This is obviously an...
Category: Reflection
Masks Are Not a Symbol of Fear
Two recent viral videos that circulated on Twitter recently underscored just how divisive mask-wearing has become. The videos themselves might elicit embarrassment-by-proxy and certainly aren’t reflective of everyone who chooses not to wear a mask, but these videos are emblematic...
Mercy for me, but not for thee
“At times one gets the impression that our society needs to have at least one group to which no tolerance may be shown; which one can easily attack and hate. And should someone dare to approach them—in this case the...
Selfless Love and the Theology of the Body
In commemoration of the 100th birthday of St. John Paul II, I wanted to reflect briefly on one aspect of his teaching, the monumental “Theology of the Body.” Presented in a series of 129 Wednesday Audiences proclaimed to the lay...
“Feed my sheep”: A power ordered to service
“The words, ‘Feed my sheep’ show Jesus’ intention to guarantee the future of the Church he founded under the direction of a universal shepherd–Peter–to whom he said that by his grace he will be ‘rock’ and will have ‘the keys...
Queridas Afroamericanas
“The Synod for the Amazon was historic; no previous synod was as synodal and reform-oriented as this one.” — Cardinal Claudio Hummes, OFM A year and a half ago, I could hardly have dreamed of giving heed to an “Apostolic...
We will be judged on this
I was in prison and you visited me. — Matthew 25:36 In Victor Hugo’s masterpiece Les Miserables, the protagonist Jean Valjean is released on parole and given a yellow identification paper that said to all he met that he was...
Is this a divine punishment?
I think it’s completely natural for believers to look at this pandemic and the profound suffering it is causing and ask themselves “why?” The Catechism calls the experience of suffering and evil a “scandal” before going on to say, “If...
Grasping at the Common Good
What will our world look like when this experiment in liberalism comes to an end? I am not asking this hypothetically. The reality is that once-democratic societies around the globe are increasingly eschewing the principles of liberalism in order to...
The Plans of St. Thomas
The Gospel reading for the second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday, tells the story of “Doubting Thomas.” I was grateful for the reminder that Saint Thomas was late to the game (so to speak) not just by a day...
Work Is for Man: A Commentary on UBI
Author’s Note: This article borrows heavily from my 2018 response to the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith’s Oeconomicae et Pecnuniariae Quaestiones. This updated and rewritten article incorporates more recent ideas and examples. The conversation on Universal Basic Income...
The Pope’s Easter Vigil Homily: A Life-Giving Hope
In the days leading up to this Easter, Pope Francis has frequently reminded us of the necessity of Christian hope. Hope is vital to the Christian life. Pope Benedict wrote about hope at length in his encyclical Spe Salvi, and...
You are Loved and Loveable: Rolling Away the Stones
I praise you, because I am wonderfully made; wonderful are your works! My very self you know. — Psalm 139:14 (NABRE) Everyone has experienced, at one time or another, the pain that is caused by exclusion,...
Who Knows?
Those who work in the world of finance and investments are very familiar with this disclaimer that appears on countless documents and presentations: “Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.” Investment professionals have an ethical obligation to ensure...
Easter People and the Fear of Death
We are in the midst of a world-changing pandemic, and many of our actions right now are governed by fear, for good reason. On some level, each of us fears the painful death that can result from being infected by...
The disfigured crucifix: a museum faith or an Easter faith?
“The Crucifix bathed by the tears of Heaven, the Pope alone in the plaza” — Andrea Tornielli Vatican News Editorial March 28th, 2020 Recently, I wrote that the extraordinary Urbi et Orbi blessing on March 27 received a universally positive...
Exercise the Priesthood This Holy Week
Public health precautions in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic have meant that Catholics around the globe are unable to be physically present at our Holy Week and Easter liturgies. Our dismay is completely justified. A confluence of factors has...
At every time and in every place
Millions of Catholics around the world are now facing the reality that they won’t be able to attend any Holy Week liturgies or receive Communion on Easter Sunday. The Triduum is one of my favorite times of the year. I...
Love In the Time of Coronavirus
I have increasingly had the feeling that I’m reaching a breaking point. In this current crisis of health, wealth, and love of neighbor, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all. Maybe you’re feeling it too, and asking yourself:...
Urbi et Orbi: Meeting the real Pope Francis
Last Friday’s extraordinary Urbi et Orbi blessing received a very positive reception. Most Catholics on social media, even many who are usually critical of Pope Francis, praised the ceremony as a much-needed beacon of hope in the midst of the...
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