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Category: Reflection

Lessons From the 49ers

In recent months, there have been a number of articles on Catholic websites about the situation of cloistered contemplatives following the promulgation of Cor Orans, the Instruction from the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life...

Deeply Sacramental and Deeply Fallen

Some of Pope Francis’ critics seem scandalized by his takes on imperfection. For them, imperfection gets in the way of holiness. But Francis shows us that reality is more messy than what we think–and this should not scandalize us. Reality...

Advent and disquiet of the heart

“I often find myself longing for a presence, but more than that something tangible. No matter how many times I read the bible, pray, and go to Sunday school I still feel unconnected and lost. Sometimes I get the feeling...

The Lord has not forgotten you

The Advent and Christmas seasons are emotionally impactful for me, even more than Lent and Easter. How can this be? Lent prepares us for Christ’s Passion and on Easter we celebrate his Resurrection. It is when we celebrate how he...

The Other Side of The Good News

“Most people are good,” I reassured my three-year-old son who was convinced that a stranger was about to harm me. Over the past few weeks, the toll that the pandemic has taken on his social-emotional development is becoming more apparent:...

Mary, Full of Grace

Today was the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, and Pope Francis made a surprise visit to Rome’s Spanish Steps to venerate an outdoor statue of the Blessed Mother. NCR’s Christopher White reports: For two years running, the Vatican has canceled...