There was once a 4th grade teacher named Donna who realized early in the school year that it was necessary to boost her students’ self-confidence, so she decided to have an “I Can’t” day. All the students spent time writing down things they wanted...
I cry out to you ‘violence’ but you do not intervene. Why do you let me see ruin; why must I look at misery? They are words written millennia ago, and yet so vivid, so timely, so fitting. They are words, though, that put our faith to the test. So...
The readings for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Wisdom 18:6-9; Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19; Luke 12:32-48) are all about genuine, factual faith; they are about tested faith, faith in action, faith for the long haul. Because of their faith in God’s...
The longest-serving Pope in the Church’s almost 2000-year history was Pius IX, who reigned for almost 32 years, from 1846-1878. It was he who solemnly defined the dogma of the Immaculate Conception: namely, that Mary was conceived in her mother’s...
Like most Catholics, I’ve lulled myself into thinking that I’m doing pretty good: Mass on weekends, daily Breviary, contemplative prayer… until I had a rude awakening. During a recent residency week in a spiritual direction formation program I...
For centuries Catholics were discouraged, and even forbidden, from reading non-Catholic works lest their faith be undermined. Such precautions were reasonable when the laity were largely uneducated and even illiterate. Though that is no longer the...
This article explores the notion of a “private Catholic faith.” In the first instance, I wish to dispute that such a thing exists. In the second place, I wish to discuss the consequences that ensue from the privatization of our faith and what is at...
I have been a deacon for 38 years. When I was in my mid 20’s, way before I even thought about becoming a deacon, I worked for a fairly large company. The business complex of this organization consisted of several buildings. One day I was walking...
