“I think it’s a great opportunity.” I was bemoaning the state of a country divided almost down the middle. The election that so many people thought was for the soul of the country or for its future instead revealed that we are divided almost 50-50.
It’s not uncommon today to see people in wheelchairs living happy, fulfilling lives, albeit with numerous challenges. But that was not the case after World War I, when many soldiers incurred injuries that left them paralyzed.
I do a lot of outreach to the young on behalf of my religious congregation, so I try to be aware of trends in vocations work and the common traits of emerging generations.
Shortly after the coronavirus pandemic started, "Tiger King" became the prime topic of conversations around virtual water coolers. By the end of the year, the British costume drama "Bridgerton" was all the rage. As the leaves turned color this autumn, the Korean drama "Squid Game" captivated viewers' attention.
I recently watched a compelling video prepared by a group called “Heartbeat International.” They provide women, who regret having taken an abortion pill, the chance to reverse their decision through a treatment involving progesterone.
This year’s theme for the Respect Life program is “St. Joseph, defender of life,” which is fitting as we celebrate the Year of St. Joseph.
We need to pray even when that seems the most lifeless thing to do. That’s a counsel from Michael J. Buckley with which we need to challenge ourselves daily. In the face of real life, prayer can often seem like the most lifeless thing to do. What difference does prayer make?
Nothing so much approximates the language of God as does silence. Meister Eckhart said that. Among other things, he is affirming there is some deep inner work that can only be done in silence, alone, in private.
What is the Eucharist? What is supposed to happen when we gather to celebrate the ritual Jesus gave us at the Last Supper and asked us to perpetuate until his return? Is this meant to be a family meal or a re-enactment of Jesus’ sacrificial death? Is it meant to look like the old Latin Mass or like it looks in most churches today?
Young people today experience various pressures and expectations that can make them anxious. In a recent essay, Professor Timothy P. O’Malley, of Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute for Church Life, crisply describes some of the over-the-top pressures that graduating college students are likely to encounter in commencement addresses.
