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From Rubble to Reconstruction

A few months ago, a group of neighbors representing some 40 families in the Port-au-Prince community of Delmas 62 banded together and knocked on the door of Catholic Relief Services’ office in Delmas 81 to ask for help. Displaced from their homes after the earthquake, they were living in a nearby camp and wanted to […]

It Is So Your Business

Ever notice how when folks are getting married they make it everybody’s business? From announcements to bridal registries to showers to showing off the ring. From guest lists and invitations to bridesmaids to something borrowed — everybody is expected to get in on the act. Interesting isn’t it how these same people can decide to […]

Cults, Movements, World Religions

The modern religious landscape appears increasingly confusing, even strange or frightening. No matter how strong in faith and regular in religious practice our families may be, we are not insulated from contact with a bewildering variety of religious expressions, a Babel of “prophetic” voices and a dizzying array of competing world views. Questions Abound in […]

Pope releases doves from his window, only for them to return

My View From Down Here: Part I

I remember clearly the day I discovered I had the horrendous, incurable, life scarring disfigurement known as “being short”.  The first day of first grade started smoothly—there I stood on the sidewalk outside my classroom for the requisite “First Day of School Photo Shoot”. I wore a smashing long, kelly green dress emblazoned with neon […]

Book Review: Elizabeth: A Holy Land Pilgrimage, By Cheryl Dickow

Beth Gantry, Liz, Elizabeth…the main character of Elizabeth: A Holy Land Pilgrimage (Bezalel Books, 2007) is many things to many people. What seems unclear in the opening pages of this debut novel from established non-fiction author Cheryl Dickow is how Elizabeth will be able to reconcile her roles as wife, mother and teacher with the […]

Catholic Schools or Charter Schools?

At some time or another we have been exposed to the ad catch phrase “Got Milk?” on billboards and various print publications. A different version that I have seen on shirts reads “Got Jesus?” I prefer the latter, for the obvious reasons of the inquiry to Christ. Not a day goes by when I visit […]

February 2011 Missionary Intention

That in the mission territories where the struggle against disease is most urgent, Christian communities may witness to the presence of Christ to those who suffer.

Eight Great Reasons To Be Single And Celibate

As a Catholic you’ll find some of these reasons interesting, if not ironic, because they do not come from the pen of a celibate Catholic theologian, monk, or priest cloistered in a Mongolian monastery. Instead, they come from a Protestant-Evangelical minister, John Piper in his book Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. John is married to […]

The Muslim Brotherhood: The Enemy in Its Own Words

As Egypt lurches towards the end of Hosni Mubarak’s regime, one way or another – by “an orderly transition to democratic rule” (as Hillary Clinton delicately puts it), through violent overthrow or simply through the demise of the ailing 82-year-old president – much is unclear. One thing that should not be is that the Muslim […]

Pro-life Youth Create Cautious Hope for the Future

At the 38th March for Life, we saw thousands of high school and college students, young seminarians, young religious sisters and families with young children.

Mystery, Meditation, Media: An Interview with Matt Swaim

I recently had the good fortune to talk with Matt Swaim, producer of EWTN Radio’s Son Rise Morning Show, regarding his first book, The Eucharist and the Rosary: Mystery, Meditation, Power, Prayer (Ligouri Publications, 2010). Shane Kapler: Matt, I know that you entered the Church at Easter, 2005.  Tell us about your journey: Matt Swaim: […]

Top 10 Reasons to Use NFP

10. NFP is based on scientific fact and modern technology. We’re not talking the “Rhythm Method” here! The rhythm, or calendar, method is the “Model T” of today’s NFP methods, which are based on over 30 years of scientific research on human fertility. 9. NFP users learn more about their bodies and about their fertility. […]

More than Just Apparent: You’re the Parent!

A couple days ago I had great consternation over my kids’ less than virtuous attitudes, tones and dispositions, wondering where it was coming from.  Once again I turned inward toward my soul and inquired: “Mirror, mirror, on the wall, help me understand from whence it comes, before I drop-kick them all!” And the “mirror” spoke […]

News Flash! Marriage is HARD

This week I’ve been reading Christopher West’s Heaven’s Song, an unforgettable reflection on marriage as a metaphor for the perfect union God longs to have with us.  When I reached a section called “The Agony and the Ecstasy of Becoming ‘One Flesh,” I was so struck by the boldfaced truth of one passage, I had […]

Prayer, the Heart of a Vocation

“Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” The Twelve had witnessed the deep communion that existed between Jesus and his Heavenly Father, and, as holiness does, it attracted them.  Seeing that peace that comes from that personal connection, they wanted to be drawn deeper into this very mystical communion. In many ways, […]

Preparing the Way for the Roman Missal 3rd Edition, Part 7: The Gloria

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth, in the new translation becomes, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. This “new” wording represents a return to the Scriptural roots of the text (Luke 2:14) and the angels’ announcement of the Savior’s […]

Whoopin’ and Hollerin’

The other day while I was at the YMCA, a group of mentally disabled adults and their caregivers joined us in the fitness room. It was obvious to me that this was a routine visit for them, because they knew exactly what to do. They found “their” machines, positioned themselves exactly right and waited patiently […]

Who Does God Use?

“It takes no great military expert to predict the results of a war in which large numbers of the solders do not fight, do not even know there is a war on. The officers are essential, and obedience to them is essential. But an army in which only the officers fights is likely to have […]

Preparing the Way for the Roman Missal 3rd Edition, Part 6: Penitential Rite

Following the Introductory Rites, the next occurrence of change in the people’s parts of the Holy Mass occurs during the Penitential Rite, at the Confiteor, where three changes can be found. In the previous editions of the Missal we would say: I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I […]

Fatal Abstractions

Women know what works and what doesn’t. And the Church cares that this knowledge of the concrete that women possess should be brought to bear upon all policy decisions.

Unnatural Affection

There is a natural desire in parents to provide a better life for their children. Indeed, the Apostle tells us that parents ought to lay up for their children (2 Cor 12:14). This is true not only in the material sense, but also in the moral and spiritual — the spiritual in fact being the […]

Why Not Just Have an Affair?

Take one quick look at the culture and it is easy to see that marriage is in big trouble.  There’s a very high divorce rate (somewhere near half of all marriages in America end in divorce), and that rate is improving only because many people are deciding to skip it altogether and simply cohabitate.  There […]

Saintly Survival of the Teen Years

There’s a bit of a theological disagreement when it comes to heaven. Some believe we will understand all of life’s mysteries and have all our questions answered there. Others expect that basking in the glory of the Almighty will satisfy all desires. Curiosity will simply not exist. My guess is the latter theory is most […]