Pain. We’ve all had it, and we don’t want it again. Americans spend close to $27 billion dollars on pain relief. At least 100 million of us suffer from chronic pain. Millions more have experienced severe pain from injury or disease. In “The Problem of Pain,” C.S. Lewis explored how to reconcile faith in a […]
Viriditas: Brother Brandon Alana-Maugaotega, Society of Mary
Practices of prayer One of the things that keeps me grounded and focused is prayer. There is a clarity that comes when I reflect, discern and recollect events that occur during the day, over the course of a week, or even over where my life has led me. Prayer is one of the key things […]
Msgr. Owen F. Campion: Trinity Sunday
Father, Son and Holy Spirit Proverbs 8:22-31 Romans 5:1-5 John 16:12-15 The church celebrates Trinity Sunday this weekend and uses the celebration to teach us about the Holy Trinity, the mystery of three Persons in the one God. For its first reading, the church offers us a passage from the Book of Proverbs. Proverbs is […]
Mary Adamski: Getting the full story, from family histories to Gospel accounts
How I wish I’d taken notes when the old folks were reminiscing. The stories about hard times and good experiences of the immigrant generation in the new country, milestones as their children grew and separations as family members scattered, they’re now down to just a few surviving anecdotes, somewhat out of context, nothing written by […]
Viriditas: Sister Mary Jo McEnany, Benedictine Congregation of Our Lady of Monte Oliveto
Mary with Jesus, with me I love the month of May. My name is Mary, and Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary, has just been a wonderful partner to walk with and to pray with along my spiritual journey. Mary brings my soul closer to Jesus. When I slip and fall, which is often, Our […]
Msgr. Owen F. Campion: Solemnity of the Ascension
Jesus lives still — in the church Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 Ephesians 1:17-23 Luke 24:46-53 The date for celebrating the feast of the Ascension of the Lord is optional in this country. The decision is made by bishops of each province, for their province. These reflections are upon readings when the feast is celebrated on […]
Christina Capecchi: Starry night: the power of prayer, wherever you are
A woman’s mind is like a teleprompter of to-dos that never stops turning. Unanswered email, unwritten thank-yous, unfolded laundry. Tupperware that needs to be washed and returned. Overdue RSVPs and expired milk. Empty gas tank, full memory card. Birthdays and deadlines, the personal and the professional knotted together beyond the point of repair. Which is […]
Kathleen T. Choi: Good sermon, Father
Dear Father X, Every Sunday, as we walk out the door, we shake your hand and say, “Good sermon, Father.” We’re not lying. We’re usually fairly satisfied with what you have to say, but no one is perfect. Even Kobe Bryant misses the occasional easy layup. You studied preaching in seminary, and presumably your professors […]
Mary Adamski: Images and likenesses: religious art, when words are not enough
Christ is risen. Christ will come again. It’s the reality we believe in. We try hard to exalt in it each year at Easter season. In dark times like this month’s tragedies, it’s not easy to embrace joy and hope and know that there will always be the Light. Catholics have always used art to […]
Viriditas: Sister Joan Chatfield, Maryknoll Sisters: Punctuating the positive
At the age of 80, I feel like I’ve got another whole new life ahead of me. I love being 80. I actually realize now that my best times in life are when I am with people of other religious persuasions and how we come together. It is exciting to be in the work of […]