THE HUMAN SIDE When saints are lauded, we often envision a person who has lived an inspiring life. Take for example the lives of St. Paul and St. Peter. Each was blessed with enormous drive when converting throngs of people to Christianity. At the base of their zeal was a burning desire to share Christ’s […]

THE HUMAN SIDE How might we measure our spirit? One excellent way is to determine how well it stacks up to virtue. Kindness means being well-disposed toward life, neighbor, self and God. On a scale of one to 10, how does our kindness rate, and how well do we counter ill disposition? Reverence is awe […]

THE HUMAN SIDE Most people do not like to be alone. But why? Solitude comes from the Latin, “solus,” meaning alone, connoting seclusion and isolation. Loneliness has an undesirable connotation of being friendless, rejected, forsaken and forlorn. Some people embrace solitude, others find it intolerable. Examining its relation to silence and recollection reveal it can […]

THE HUMAN SIDE “I have observed Satan falling like lightning from the sky” (Lk 10:18). Jesus instructed the Twelve: “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves” (Mt 10:16). Avoiding being like Satan, who was dispelled from heaven because of pride, and […]

THE HUMAN SIDE When my barber David Knight who worked in the U.S. Senate building died, it felt like losing a beloved family member. One meaning of family is a group of people in the service of an individual. For years, Dave and his partners were family to me. The moment I entered the barber […]

THE HUMAN SIDE Wherever we look, anger is on the rise and is calling for a deeper look at its anatomy. Anger, which is one of the seven capital sins, is often painted as evil. Psychologists would advise, however, that we take a closer look at it before condemning it completely. Anger can be good […]

THE HUMAN SIDE No matter where we look, peace is a rare commodity. How then can the new year be more peaceful? Start the year with avoiding certain behaviors and doubling up on civility. St. Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians often deals with adversity in his communities. Stop your strife and avoid jealousy, he counseled. […]