I’ve often written about why I treasure Catholicism. Today I thought I’d praise the things I believe our Protestant brethren do especially well. Biblical knowledge. Fundamentalists and evangelicals, in particular, know their way around the Bible like they know their morning commute. When they read the New Testament, they hear all the Old Testament echoes. […]

The Jesuits encourage us to pray with our imagination. For example, imagine the day John baptized Jesus. Picture the crowds and the noise. How much attention do strangers give to Jesus’ moments in the water? Do you hear God declare that Christ is his son? Or was it just a clap of thunder? What does […]

I like to browse real estate websites and drool over spacious homes with spectacular views and gracious interiors. Recently, I’ve been looking at luxury apartments in Manhattan. One building features his and hers bathtubs. Another offers a special room for washing the dog. One townhouse includes an indoor swimming pool fed by a waterfall. Prices? […]

Dear God, it’s a new year again. I can’t remember last year’s resolutions, probably something about eating less, praying more and being kinder. I know I didn’t keep them as well as I would like. They’re worthwhile goals, though, so if you don’t mind, I’ll resolve them again this year. I know there’s more to […]

I have a quarrel with nativity scenes. St. Francis created the first Christmas crèche to encourage our devotion to Christ. He put real straw in a real manger and brought a real ox and donkey to a rocky crevice in the hillside. They illustrated his sermon on poverty and humility. In today’s nativity scenes, the […]

I’ve become a papal junkie. Every day I hit the Internet for Pope Francis’ latest interview, homily, photograph or video. I’m not alone. Few popes have so quickly and effectively captured the interest and affection of both church members and non-Catholics. This both pleases and saddens me. It saddens me because Pope Francis isn’t saying […]

A few years ago, I added a new element to my evening prayers. I now begin by thanking God for five blessings. The rule I made up is that the blessing must be something that happened that day. For example, I only thank God for my husband if he did something particularly thoughtful that day. […]

I was a Protestant for 40 years and have been a Catholic for 29. (There’s no need to do the math.) I consider my conversion a great blessing. Here are a few reasons why: The sacraments. I could rattle off a definition of transubstantiation, but I don’t really understand it. I don’t understand how dipping […]

Since comedian Jeff Foxworthy first taught us how to recognize rednecks, several imitations have arisen, including “You Might be a Catholic.” Here are my contributions to that list. How many fit you? You own several rosaries including one for each car, one on the night stand and one that came in the mail with a […]

A young man close to me needs a miracle. Despite good medical care and a loving family, he is locked in suffering. Divine intervention is his only hope. Turning to Scripture, I see three situations in which miracles occur. One is when it’s part of God’s master plan, like the parting of the Red Sea. […]