Thérèse of Lisieux: An Unlikely Patron Saint

Shannon K. Evans September 25, 2019

I searched long and hard for the patron saint I wanted. In the end, my heart chose the one I needed.

What If We Did What Francis Did?

Robert Ellsberg September 18, 2019

In one way or another the Franciscan saints were all struck by the question that came to St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, whose dramatic conversion was prompted by his meditation on the saints: “What if I should do as St. Francis did?” Another translation of that question might be: What if I were to live as if the Gospel were true?

Christ Cannot Be Limited

Ilia Delio, OSF September 17, 2019

Through his life in Christ, Francis came to see that Christ cannot be limited to a single human person; rather, Christ encompasses the whole creation. Nowhere is this more evident than in his Canticle of the Creatures. By entering into the heart of Christ, Francis found Christ at the heart of the world. The life of Francis indicates to us that to be a Christian is to find Christ in every person and living creature, and to be in union with Christ is to experience God’s goodness throughout creation, not just in a church.

God Rejoices in Diversity

Ilia Delio, OSF September 16, 2019

I live in the area of Washington, D.C., which is a kaleidoscope of various cultures, languages and ethnicities. Is everyone Catholic? No. Is everyone Christian? No. So what does a humble God of love do in such a diverse world? Rejoice! Because God’s creation is a wonderful celebration of diversity. Our God is not a boring God! But somehow our Catholic doctrine still creates walls of separation, paths of exclusivity, “in” and “out” groups.

An Ongoing Injustice

David Dault, PhD August 23, 2019

Earlier this summer, I took a plane from Chicago to the Mississippi Delta to go on a pilgrimage around the Gulf Coast and deep into southern Texas to the border of Mexico.

Reconnect Brooklyn: A Second Chance for At-Risk Youth

Beth Griffin August 23, 2019

This New York neighborhood, formerly a place of drugs and crime, is making a comeback. Father Jim O’Shea’s entrepreneurial movement has been instrumental in its recovery.

Continuing Education

Susan Hines-Brigger August 23, 2019

For many across the country, the school year is just getting underway. We parents will load our kids up with all the necessary supplies except that one specific brand of glue on the list that I swear does not exist and send them on their way. We will fill out forms and begin to share our experience and knowledge with them regarding subjects such as algebra, biology, literature, and more.

But there is one subject that we parents need to study up on more and that is social media.

Why Does a Baptized Person Need the RCIA?

Pat McCloskey, OFM August 23, 2019

Why does a baptized adult have to go through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)? Such a person may already know almost everything about the Catholic religion, its prayers, and the Ten Commandments.

Why So Few Catholic Bible Study Groups?

Pat McCloskey, OFM August 23, 2019

Why doesn’t the Catholic Church encourage its members to establish small groups for
Bible study? Aren’t many Catholics joining nondenominational churches to go deeper into their faith and have a closer connection with other believers?

Will I Know Him?

Pat McCloskey, OFM August 23, 2019

My husband died of cancer almost two years ago. He was the love of my life as I was his. Will I ever see him again and be with him?

Yes, you will see him and be with him. Jesus’ teaching that those in heaven “neither marry nor are given in marriage ” (Mt 22:30) is a caution against thinking that life in heaven is simply an extension of life on earth. Being in God’s immediate presence changes everything. Saints there are aware of each other.