November 2018 Issue

Christians believe that Jesus was both fully divine and fully human. For at least the third time since the birth of modern scientific thinking in the 1700’s, there is a renewed interest among some biblical scholars in what they call the “historical Jesus.”

It’s easy to view saints as distant, historical figures that we can only try to imitate. Pope Francis encourages us to consider as examples the quietly holy people in our lives who inspire us to a deeper spiritual life.

In Assisi, there’s a statue of St. Francis like no other. There’s no tonsure, no brown robe, no birds, no halo. Many visitors and pilgrims don’t at first recognize this bronze of an armored soldier on his horse as the saint at all. 

In this season of gratitude, as a staff looking back at a tumultuous year, the following events gave our hearts a lift.

“Food is my connection,” says Lidia Bastianich, a cooking show star and restaurant owner. But it was her faith that spurred her on her journey.

Sister Rose Pacatte, FSP, reviews The Hate U Give, Smallfoot, and On Her Shoulders.