Perspective
An American Pope?
By Marcel LeJeune “While we live, we will never see an American Pope!” I was wrong and am happy to admit it. Let me jump right into the deep end […]
Columns Archive
Perspective
Forcing Clergy to Break the Seal of Confession Harms Victims
By Cecilia Cicone The seal of the confessional is one of the first things Catholic children learn as they are preparing for their first confession. At first, it comes as […]
Perspective
Zeal for Making God Known, Loved, and Served
I was recently invited to speak to sixth- and seventh-grade students at a local Catholic school about the charism of zeal and how it has played a role in my […]
Perspective
Christ Is with Us in Our Mission to Spread the Good News
Fifth Sunday of Easter Once again in this Easter season, the Acts of the Apostles supplies the first reading for the Mass. It reports some of the missionary activities of […]
Perspective
The Choices of Our New Pope
The seagulls perched on the Sistine Chapel rooftop undoubtedly saw the white smoke first. But it didn’t take long for the basilica bells to confirm the news we were all […]
Perspective
Practical Faith and Praying for a New Pope
In his homily given the morning after his election, Pope Leo XIV voiced a thought that has captivated my own reflection in light of the Easter season. He said: “Today, […]
Perspective
Our Unexpected Pope
How many people on Thursday, May 8, while waiting for the cardinals to elect a new pope, said, “It will never be an American!” I was one of those, and […]
Perspective
After His Resurrection and Ascension, Jesus Is Still with Us
Fourth Sunday of Easter The Acts of the Apostles supplies the first reading. It gives a glimpse into the modus vivendi (“way of living”) of St. Paul as he moved […]
Perspective
Our Heart of Darkness
(OSV News) – “The people stood by and watched.” This simple line in Luke’s Passion narrative (Lk 23:35) struck me with unusual force during Holy Week. Under Roman governance, executions […]
Perspective
St. Carlo and Timing
(OSV News) – Eighty thousand adolescents thought they were traveling to Rome for the much-anticipated canonization of Carlo Acutis. Instead, many were in the Eternal City for the Holy Father’s […]
Perspective
Look for the Helpers – and Be One Yourself
(OSV News) – A favorite quote of mine comes from Fred Rogers, the children’s television personality. He shared how his mom would comfort him when he was a frightened child. […]
Perspective
The Salvation Attained by Christ Remains for Us Today
Third Sunday of Easter Again this weekend, the Church presents as its first reading for liturgy in Eastertime a passage from the Acts of the Apostles. The mere construction of […]