The Sunday Gospel
David’s kingship is fulfilled: To God be the glory
Fourth Sunday of Advent Reading: Luke 1:26-38 The first reading for this weekend is from the Second Book of Samuel. Once the two Books of Samuel were a single volume. […]
Columns Archive
The Sunday Gospel
Prepare the way for the Messiah, the Son of the God in whom we rejoice
Third Sunday of Advent John 1:6-8, 19-28 This weekend the Church celebrates “Gaudete” Sunday, the name coming from the opening word of the Entrance Antiphon. In Latin, “gaudete” means “to […]
Perspective
The risks of overusing antibiotics
When penicillin was first discovered in 1928 it was a godsend for patients and physicians. Thousands of lives were saved by successful treatment of serious bacterial infections. Now we have […]
Perspective
Pinpricks of Light
I had a dream last night. It was just a brief moment, almost like a page in a storybook. In the dream, a husband and wife were lying in bed […]
Perspective
Are we distracted receivers?
As we prepare for Christmas, I am sure many readers have had the experience of thoughtfully selecting a gift for a child and laboriously tracking down the item. The present, […]
Bishop's Column: In Truth and Charity
St. Vincent de Paul and St. Juan Diego
The following is the text of the homily delivered by Bishop Rhoades at the annual Mass with the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Fort Wayne on Dec. 9 at […]
The Sunday Gospel
Abundant is the goodness and mercy of the Lord
Second Sunday of Advent Mark 1:1-8 The second part of the Book of Isaiah provides the first reading for this Second Sunday of Advent. When this book was written, God’s […]
A more human society
What is sex for?
It began with reports that Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, over many years, used his power over aspiring actresses’ careers to sexually harass and exploit them. The allegations soon extended to […]
Perspective
The art of giving, the challenge of Advent
Oprah Winfrey sang and clapped when presented with the $69 lunch box that made her 2017 “Favorite Things” list. “I looooove!” she belted out in mock falsetto. She didn’t need […]
Perspective
The democracy of the dead: intellectual formation
When I think about the intellectual dimension of priestly formation, my mind instantly turns to my favorite chapter of G.K. Chesterton’s “Orthodoxy,” entitled, “The Ethics of Elfland.” (As an aside, […]
Perspective
A museum for which to be thankful
On Sept. 29, 1952, publication of the complete Revised Standard Version of the Bible was celebrated at the National Guard Armory in Washington, D.C., and the principal speaker was U.S. […]
The Human Condition
Christ’s human face in glory
It is a doctrine of the faith that, at the Incarnation, the Eternal Son of God, without the loss of His divinity, took upon Himself a complete human nature. That […]