Perspective
Christ is the image of God, and our redeemer
Feast of Christ The King Luke 23:35-43 The Second Book of Samuel furnishes the first biblical reading for this feast, marking the close of the Church year. Once, the two […]
Columns Archive
Perspective
Practice peace to prepare for Christmas
By Father Ed Dougherty In his classic News Note “Peace: The Essence of the Christmas Message,” Father James Keller, founder of The Christophers, tells the story of a woman who […]
Perspective
Fearlessness and the American bishops in Rome
I once knew a Congregationalist minister — Yale Divinity School graduate, decorated World War II chaplain, veteran campaigner for then-unpopular liberal causes — of whom it was said (sometimes by […]
Perspective
Grandma remembers: the secret of 90
It has become a four-generation tradition to head south of the cities and take in a small-town celebration of fall. Our route winds between soaring bluffs and a shimmering lake. […]
The Sunday Gospel
By persevering in faith, the just will be saved
Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Luke 21:5-19 The Book of Malachi supplies this weekend’s Liturgy of the Word with its first reading. Actually, Malachi was not the name of the […]
Perspective
Physician, heal thyself
The Catholic Medical Association convened its 88th annual educational conference recently in Nashville, Tennessee. This was the second time I have attended the national conference, and my bride accompanied me […]
Perspective
Invest for a clean economy
This essay is the third and final installment on the Vatican’s dialogue on “The Energy Transition and Care of Our Common Home.” It describes the second of two statements signed […]
Perspective
Discernment and ‘the real’
I was speaking recently with a colleague and friend of mine at the seminary regarding discernment, and he shrewdly pointed out that no one discerns — or even should consider […]
The Sunday Gospel
In Christ, there is life and joy after death
Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Luke 20:27-38 This weekend, observed by the Church as the Thirty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time, has as its first reading a section from the Second […]
Perspective
Pushing back against evil
During a recent speech in Texas, I mentioned that “Drag Queen Story Hours” are being sponsored by local public libraries across the country. Toddlers and kids are brought in and […]
Perspective
The fleeing nones
I grew up in a family of seven kids, which I considered a midsized Catholic brood. I knew families that could field entire baseball and even football teams. As a […]
Perspective
It’s far harder to love
The kid was tired, rubbing his eyes with tiny fists, lips quivering as tears began to well up because he couldn’t get comfortable. Who can, really? Airplanes aren’t designed for […]