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 […]
Columns Archive
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 […]
Perspective
Traveling Mercies: Over the River and Through the Woods
The journey from a suburban Home Depot to our new country home spanned 11 miles and three helpers, winding over the river and through the woods. In the end, three […]
Perspective
Heart of a Shepherd: Pope Francis Pointed to the Reality of Christ
When Pope Benedict XVI shocked the world with his resignation in February of 2013, the Church found itself in the middle of the Year of Faith. It was a year […]
Perspective
Our Salvation Is God’s Greatest Work of Divine Mercy
Second Sunday of Easter The Acts of the Apostles supplies this weekend’s first reading. The first several chapters of Acts are fascinating because they so well depict the life of […]
Perspective
What Pope Francis Brought to the Church, and What He Leaves Behind
(OSV News) – Pope Francis, history’s first pope from the global south and a maverick who often delighted the world, died on Monday, April 21, after fighting pulmonary disease for […]
Perspective
The Simple Mission of Pope Francis: Inviting All to Encounter Christ
In a casual aside in an article two or three years into Pope Francis’ pontificate, and a year or two before I came to Our Sunday Visitor, I wrote that […]
Perspective
Christ Lives! All Should Share the Joy of the Empty Tomb
Feast of the Resurrection of the Lord The Church celebrates the Easter Vigil late in the evening on Holy Saturday. These readings are those read during Masses on Easter Sunday […]