Perspective
The benefit of Catholic schools
“A lot,” my mom said. “A whole lot.” And she went back to washing the dishes. I shrugged and laughed, and pressed her for an actual answer. “Honestly, I don’t […]
Perspective Archive
Perspective
Coronavirus and ‘The Hollywood Squares’
The novel coronavirus that began in Wuhan, China, late last year has affected higher education like nothing I have experienced in my time as a university president. We have called […]
Perspective
Love an enemy this Lent
The three classical spiritual practices that the Church urges us to embrace during Lent are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. I would strongly encourage every one of my readers to follow […]
Perspective
Doubling down on a bad deal
Perseverance on a difficult but noble path is a virtue. Stubbornness when confronted by irrefutable evidence of a grave mistake is a vice. The latter would seem an apt characterization […]
Perspective
Another infernal betrayal
Dante Alighieri’s “Inferno” is still hell’s bestseller. A masterpiece of medieval poetry and theology since it was published seven centuries ago, the “Inferno” traces the author’s imagined trip through the […]
Perspective
‘Joyful momentum’ when two or more are gathered
There comes a moment when something clicks. At a book club or a Bible study. In a carpool circle or a coffee shop. A connection is made, and a gathering […]
Perspective
A hundred love letters
In a recent essay in the Wall Street Journal, Kimberly Cutter chronicled the death of her father by suicide. As he struggled with rapidly progressing prostate cancer, he lost more […]
Perspective
Integrity: To whom does it matter?
On Fat Tuesday, I gave a talk titled, “Business as a Force for Good.” A gentleman from the back haltingly raised a question, “What would you do when all your […]
Perspective
Fearfully and wonderfully made
One of the most common fears my patients have expressed over the years is getting Alzheimer’s disease. I watched my own mother steadily deteriorate for 10 years until she no […]
Perspective
St. Joseph, model of a good and holy family man
A river. A road. A county. A hospital, bank and parishes, too: a medical system, a valley, parks and many schools. All of these places, organizations and businesses are named […]
Perspective
On the need for moderation, even in learning
A while back in the Community in Mission blog found at blog.adw.org, I reflected on the puzzling truth that we can endure more pain than pleasure. We seem to be […]
Perspective
Thank goodness it’s Friday
In the U.S., Fridays are marked by festivity, feasting, partying and partaking in every physical comfort the Western world has to offer. No other day of the week has a […]