Good News From Brazil: A report on the Latin American bishops’ meeting
Author’s note: The following reflections were written in June, a few weeks after the Fifth General Conference of the Episcopate of Latin America and the Caribbean was held (May 13-31) in Aparecida, Brazil. The conference focused on what it means to be disciples and missionaries of Christ tod
Liturgy Forty Years after the Council: Boston College Canisius Lecture: April 27, 2007
It must be difficult to imagine, for those who have not experienced it for themselves, just how much liturgical praxis has changed in less than half a century. The evolution which has taken place in the last thirty years is barely perceptible nowadays since the new liturgical model is considered evi
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How to Start a Catholic Book Club
For the past nine years, James Martin, S.J. has run a popular book club for adult Catholics at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, in New York City. As a way of helping readers who might want to begin a similar club in their own parishes, we offer a brief description of a plan that…
Capitobesity
Obesity seems the newest thing to worry about. The real problem, however, is not our bodies. Its our brains. Why is it that children find any kind of food wrapped in McDonalds packaging six-times tastier than when it is plain-wrapped? A Stanford research study found that children between three and f
Liturgy 40 Years After the Council: High point or regression?
The aim of the liturgical movement was to close the gap between the liturgy of the priest and that of the people.
The Church of Christ and the Churches: Is the Vatican retreating from ecumenism?
Vatican II marked a watershed in the ecumenical movement. Where do things stand now?
Of Many Things
Of Many Things
How I became a political junkie
Letters
Letters
Much To Tell Us Having been a lay missionary, I much appreciated the article The New, Lay Face of Missionaries, by Vincent Gragnani (7/30). I would certainly encourage anyone who can to spend some time doing mission work, either in the United States or abroad. While we all hope and try to help the p
Editorials
Restoring Worker Choice
The time is ripe for labor reform.
Faith in Focus
Franz Jägerstätter: The Austrian farmer who said no to Hitler
The story of the rowdy young man who was martyred for refusing to obey Hitler.
Taking the Long View: The year that made my life
A news item caught my eye not long ago: the minor seminary in Chicago was closing after 102 years, and all the alumni had been invited to see the place one last time before it was to be renovated as a pastoral center. I had attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary for only one year, my freshman…
Books
Hold the Incense
Here are two incontrovertible truths about Gertrude Bell 1868-1926 she was a brilliant wise fascinating woman and she played a significant role in the creation of modern Iraq But 8220 Queen of the Des-ert 8221 8220 Shaper of Nations 8221 The original British edition had a quieter t
The Time to Move on Is Now!
A review of Paul Lakeland’s latest book
Her Missing Chapter
In 2003 the theological community and the world lost one of its most prolific and down-to-earth Christian scholars Dorothee Soelle Her work endured five decades and spanned the period from the birth of political theology to our present globalistic cyber-age Soelle rsquo s voice was not silenced a
Film
Ingmar Bergman, Theologian?
At age 89, on July 30, 2007, Ingmar Bergman left us. Tragically, he won’t be widely mourned by today’s movie audiences. His unblinking, introspective examination of the human condition places heavy demands on his viewers. His last film, “Saraband” (2002), was greeted respectf
The Word
Banquet Wisdom
Banquet scenes are frequent in the Bible Jesus used meals shared with all kinds of persons as occasions to impart his wise teachings and as symbols for life in the coming kingdom of God Banquets are especially prominent in Luke rsquo s Gospel and most of Luke 14 presents Jesus rsquo teachings in
The Cost of Discipleship
While following Jesus may have a high cost, what makes discipleship possible is the grace of God.
Current Comment
Current Comment
The Limits of Color-Coding During the last two U.S. presidential elections, the media devised a catchy system for depicting the partisan divide among the 50 states. Where a majority of the votes cast were Republican, the state was called red; where Democrat, blue. Maps of the nation required just a
Faith
The Cost of Discipleship
While following Jesus may have a high cost, what makes discipleship possible is the grace of God.
News
Signs of the Times
Baltimore Basilica Marks 100,000 Visitors As Rosalie Dohm of Woodbridge, Va., climbed the stairs to the nations first Catholic cathedral Aug. 2, she thought it was unusual that Cardinal William H. Keeler was personally greeting each of the visitors from her parish tour group. The 66-year-old parishi
Politics
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Culture
Vatican
Scripture
Podcasts