Of Many Things
America celebrates 110 years of leading the conversation
The history of the magazine spans the entire life of Paramount Pictures.
Your Take
When Frank Sinatra and J. Edgar Hoover wrote to America Magazine
From the archives: “With all good wishes for the New Year, Father, and my sincere thanks again.”
Editorials
When Father Walter Ciszek celebrated Easter in Soviet Russia
From 1964: It was Easter that made up the core of the “good news” preached by the apostles.
When prohibition ended, the Jesuits were as relieved as anyone else
From 1933: Prohibition has been a bitter experience, and a time of disaster.
The Editors on the McCarthy-Stevens hearings of 1954
From 1954: The turn taken in the McCarthy-Stevens hearings beginning May 4 dramatized across the nation the grave constitutional issue posed by Senator McCarthy’s “methods.”
The Editors on the eve of Vatican II: Will it succeed?
From 1962: What grounds exist for reasonable confidence in the Council’s outcome?
Saint Boniface: The patron saint of D-Day
From 1944: May the English-born Saint Boniface, through his intercession with God, bring out of the battles of today the peace of tomorrow.
Short Take
A Jesuit’s controversial case for building a bomb shelter
Does Catholic social teaching permit you to mount a machine gun at the door of your family’s fallout shelter? In 1961, this was not an idle question.
Dispatches
Timeline: 110 years of statistics in America magazine
Over the past 110 years, the U.S. Catholic population has grown from 14.3 million to 68.5 million. There have been plenty of historical firsts and statistics of note along the way; here is a selection from the archives of America magazine.
What’s in your cup of coffee? Capeltic, a Chiapas-based cooperative, is serving up dignity
Bringing their product from field to coffee bar through these fair trade networks means coffee growers in one of the poorest areas in Mexico are less vulnerable to volatile commodity market price shifts.
One-third of Canada’s churches could close within 10 years
According to the National Trust for Canada, close to 9,000 churches could be closed within the next decade, citing the fact that they are becoming “surplus to the needs of society.”
Nigerian sisters take on the fight against human trafficking
A combination of a rapidly growing population, extreme poverty, unemployment and armed conflict push people to cross Nigeria’s porous borders in search of a better life.
Trump’s ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy fails to address the root causes of migration
U.S. and Mexican bishops urged “the administration to reverse this policy, which needlessly increases the suffering of the most vulnerable and violates international protocols.”
Features
G. B. Harrison on the new English translation of the liturgy
From 1969: The difficulties encountered by those who worked long and hard to give us a truly contemporary prayer language in English are here set forth by one who participated in the mammoth task.
Praying for peace on D-Day
From 1944: When President Roosevelt led the nation in prayer on D-Day’s night, an event unique in modern history took place.
Faith in Focus
After losing my 8-year-old son to cancer, I am not afraid of death
From 1997: While I am eager to live, I am also eager to take the journey when God calls me.
The mothers of the Columbine massacre
From 2000: Perhaps the N.R.A. has met its match. All the money in the world cannot contend with the rage of a mother torn from her child.
Ideas
William Peter Blatty on why there is good in ‘The Exorcist’
For the Feb. 23, 1974, issue, the editors invited William Peter Blatty, author of the novel The Exorcist and a producer of the film, to respond to America’s critics.
Books
110 years of America book reviews
America has published thousands of book reviews over 110 years…and some of them were more spot-on than others…
Film
Was 1939 the best year for Hollywood films?
From 1939: It was a busy year for America’s film reviewer, who wrote as many as four reviews a week.
Theater
Reviewing ‘Death of a Salesman’ and ‘J.B.’
Our reviewers were not enthusiastic about two award-winning plays.
Poetry
Come Is the Love Song
A poem by Jessica Powers from The Second “America” Book of Verse, a collection of the best of America poetry, 1930 to 1955.
The Word
The power of God’s mercy
Vengeance, retribution and pitiless justice only amplify the power of sin.
How can we be the messengers of Christ?
We are like the angel messengers at the tomb: to interpret the signs of Christ’s presence and activity.
Last Take
What is the role of the Catholic press?
From 1955: How wide should the concerns of the Catholic journalist be?
Faith
America celebrates 110 years of leading the conversation
The history of the magazine spans the entire life of Paramount Pictures.
When Father Walter Ciszek celebrated Easter in Soviet Russia
From 1964: It was Easter that made up the core of the “good news” preached by the apostles.
After losing my 8-year-old son to cancer, I am not afraid of death
From 1997: While I am eager to live, I am also eager to take the journey when God calls me.
The Editors on the eve of Vatican II: Will it succeed?
From 1962: What grounds exist for reasonable confidence in the Council’s outcome?
G. B. Harrison on the new English translation of the liturgy
From 1969: The difficulties encountered by those who worked long and hard to give us a truly contemporary prayer language in English are here set forth by one who participated in the mammoth task.
The power of God’s mercy
Vengeance, retribution and pitiless justice only amplify the power of sin.
How can we be the messengers of Christ?
We are like the angel messengers at the tomb: to interpret the signs of Christ’s presence and activity.
The mothers of the Columbine massacre
From 2000: Perhaps the N.R.A. has met its match. All the money in the world cannot contend with the rage of a mother torn from her child.
One-third of Canada’s churches could close within 10 years
According to the National Trust for Canada, close to 9,000 churches could be closed within the next decade, citing the fact that they are becoming “surplus to the needs of society.”
Politics
Faith
Culture
Vatican
Scripture
Podcasts