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FaithOf Many Things
James Martin, S.J.
The best-known prayer among American Catholics, after the Our Father and the Hail Mary, may be the one to Anthony of Padua, which goes, Saint Anthony, Saint Anthony, please come around. Something is lost and cannot be found. How many times have you turned to the Portuguese-born Franciscan after losing your keys?
Arts & CultureBooks
Bill Williams
Ayaan Hirsi Ali was living in Holland on Sept 11 2001 when jetliners piloted by Muslim fanatics crashed into the World Trade Center killing thousands As a Muslim Ali had urgent questions Was this really Islam Did Islam permit even call for this kind of slaughter Did I as a Muslim approv
News
From AP, CNS, RNS, Staff and other sources
Pope in Brazil Speaks on Discipleship and MissionSpeaking at the opening session at Aparecida, Brazil, on May 13 of a meeting of Latin American and Caribbean bishops, Pope Benedict XVI said the faith has serious challenges to address, because the harmonious development of society and the Catholic id
Peter Ninemire
My journey from childhood to prison, and my abrupt release from a near-life sentence for growing marijuana, is an unlikely one. I grew up in rural northwestern Kansas as one of eight siblings of Catholic parents. I am proud to say that I have a brother who has been a priest for close to 30 years. H
Faith in Focus
Willard F. Jabusch

It would not be easy to forget Sister Lucía, the frail little nun whom I met in a strange and terrible place, the Manicomio de San Lazaro in Quito, Ecuador.

The Good Word
Richard Leonard
Last week I was accosted by a evangelical Christian in the street He asked me whether I had given my life to Jesus Christ I have He asked me if I spoke in tongues I can but choose not to He asked me if I had made the necessary sacrifices for the Holy Spirit to come into my life At
The Good Word
Tim Reidy
Welcome to The Good Word America s new blog on Scripture and preaching Inspired by America s popular column The Word The Good Word is a group blog aimed at fostering discussion on the week s Scriptural readings and their relevance today Our roster of bloggers includes experts in both
Of Many Things
John W. Donohue

One summer in the early 1920’s, Ms. Lorelei Lee, a resident of Manhattan who had grown up in Little Rock, Ark., made a trip to Europe. This diversion was sponsored by her gentleman friend, Mr. Gus Eisman, known as the Button King of Chicago. During the journey, Ms. Lee kept a diary, which, fortuitously preserved by Anita Loos, was published in 1925 as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. It became an American classic.

News
From AP, CNS, RNS, Staff and other sources
Freedom Commission Notes Violations in Turkey The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom strongly urged the U.S. government to include concerns regarding Turkey’s religious freedom violations on the U.S.-Turkey bilateral agenda. The United States should urge Turkey to continue its
The Word
The Greek word for Pentecost literally means ldquo fifty rdquo In the Jewish calendar Pentecost or Weeks takes place 50 days after Passover In the Christian calendar it occurs 50 days after Easter Pentecost marks the end and the goal of the Easter season It celebrates the coming of the Holy
James Martin, S.J.
The statistics are alarming. According to the Center for Applied Research on the Apostolate, a survey in 2005 showed that 42 percent of Catholic adults, when asked how often they went to confession, answered Never.
Faith in Focus
George B. Wilson

I heard my first confession shortly after my ordination in the summer of 1959. It was a much different era from that of today’s church.

Letters

Understanding the Journey

To Embrace the Other, by Thomas P. Rausch, S.J. (4/16) speaks with clarity and hope. The title itself is hopeful: To Embrace the Other, not To Embrace the Self, which seems to be the problem at times.

Cardinal Walter Kasper is right on target when he says, Either the ecumenism of the future will be a spiritual ecumenism or it will cease to be. Recommending a new elementary vocabulary toward this spiritual ecumenism will help a greater number to understand that journey and why it is good for all concerned. We must remember that Christ is the center and that we best carry out Christ’s mission by calling, inviting, encouraging and challenging one another.

Sometimes the gap between differences seems impossible to close, but when the conversation turns to Jesus and what he was about, it does not seem great at all.

Leonard Marie Lichinchi, C.S.J.

Arts & CultureBooks
Robert F. Walch
Do not be misled by this book 8217 s title The use of girl here hints at a touch of innocence and na vet that assuredly does not apply to the book 8217 s subject The art journalist Lindsay Pollock 8217 s The Girl With the Gallery reconstructs the life of a groundbreaking and largely overlook
Current Comment
The Editors
Atheism and the TheologiansWhen Michael Buckley, S.J., presented a copy of his book At the Origins of Modern Atheism to the late Pope John Paul II, the pontiff asked, And who was at the origins of modern atheism? Without hesitation, Father Buckley volunteered, the theologians. His study is an award-
John F. Kavanaugh
Twenty years ago I worked in Zimbabwe. It was a joy. Filling in for a philosophy professor at the major seminary in Chishawasha, not far from the capital city, Harare, I encountered a group of uncommonly eager and bright students, thrilled to discuss the history of the early church, intent on seeing
James J. DiGiacomo

Most Catholics love to argue. Once you get past the Apostles’ Creed, there are very few things all will agree on. One is that they want to hear good homilies. Unfortunately, Catholics are often disappointed. Here, then, are a few suggestions for preachers, to help them feed the flock of Christ without leaving the people hungry or suffering from religious indigestion.

Faith in Focus
Michael O. Garvey
Often he has said that if just one word were to be inscribed on his tombstone, he would like it to be priest. As Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., president emeritus of the University of Notre Dame, begins his 91st year on this side of that monument, it is obvious that he means it. Impressively taking i
Arts & CultureBooks
The Bible presents many ldquo explanations rdquo for suffering punishment for sin part of the human condition a test of character a discipline to make us better persons an element in God rsquo s mysterious plan and so on But does the Bible contain a distinctively Christ-centered approach to
Editorials
The Editors
After President George W. Bush vetoed a spending bill for the Iraq war that included a timetable for withdrawal, he and the Democratic leaders in Congress declared a desire to find common ground to support U.S. forces in Iraq. Such common ground will include recognition of serious mistakes in the postwar strategy.