“The Church could welcome more artists by creating more events to showcase the talents within their parishes and to foster artist/patron relationships.”

Pietro Di Donato wrote 'The Penitent' because he thought it to be a profoundly human story—though both the murderer and the victim became larger than life in reality.

This week on Jesuitical, Ashley and Zac are joined by Matt Maher. Matt is a nine-time-GRAMMY nominee and three-time-GMA Dove Award winning musician. His latest album is “The Stories I Tell Myself.”

There are some truly excellent films about monks, with deep insights into the love of God and the nature of sacrifice. But why aren’t there more?

Some people might wonder how I felt so connected to others from afar, but there are many ways that I connected with my parish, and I really felt like I belonged.

A Reflection for Friday of the Second Week of Advent, by Valerie Schultz

That is what the Madonna represents: the initial whole, the divine unity of us, the world and God, is something that must be lost.

On this episode of “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen and Gerry cover the case of Marko Rupnik, a well-known Jesuit artist who has been barred from hearing confessions or offering spiritual direction after allegations of abuse.

The pope started crying and had to pause for a moment after he prayed, “Immaculate Virgin, today I would have liked to bring you the thanksgiving of the Ukrainian people for the peace we have long asked the Lord for.”

As the pope’s step faltered, his cries for peace increased, although not without controversy and criticism.

The Incarnation continues in the church, the body of Christ.

The Rev. Hans Zollner said the recent statement by the Jesuit order about the Rev. Marko Ivan Rupnik “raised questions that, as far as I see, can only be answered by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.”

After Dorothy Day's death in 1980, her biographer William Miller wrote her obituary for America, noting that "the amazing thing about her life was the improbability of it all."

A Reflection for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, by Ricardo da Silva, S.J.

Centering prayer helps me find those places in my heart where God's grace is playing.

I typed “Why does God…” into Google to see what would auto-populate. The question, “Why does God hate me?” was number three on the list.

Look at the people with whom you live and work. How are they doing? How are they because of your role in their lives? These questions might reveal as much about your standing with the Lord as your list of sins.

“I am not suggesting that we ignore disagreement, but that we handle it in an evangelical fashion, ” Archbishop Timothy Broglio writes.

In his weekly general audience, Pope Francis says the goodness of a choice benefits all areas of our lives, and there are signs to confirm these decisions.