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Pope Francis was a great lover of literature: He peppered his homilies, talks and even encyclicals with literary references from Dostoyevsky, Proust, Hopkins, Dante and more, and he also encouraged his flock to read broadly and often.
James T. Keane
James T. Keane is a Senior Editor at America.
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Book Club
‘The Great Gatsby’ got a bad review in America. A century later, how do we see F. Scott Fitzgerald?
F. Scott Fitzgerald was not a favorite of America’s editors for many years, but they all read ‘Gatsby.’ Everyone reads ‘Gatsby.’
Posted inFaith, Faith and Reason
Why the Council of Nicaea still matters—1,700 years later
What happened at Nicaea in A.D. 325? And why is that still so important for Christian churches today?
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Book Club
Seven decades in the classroom: The teaching legacy of Ladislas Orsy, S.J.
In a long life as a priest, teacher and scholar, Ladislas Orsy, S.J., left an impressive legacy at his death last week at the age of 103.
Posted inFaith, Scripture Reflections
Here’s to all the Shadrachs, Meshachs and Abednegos
A Reflection for Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent, by James T. Keane
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Book Club
‘Only baseball and love are eternal.’ Reflections on our national pastime
Sports hasn’t always been the most popular topic among America’s editors and contributors—unless it was the Grand Old Game, baseball.
Posted inFaith, Scripture Reflections
Is it enough to just be a good person?
A Reflection for Friday of the Third Week of Lent, by James T. Keane
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Book Club
Remembering Flannery O’Connor (and her contributions to America magazine) on her 100th birthday
Perhaps no author’s name has appeared in ‘America’ more often than Flannery O’Connor’s over the years, from a 1956 editorial through to a story just last week.
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Book Club
Author Pat Conroy’s message for struggling Catholics: ‘I left the Church but she has not left me.’
Pat Conroy was the epitome of the “Southern Writer” for many years and called by some “the most beloved American writer of his generation”—and was also a God-haunted Catholic who wrote often and deeply about religious faith.
Posted inFaith, Scripture Reflections
Irony, in the Gospels and in life
A Reflection for Thursday of the First Week of Lent, by James T. Keane