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?
Arts & Culture
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Book Club
The four martyred churchwomen of El Salvador dare us to be saints
More than four decades after their murders, the four churchwomen of El Salvador remain powerful examples of faith and commitment to the Gospel.
Posted inArts & Culture, Music
Who is this Good King Wenceslas—and why does he deserve a Christmas carol?
Who is this King Wenceslas fella? What makes him good? And why does he merit a song at Christmas?
Posted inArts & Culture, Books
Review: Understanding Pope Francis’ teaching about the spiritual value of time
Too many of us are attracted to a “spatial” life because we can control spaces and stop them from changing. But time, even when managed, is always beyond our control. In his new book, James K. A. Smith seeks to reorient us to the reality of human life as temporal.
Posted inArts & Culture, Television
‘Star Wars’ offered us a new hope. ‘Andor’ explores the cost of that hope.
In “Andor,” Tony Gilroy paints the Empire at its most oppressive. Surveillance has become near total: Anyone can be found almost anywhere.
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Book Club
A Washington insider with an eye for the outsiders: Mary McGrory
In a 50-year career as a columnist, Mary McGrory wrote some of the most prescient political journalism around—including for America.
Posted inArts & Culture, Music
Heaven, hell and humanity: The surprising spirituality of indie rock band Car Seat Headrest
Will Toledo, the founder and lead singer of the band, often uses his music as an outlet to examine his teenage feelings as a young gay man in northern Virginia.
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Book Club
Incarnational Catholic literature: The fiction of Kirstin Valdez Quade
The characters of Kirstin Valdez Quade’s stories often find grace to be just out of reach—but they still pursue it.
Posted inArts & Culture, Television
Farewell to ‘The Walking Dead,’ a surprisingly moving exploration of grief and loss
“The Walking Dead” ends its 12-year, 11-season, 177-episode run on AMC this month.
Posted inArts & Culture, Ideas
War, human rights abuses, corruption, banned beer: None of it will stop the magic of the World Cup.
Despite the headlines of worker deaths, FIFA corruption and L.G.B.T. human rights violations (and yes, banned beer), billions around the world welcome the World Cup with relief.