On presiding at a Latin liturgy
Faith in Focus
An Experience of Light: Major families of European Christians meet.
A report from an ecumenical congress in Europe
Alpha and Omega: The first in a series for Advent and Christmas
An Advent reflection
In Mystic Silence: Where East and West can meet
I lead a little meditation group at Sophia University in Tokyo. Every Saturday afternoon we sit around the Blessed Sacrament, some in the lotus position, others on chairs. I myself, alas, no longer sit in the lotus but have to use a chair. We sit in silence for an hour before celebrating the Euchari
A Doubter Gives Lessons in Faith
Thomas the Apostle needs a publicist. Even though in Johns Gospel he gives voice to the most profound statement of faith in the New Testament, My Lord and my God, the first word that comes to mind for most of us on hearing his name is doubtingdoubting Thomas. We forget his courageous response when J
Visiting the Age of Rembrandt
We thought we knew him, with that searching unsettling gaze of his, the man with a peasant face who became the master of light and shadow, saturated color and probing psychology. The guises in which he presented himself varied greatly: here as a soldier, there as a prince, now as a beggar or as a ki
Faith & American Politics: A commentary on ‘Faithful Citizenship’
During the 2004 election campaigns, the U.S. bishops’ statement on political responsibility, Faithful Citizenship, came in for considerable criticism among a vocal segment of conservative Catholics. They believed that the document diluted the pro-life message of the church by not emphasizing i
Eco-Asceticism: Preparing for the future through discipline today
In the middle of a muggy summer in southern Indiana, with daytime temperatures near or over 100 degrees, it is hot on our little organic vegetable farm in the Ohio River valley. And although we have central air conditioning in our home, this summer we decided not to turn it on. Why has my family ch
Illness, Here Is Thy Sting: A review of ‘Sicko’
Larry and Donna Smith had it good. He worked as an engineer, she as a newspaper editor. They had a happy family and their health—the middle-class American dream. Then Donna was diagnosed with cancer; and Larry had a heart attack, and then another, and another. And the real nightmare began. Alt
My Confirmation blunder: A look back at a special day
It was not until I was confirmed, at about age 10, that I got a chance to pick a name for myself—a second name, but still a name that, unlike my baptismal name, was my choice. Confirmation was another one of those “when I call your name, march quietly up to the front of the […]
