John Paul’s Quarter-Century
As Pope John Paul II celebrates 25 years in office, the world is taking stock of a pontificate that has helped shape political events, set new directions for the Catholic Church and offered spiritual inspiration to millions of people around the globe. By any measure, this is a papacy for the ages. S
A Light for the World
As part of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the pontificate of John Paul II, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has sponsored a handsome new book entitled John Paul II: A Light for the World (edited by Mary Ann Walsh, R.S.M.; Sheed & Ward). Accompanying the many photographs by off
Of Many Things
Of Many Things
Children are a fascinating lot. In their innocence, trust, playfulness and inquisitiveness they can often be our teachers. They question and wonder about big and small things; they hunger for knowledge. There’s no end or limit to their sense of wonderment. And this will never change. Th
Letters
Letters
Memory of Millions
While Nicholas Mele makes some important points in his article The North Korea Conundrum (9/8), he begins with a comparison that fundamentally weakens his overall argument. In the second paragraph of his essay, he states that while the policies of the North Korean leadership have resulted in the starvation or malnutrition of millions,…
Editorials
A Pope for the World
Pope John Paul II’s trip to Great Britain in late May 1982 was such a smashing success that The London Times said if there were such a title as First Citizen of the World, John Paul would win it. That designation would be neither the only nor the most relevant way of describing the 263rd…
Books
A Prodigious Intellectual Effort
Robert Wilken states his book rsquo s purpose in the introduction to depict the pattern of Christian thinking as it took shape in the formative years of the church rsquo s history It is a large task but one that Wilken carries out with great learning and deep appreciation This is not a book writ
Lady With a Cause
Dorothy Height thinks of her life as a unity of circles Some are concentric others overlap but they all connect in some way Sometimes the connections don rsquo t happen for years But when they do I marvel As in a shimmering kaleidoscope familiar patterns keep unfolding Too well-bred to compl
St. Patrick Kavanagh?
While W B Yeats towered over Irish poetry in English from the 1890 rsquo s to the 1930 rsquo s Patrick Kavanagh dominated the period from the 1940 rsquo s to the 1960 rsquo s Kavanagh was a questioning and often querulous writer relentlessly interrogating the state of his muse his soul and his
The Word
Choose Life!
The readings challenge us: “I have set before you reputation and wisdom, comfort and eternal life.” What will we choose?
Columns
Swimming Upstream
I am very sensible what a weakness and presumption it is, to reason against the general humor and disposition of the world. Jonathan Swift, 1708Two fall rituals go together in the United States: the new school year and the new football season. From countless boyhood games in the crisp air of leaf-st
Faith
Choose Life!
The readings challenge us: “I have set before you reputation and wisdom, comfort and eternal life.” What will we choose?
News
Signs of the Times
Proposed Vatican Document on Liturgy Returned to CommitteeA proposed Vatican document on liturgical norms was sent back to its drafting committee after cardinals and bishops raised objections and encouraged changes. Among other things, the draft, presented to consulting prelates in June, reportedly
Portfolio
Twenty-five Years as Pope: A Pictorial History
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the election of John Paul II, we figured that if a picture is worth 1,000 words, then the only way to describe his pontificate briefly is with pictures. To see these photos, click here to display a PDF version of these pages in America.A PDF file is easy to…
Politics
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Culture
Vatican
Scripture
Podcasts