Of Many Things
The case for optimistic comedy
When we laugh at the absurdity of life, we embrace it anew with a daring we somehow lacked before.
Your Take
The Letters
I thought this was a beautiful article that encapsulated the meaning of “Humanae Vitae,” which is misunderstood as much today as it was when it was written.
How should the legality of abortion be determined?
30 percent of respondents agreed that the legality of abortion should be determined by the Supreme Court, as it currently is.
Editorials
The Editors: The Catholic Church should not be shocked by the McCarrick case—it should be ashamed.
What can the church do to help repent for the sins of leaders like Cardinal McCarrick and all those who turned a blind eye to his wrongdoing?
Short Take
This week #BlackLivesMatter turned 5. Catholics must continue to embrace its mission.
The Catholic Church has renewed efforts to fight racism in the U.S., but Black Lives Matter deserves credit for keeping our attention on racial justice.
Dispatches
Infographic: U.S. permanent diaconate marks 50 years of steady growth
The number of permanent deacons in the Catholic Church has steadily grown, to more than 18,000 in the U.S. and more than 45,000 worldwide.
Trudeau condemns Trump’s family separations, but Canada has detention problems, too
Canada is not innocent when it comes to immigration policies that have the potential to hurt individuals and divide families.
Jesuit General: Pedro Arrupe’s cause for canonization underway
Jesuit leaders announce that the sainthood cause of Father Pedro Arrupe, S.J. has formally started.
Mexican church anticipates ‘cordial’ relations with incoming President López Obrador
Mr. López Obrador’s political platform is decidedly secular and nationalistic. As president he intends to place a heavy emphasis on combating corruption, which he and his political allies believe to be the root cause of the criminal violence, poverty and inequality that plague the country.
For deaf Catholics, a gesture from Pope Francis meant the world
With a smile on his face and his right arm raised in the air, Francis placed his two middle fingers in his palms and signed “I love you.”
Features
Searching for God in the city of angels
Just as I saw with my coworkers, the expressions of faith of the poor and vulnerable are occurring against a background of chaos and fear.
Close Encounters: A priest and a mysterious U.F.O. sighting
In 1949, a priest with a searchlight spotted something puzzling in the sky. The mystery remains unexplained.
Faith in Focus
How getting older—and feeling invisible—is preparing me for the kingdom of God
To be seen—to be desired—is a beautiful human need no matter what our age is.
Ideas
Angelo Secchi, the Jesuit father of astrophysics
His was a life full of discovery, invention and public service.
Books
A bold debut about Filipino life in America
A frank and immersive foray into the world of Filipino-American immigrants to the United States.
Review: When the dish is good, it’s delicious
Donald Hall tries to place a seal upon his own literary legacy by remixing his best origin stories and famous friendships.
Review: Terry Eagleton seeks to rescue the idea of sacrifice
Terry Eagleton traces the history of sacrifice in literature and philosophy.
Review: Sam Rocha’s beautiful and funky education
Sam Rocha demonstrates his renaissance dexterity as a thinker, musician and teacher.
Art
The urban fantasies of Bodys Isek Kingelez
The Congolese artist has left us a form of art that transcends political and aesthetic categories.
Poetry
Substance Theory
reaching for Teresa reaching for Thérèse reaching for Teresa reaching for the utter center
of the divine diamond fruit, an arrow into flame
The Word
What “food” helps you live as Jesus lived?
Jesus’ disciples today find in his teaching the “bread” that keeps them going.
Eternal life begins today.
When nourished with Christ’s own flesh and blood, the life within us can become an unstoppable force that undergoes no appreciable change even with our own death.
Last Take
In order to better heal those they serve, doctors must first deal with their own suffering
Patients and doctors are allies separated by a common language: suffering. Patients suffer because of their diseases, because of their feelings of alienation within a technocratic medical system and because their experience is ignored in our society that often believes the best way to get rid of suffering is to get rid of the sufferer.…
Faith
Infographic: U.S. permanent diaconate marks 50 years of steady growth
The number of permanent deacons in the Catholic Church has steadily grown, to more than 18,000 in the U.S. and more than 45,000 worldwide.
Searching for God in the city of angels
Just as I saw with my coworkers, the expressions of faith of the poor and vulnerable are occurring against a background of chaos and fear.
Close Encounters: A priest and a mysterious U.F.O. sighting
In 1949, a priest with a searchlight spotted something puzzling in the sky. The mystery remains unexplained.
In order to better heal those they serve, doctors must first deal with their own suffering
Patients and doctors are allies separated by a common language: suffering. Patients suffer because of their diseases, because of their feelings of alienation within a technocratic medical system and because their experience is ignored in our society that often believes the best way to get rid of suffering is to get rid of the sufferer.…
What “food” helps you live as Jesus lived?
Jesus’ disciples today find in his teaching the “bread” that keeps them going.
Eternal life begins today.
When nourished with Christ’s own flesh and blood, the life within us can become an unstoppable force that undergoes no appreciable change even with our own death.
The Editors: The Catholic Church should not be shocked by the McCarrick case—it should be ashamed.
What can the church do to help repent for the sins of leaders like Cardinal McCarrick and all those who turned a blind eye to his wrongdoing?
Jesuit General: Pedro Arrupe’s cause for canonization underway
Jesuit leaders announce that the sainthood cause of Father Pedro Arrupe, S.J. has formally started.
For deaf Catholics, a gesture from Pope Francis meant the world
With a smile on his face and his right arm raised in the air, Francis placed his two middle fingers in his palms and signed “I love you.”
How getting older—and feeling invisible—is preparing me for the kingdom of God
To be seen—to be desired—is a beautiful human need no matter what our age is.
Magazine
The Letters
I thought this was a beautiful article that encapsulated the meaning of “Humanae Vitae,” which is misunderstood as much today as it was when it was written.
Politics
Faith
Culture
Vatican
Scripture
Podcasts