Sign of God: What Catholics can learn from deafness
Even when he does not speak, Father Joe is able to hold the rapt attention of the congregation.
Culture Shift: The new evangelization can encourage vocations in a changing church.
One of the tasks of the new evangelization is to rebuild a culture of vocations.
Of Many Things
Breaking bread with Father Ciszek after 23 years as a prisoner in Russia
How did Walter Ciszek, S.J., find “the abundant grace” to make his unlikely pilgrimage?
Letters
Letters
Trust the InvestigationRe “Digging Deeper” (Current Comment, 12/10): The BP explosion was a tragedy, and the most serious consequences were borne by those who died, their families and the many who live and work along the Gulf coast. Whatever civil compensation is made will never replace
Editorials
Conflict of Interest
Governments must reject the misguided trend of prison privatization.
Faith in Focus
“That Man Is Me”: My life-changing encounter with a fictional French bishop
My life-changing encounter with a fictional French bishop
Guantánamo Journal: A Jesuit’s week at Camp Justice
This week, as we mark the 12th anniversary of the prison, a look back at Associate Editor Luke Hansen’s reporting from Guantanamo.
Books
Arab Winter
David Lesch a recognized specialist in Syrian politics is the author of an earlier book on Syria rsquo s President Bashar al Assad with whom he has conducted several interviews His latest book traces the fortunes mdash mostly misfortunes mdash of Assad his government rsquo s off-and-on relation
A Mother’s Tale
‘The Testament of Mary’ tells an intriguing though not always convincing story. It’s main character—and to an extent its only character—is an old woman fretting about her past as she tries to get the facts straight.
Film
The Story of a Soul: Fate and forgiveness in ‘Les Misérables’
Fate and forgiveness in ‘Les Misérables’
The Word
Life-Giving Waters
John the Baptist preached repentance for the forgiveness of sins as an anticipation of the messiah Jesus himself was baptized by John as were many others Taking this as historical fact what are we to make of it According to some secular historians Jesus was a disciple of John before beginning h
Signs of the Wedding
Where are signs in your life? Are they not present in forgiveness freely given to you or by you?
Columns
The Essential Question
What are the most real and valuable things in life?
Current Comment
Undervalued
Work can be dignifying, but only when workers are treated with dignity.
Missed Opportunity to Lead
Why did the Senate fail to ratify an international treaty for persons with disabilities?
Slaughter of Innocents
If we cannot control violence in the world, we can try to limit the damage.
Faith
Chained, but Free: How Walter Ciszek gained spiritual liberation in Lubyanka prison
The spiritual journey of every Christian is a journey of conversion that involves inward maturing, openness to the spirit and a developed prayer life. For Walter Ciszek, S.J., a small, stocky Polish-American, this spiritual journey was tested in the fire of Moscow’s dreaded Lubyanka prison, wh
Breaking bread with Father Ciszek after 23 years as a prisoner in Russia
How did Walter Ciszek, S.J., find “the abundant grace” to make his unlikely pilgrimage?
Signs of the Wedding
Where are signs in your life? Are they not present in forgiveness freely given to you or by you?
Signs Of the Times
News Briefs
Pope Benedict XVI’s Twitter account, @Pontifex, attracted more than a million-and-a-half followers by the end of Dec. 12, its first day active. • Justice Magazine (www.justicemagazine.org), which covers national and international issues relating to the Catholic Church’s social teach
Syrian End Game?
European media are reporting that Russia and the United States are preparing a joint ultimatum to President Bashar al-Assad through the special envoy of the United Nations and the Arab League, Lakhdar Brahimi, to encourage Assad to leave power “with dignity.” Washington and Moscow report
Attacks on Christians
Christians renewed an appeal to the Sri Lankan government to defend religious freedom after the nation’s minority Christian community was shocked by an attack on a Protestant church. The attack occurred on Dec. 9, in Weeraketiya, an area in the southern province of Sri Lanka. A crowd of about
Spirited Preaching
The preacher of the papal household offered a look at how to interpret Vatican II.
‘Patriotic’ Church Revokes Shanghai Bishop’s Appointment
Thaddeus Ma Daqin allegedly violated the rules for episcopal ordinations.
Church Responds in Aftermath of Newtown Tragedy
Little Olivia Engel was one of the victims of the horrific shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., on Dec. 14. Msgr. Robert Weiss, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown, said the 6-year-old was to have been an angel in the church’s live Nativity pageant that night.Af
Politics
Faith
Culture
Vatican
Scripture
Podcasts