A professor reflects on the difficulties and opportunities presented by teaching reluctant students.
Spirituality
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
The spiritual discipline of missing out on things
Sometimes not getting to do the thing that you want can actually feel kind of wonderful, even luxurious.
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
It isn’t just the priest’s fault: Six tips for lay people for a better homily experience
The homily should be part of an active relationship between preacher and parish. None of us, speaking or listening, should stop trying to improve the experience.
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
For Jesuits (and everyone else), the people you live with can be the hardest to serve. But that’s what we’re called to do.
Members of the Society of Jesus have been called in recent years to see as mission territory not just our works out in the world, but the very communities in which we live.
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
The two saints who saved me from scrupulosity
Thérèse of Lisieux and St. Ignatius helped draw me away from scrupulosity—and into accepting God’s love.
Posted inFaith, Features
Should Catholics diet?
If we can accept that God loves us as we are, that we are worthy of love at any size, is it wrong to also desire to be thinner and to take steps to reach that goal?
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
Who is more judgmental: Planet Fitness or the Catholic Church?
The fact is, no one—no church or priest, friendly gym or unfriendly one—can judge us without our cooperation.
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
How my father’s racism helped me fight my own
While I will never support my father’s prejudice, I will forever be grateful for the fact that God could work through him to help me find my way.
Posted inArts & Culture, Books
Review: Learning how to live in the presence of God from a Cistercian monk and bishop
The thrust of Bishop Erik Varden’s new book can be summed up in words preached on Pentecost Sunday: “We shouldn’t domesticate the Spirit. It comforts, but also devours.”
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
Why you should go on a pilgrimage—more than once
Pope Francis has said that going on pilgrimage is “one of the people of God’s most eloquent expressions of faith.” Why?