The funeral procession was lengthy that late January day, crawling down the parkway. I was at the intersection, stalled between errands and an afternoon of teaching; counting the minutes, wondering how many cars the cortege numbered. I knew what was coming, just around the corner. After Groundhog Day and Valentine’s: Ashes. The crush of pitch Read more
I’ll admit it: I was dreading reading Marcellino D’Ambrosio’s new book, 40 Days, 40 Ways: A New Look at Lent (Servant Books). It didn’t help that it arrived and demanded my attention on the cusp of fall, when I did not want to think about Lent. (Granted: I never really want to think about Lent. I am not one of those “I love Lent” Read more
The exterior of the Sagrada Família in Barcelona is a bit loopy, but the interior is so awe-inspiring that it could win over future generations to Christianity. I went to Barcelona by chance. My brother’s wife and daughters had been delighted by this elegant city in northern Spain and especially by the basilica of the Read more
Terrorism and fanaticism can never be justified. But should our reaction to the slaying of staff at the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo be limited to abhorrence? Stamping of feet and shouting of slogans – unity – is a woefully inadequate response. We are not Charlie We are not Charlie, and we need to explain Read more
One good thing has come out of the fuss over the pope’s comments about it being ok to smack your children (so long as their dignity is maintained); it has flushed out the former Irish president, Mary McAleese, as tiresomely conventional in much the same way as her predecessor, Mary Robinson – the very incarnation of PC. Read more
February 8 was the first International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking. An initiative of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Travellers, it occurs on the feast of St Josephine Bakhita who was kidnapped by slave traders, sold into slavery five times, experienced daily beatings and was used as Read more
Definition of traditionalist: Noun. A person who believes that all knowledge originates in divine revelation and is perpetuated by tradition. Definition of fundamentalist: Noun. A person who believes in the strict, literal interpretation of scripture in a religion. A person who adheres strictly to the basic principles of any subject or discipline. Christ said “Do Read more
Writing a “new” biography of Pope Francis is fraught with challenges. For one, there have already been so many biographies written that it is difficult to imagine how anything new or previously unknown could be presented. For another, the fact that Francis himself is making headlines weekly (at least) rather tends to highlight there may Read more
“Teach your children that it is not possible to be Christian outside the Church, and it is not possible to follow Christ outside the Church, as the Church is our mother, and lets us grow in the love of Jesus Christ” (Pope Francis, 11 January 2015). It must then follow that the Catholic Church is the true Read more
The tongues are certainly waging worldwide over the Christmas message of Pope Francis. His address to staff at the Vatican – the priests, monsignors, bishops and cardinals gathered for an end of year assessment by the pope of the year that has passed. A few perfunctory words to round out a very busy year or Read more