As I write this a week before it goes live, Cardinal Mahoney is slated to attend the upcoming papal conclave. There are numerous calls for him to respectfully decline to attend. I don’t usually go in for armchair episcopacy, and…
Millstones and Mitres: Recovering the Lamb by Forgiving the Wolf
Bishop Sheen on Politics
By now, the disappointing results from the last election have settled in. There were many disappointments on issues that Catholics consider non-negotiable. At the core of voter differences are those who follow their religious convictions pitted against those who say…
The Scandal of Childlike Faith
Catholics have a very intriguing view of the faith life of children compared to many other American Christians. It is perhaps absurd practice to nonbelievers of every shade. Many Americans–some Evangelicals as well as secularists–eschew Catholics for the involuntary system…
Who Do They Say You Are?
In the grand scheme of things have you ever taken an inventory of the way others perceive you? For a believer this is not necessarily a far-fetched idea. You might remember that Jesus did this very thing when he asked…
The Meaning of Mercy
The Second Vatican Council taught us that the Eucharist is the “Source and Summit” of the Christian life. Yet we must keep in mind that the same council makes clear that the Eucharist is not the sum total of the…
Bumper Sticker Evangelist
Have you ever driven behind a bumper sticker evangelist? They have so many bumper stickers that it is hard to tell what color the car is anymore. Each one proclaims the Word of God in a unique way: some are…
The Transfiguration and the Cross
Readings for February 24, 2013: Second Sunday in Lent Appearances can be deceiving. After all, Jesus was just another Galilean. His hands were the rough hands of a workman. People in Nazareth knew his mother. Some even remembered the man…
Parental Guidance Required
Life automatically comes with a PG (Parental Guidance) warning when we live as active Christians. Our children are surrounded by media that is saturated by sex, violence, drugs, and every abomination imaginable. Our children are constantly bombarded by ideas that…
10 Tips for Being a More Joyful Mother
Ever run into a mother who was filled with joy? Not just when a new baby is welcomed home, but amidst the day to day life of being a mom. I have to admit, I spend more time lamenting my…
A Teachable Moment
Where were you when you first heard the news of Pope Benedict’s resignation? I was making breakfast, juggling lunches, and trying to get my morning rolling when I received a text from a family member. She was alerting me and…