Columns

Do I believe in Life Everlasting?

Anyone who spends much time reading the teachings of the Second Vatican Council cannot help but notice the repeated use of the word "dialogue." Catholics are called to dialogue with other Christians, non-Christians, atheists and the modern world. Dialogue is a feature that ought to exist, not only between Catholics and those outside the Church, but within the Church itself.

FR. RON ROLHEISER, omi

Today, among many of us churchgoers, there is growing-propensity to self-protect rather than risk crucifixion for the world. We are well-intentioned in this, but, good intentions notwithstanding, our actions are the opposite of Jesus. He loved the world enough to let himself be crucified rather than self-protect.

JOHN CONNELLY

Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 5, 2013

Every breath we take is a gift from God. God breathes his life into you and me right now. God sustains us and loves us moment by moment.

MARK PICKUP

The Second Reading for Mass on April 21 was from Revelation chapter 7. In John's divine vision, he sees a great multitude of martyrs dressed in white standing before the throne of the Lamb (Christ).

GORDON SELF

I have spent a lot of free evenings and weekends lately on kitchen renovations. It is rewarding to use my hands to create something new.

Do I Believe in the Forgiveness of Sins?

The election of Argentina's Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Pope Francis has been hailed as a belated acknowledgement that the Roman Catholic Church is a global Church. But is it? Does the fact that the pope now hails from Argentina – and spent virtually his entire life in that country – mean the Church now has a more global outlook than under the papacies of those who came from Germany, Poland or Italy?

FR. RON ROLHEISER, omi

In his novel, A Month of Sundays, John Updike presents us with a character, a lapsed vicar who, though himself struggling with faith, is extremely critical of his young assistant whose faith and theology he judges to be fluffy and lightweight. He describes his young assistant this way:

KATHLEEN GIFFIN

Fifth Sunday in Easter
April 28, 2013

I spent the last two days at a workshop, learning from Gordon Neufeld. He is a developmental psychologist who works with the attachment and maturation process in children and adolescents.