“Pope Francis recently called on Catholic universities worldwide to contribute to research and teaching about refugees and migrants. As a Catholic and Augustinian institution with a deep an longstanding commitment to community service and founded to educate immigrants, Villanova is answering Pope Franci’s call”. …
Author: Dana Robinson
‘a grave evil and disturbance’
It sounds like a joke, but when asked how the date for Easter is determined each year an acquaintance of mind replied in a tone of offended intelligence: “That’s easy, it’s the Sunday after Good Friday!” How easy it is for us to accept things…
The Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
There is exciting news in Philadelphia. Pope Francis has elevated the Miraculous Medal Shrine to Basilica status (Miraculousmedal.org) It is now the Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. Readers not already familiar with this Shrine will find the following excerpt from its…
‘Algorethics’ and Purpose
“Artificial Intelligence Will Cause Humans to Think in New Ways” is the title of a recent, thought-provoking article in the Wall Street Journal co-authored by Henry Kissinger, Eric Schmidt and Daniel Huttenlocher. The writers expound on the risks , benefits and unprecedented challenges of Artificial…
Covenant House
The concept of covenant has its beginning as early as the Garden of Eden and runs through the stories of Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jeremiah. At the Last Supper Jesus speaks of the blood to be poured out for the ‘new covenant’. A covenant describes…
Blinding Clarity
When I was young and still possessed of intellectual docility a French Jesuit introduced me to the role of paradox in faith. Paradox, rather than invalidating its tenets, leads us to a deeper understanding of faith. Examples abound: the servant/Savior; God/man; first will be last;…
Empty Tabernacles
The tabernacle was empty, its vigil lamp extinguished. Hope had abandoned the sanctuary. An oppressive emptiness replaced it. I don’t remember to what it referred, but this mysterious passage appeared recently on my computer screen like some dark prophecy. On the same day I read…
Catholic Relief Services
(Residents of the United States of America who are not already aware of the organization would be edified by the history and mission of Catholic Relief Services which began its ministry after World War II. Excerpts from the website of CRS -www.crs.org – appear here).…
‘Gated Paradise’
This description appears in a real estate ad I recently read. The intention is clear and, one assumes, innocent. But, the words do provoke the question: can paradise be gated? People have different opinions about the existence of paradise, and believers have varying concepts of…
Heart of the Nation
Following in our Savior’s footsteps, good works keep His Way visible by bringing Sunday TV Mass, prayer publications, and online inspiration to Catholics who cannot get out to church. Heart of the Nation becomes a blessing for multitudes in times of illness, frailty, inclement weather,…