Pope Benedict has written that false autonomy leads to slavery. This oxymoronic concept is indeed provocative: to strive for total independence is to achieve total imprisonment. So many of us today are rootless and unguided by the wisdom of tradition and community. Voluntarily or otherwise,…
Category: Advancing the Kingdom
The youth of faithfulness
“Diversity is our destiny.” Such was the declaration I recently heard on a news report about the demographic evolution in our nation. From a Catholic perspective, diversity is right at home. The word ‘Catholic’ after all means universal. St. Paul underscores the positive reality of…
It’s God’s call
Television ads can be thought provoking. I saw one recently where, when asked “what’s on your life’s to-do list?,” a half dozen bright faced adolescents responded with such admirable aspirations as curing cancer, cleaning the environment, eradicating illiteracy, fostering world peace, and so on. I…
The witness of space
Increasingly dining room tables are a rarity. Perhaps it is because in newer homes dining rooms are rare. (Indeed some would suggest that dining itself has disappeared.) I was thinking about this recently while six of our grandkids – all under eight years of age…
Music, an enemy of piety
As inconceivable as it is for those of us raised in a tradition of beautiful liturgical music there are religions where music – even exquisite music of the caliber of Gregorian chant or Bach’s Mass in B minor – is considered an enemy of piety.…
The force of personality
A Godless world is an impossibility. But, the perception of one – willful or otherwise – is not. How easily this misperception can lead to the dehumanization of our society. This thought resurfaced as I attended a recent seminar on the utility of “webcasting.” The…
Chimney fire
Recently, our chimney was swept. This is a task that is done periodically. In our case, though, because of neglect on my part too much time had passed since the previous cleaning and we experienced a chimney fire. It was an unnerving experience. Large pieces…
Ebola Recovery Continues: West African Catholic Solidarity Fund
I am pleased to report that recently a fund has been established at NCCF in support of the Church’s efforts to address the aftermath of the Ebola crisis in West Africa. Please see the summary below on the West African Catholic Solidarity Fund. In August…
Arousing desire?
Everybody, it seems, is reading the Post Synodal Exhortation Amoris Laetitia of Pope Francis. Although its author recommends against a “rushed reading” many have already made it through the 260 pages of this very inspiring text. To describe this exhortation as inspiring is not inaccurate.…
The Synodal Document on “Love”
By Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia on the Apostolic Exhortation “The Joy of Love” For our Church, the Apostolic Exhortation “Amoris Laetitia” is one milestone on a long and winding journey. The Holy Father’s enthusiastic invitation to deal broadly, freely and openly with questions that are real…