Commentaries
Nine ways to have an eco-friendly new year
Effie Caldarola has room for improvement in making environmentally friendly choices, but she's determined to make 2020 easier on the planet by taking simple, concrete steps to reduce consumption and waste.
In a toxic news culture, dialogue is lost
Nonstop, negative and nasty media stories are causing many to avoid the headlines, writes Father Eugene Hemrick. The human spirit longs for true communication, which requires virtues such as honesty, humility and prudence.
Choosing a life with children, not of gold
Katie Prejean McGrady loves awards shows, but she had to turn one off when an actress cited her abortion as the path to a golden statuette. It's a lie that women are incapable of raising a family and having a career.
What is man? The answer leads to the heart
As Father Thomas Dailey eagerly awaits a new book from the Vatican on that perennial question, he turns to St. Francis de Sales' answer: We seek happiness, and we find it only when the human is united with the divine.
Each sip or shower echoes our Christian baptism
Water surrounds us every day as it did at our baptism -- the deepest of washing, revitalizing our entire beings, writes Sister Annette Pelletier. The Father speaks to his beloved children, with whom he is pleased.
Peace is the first greeting of those who follow Christ
The simple, heartfelt wish for others' well-being must be our gift to those we engage in our personal, professional, political and international realms, writes Carolyn Woo.
A queen, two popes and a lot of creative license
A teaspoon of fact and a shovelful of fiction blend in slick docudramas such as "The Crown" and "The Two Popes," writes Greg Erlandson. The recipe makes for inaccurate history, with a bad aftertaste.
‘Tis the season for seeking a professional caregiver
The Christmas holidays can be a time for honest conversations about caring for an aging loved one, writes registered nurse Aimee Gustitis. By doing your homework, setting realistic goals and trusting in God, you can maintain your senior's dignity and safety.
Hanukkah, Christmas and the state of the world
Rabbi Abraham Skorka, a St. Joseph's University professor, recently reflected with his friend Pope Francis on the Jewish and Christian holidays celebrated at this time of year. Both faiths share a common vision: hope for a world in which peace and fraternity prevail.
Give books for Christmas — here are 14 for your list
George Weigel offers suggestions for 13 titles by other authors, and one by himself, of 2019's best reads. They will delight, instruct and edify your loved ones (or yourself).