Commentaries

Jesus is calling, even (and especially) in those we’d like to avoid

Sometimes the Lord seeks us in the most unlikely people, writes Effie Caldarola. Having divine compassion for the hidden suffering of others enables us to respond with love and kindness.

To conquer racism, become truly Catholic

Generations of African American nuns have proven that the Catholic faith can lead the way to justice and equality, writes Shannen Dee Williams of Villanova University. To do that, the church must first acknowledge its own role in contemporary racial crises.

My journey with elderly priests on path to eternal life

Since the early 1970s Helen McConnell has been caring for archdiocesan priests nearing the end of their earthly pilgrimage. It has been rewarding work and a spiritual journey for her too.

Where image is everything, spectacle of Christmas endures

Jolly old St. Nick, Rudolf with his red nose, Charlie Brown's friends on stage and George Bailey’s guardian angel all stir our sense of kindness, illumination and insight, and most prominent is the Nativity scene, writes Father Thomas Dailey.

Rather than curse our life’s situation, seek hope in Christ

The fault in relationships that don't satisfy or jobs in which we're stuck lies not in "our stars." Rather, the cure for the dismay many people feel this time of year is hope amidst darkness, writes Father Eric Banecker.

Tell those family stories – they link old to young

Sister Constance Veit points to studies that show young people, despite their screens, really are listening and learning when their elders tell relatable, funny tales. And Christmas is the best time for them.

The reformed liturgy, 50 years later

Even as some long for a nostalgic past where the liturgy was celebrated poorly in Latin, today's Mass in the Ordinary Form can be celebrated so that the awe of the divine presence is palpable, writes George Weigel.

Investing in the future of our local church

Sarah Hanley explains how the Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia combines investment management and fundraising services to ensure that our faith will be available for generations to come.

Power of patience tops the speed of today’s tech

Our technological progress compels us to answer texts and emails instantly. But sitting alone quietly in a room can lead to great creativity, writes Brett Robinson on a theme of Advent.

Advent’s challenge: Set aside rancor, and listen

Catholics have grown adept at berating each other, writes Greg Erlandson. The Advent liturgies are speaking to us, if only we have ears to hear their messages of reform and hope. Can we slow down and listen?