Commentaries
Seeking light in the days that are left
Moises Sandoval writes that those of us who have lived long lives are acutely aware, with each passing day, that our vitality, like the sunshine, is weakening and that dark, cold days lie ahead.
Autumn: A time of transition, a time of hope
Autumn invites us to contemplation, writes Father William Byron. Instead of yielding to the pull of depression in the fall, focus on gratitude and let hope lift the soul to new heights.
Getting rid of clutter is trendy but has a spiritual benefit
Before Christmas shopping this year, Effie Caldarola advises against the glut of kitschy holiday decorations and cheap, easily discarded clothes that already fill our houses to the brim.
A lecture to teens might just be good advice
After a concussion, Karen Osborne had to follow the doctor's order to stay off screens. Frustrating as the advice was, she realizes it was for her own good.
Another ancient monastery in Iraq risks extinction
Christian sites are under threat by the Islamic State, including the refugees housed inside them. Their language and culture are also at risk, writes an editor covering the situation.
Synod’s challenge
Pope Francis has energized debate about the threat to the planet's natural environment. But now he faces an even greater challenge -- mobilizing Catholics and society in general to tackle the man-made threat to the bedrock of our social environment, the family.
Pope Francis shows the ‘culture of encounter’
When the pope visited the Little Sisters of the Poor in Washington last month, what he did for an elderly sister with dementia was unforgettable for Sister Constance Veit. His gesture explained God's unique love for each person.
Speak to ‘the other’ from a stance of love, not hate
Effie Caldarola thinks that during the Year of Mercy, we should learn from those who are different from us. We have much to learn from them.
Unpacking the unforgettable
Maureen Pratt's favorite souvenir from the papal visit to America: The conversations about faith with other Catholics, Christians or no faith at all.
When ‘they’ becomes a dangerous word
Carolyn Woo sees how the outsiders, people unlike "us," may become threatening. She finds guidance in "the people's pope," and Pope Francis' words in Philadelphia.