Commentaries
Telling the good, and sometimes disquieting, news of the church
The church's evangelizing mission needs the gift of honest Catholic journalism because it shows the church's commitment to truth and worthiness of trust, argues an editorial on the feast of St. Francis de Sales, patron saint of communications.
Meekness: The third beatitude
Among the beatitudes, the most misunderstood is likely meekness. How many people aspire to it? It points to self-discovery and is lifelong work, writes Sister Mary Lea Hill.
Gain real strength by relearning tenderness
In a culture that values power, it's hard to understand what Jesus means when he says, "Blessed are the meek." The answer is being radically present to our wounds, writes Lindsey Weishar.
Where were you, God?
God suffers with us even in tragedies like the Philadelphia house fire. Effie Caldarola's thoughts turn to the boy who survived and who needs our refuge and support.
Contraception, abortion and splitting the atom of human sexuality
In his encyclical "Humanae Vitae," Pope Paul VI predicted the dire consequences of manipulating the marital act, as current statistics on poverty, violence against women and human trafficking attest, writes Gina Christian.
Four ways that mourning is a blessing
Paulist Father Richard Andre shows how the "sure and certain hope" we hold as Catholics that life is changed, not ended, can help us live the beatitude to "comfort those who mourn."
How do we comfort those who mourn?
One woman's gentle presence as a parish ministry leader enables her to serve the needs of grieving parishioners, a key to evangelization and to living the second beatitude.
Americans aren’t as far apart as we think
Despite ample distrust, our differences are not as huge as we fear, writes Greg Erlandson. Parishes could bring people together for acts of service where diverse Catholics can work shoulder to shoulder on what unites us.
Let the light of Christ shine through 2022
Sarah Hanley of the Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia reflects on how everyone can resolve this in New Year to think more about their neighbors, contribute time, abilities and money to charity and live the Gospels more fully.
The beatitudes: Poor in spirit
In the first of a new series on the beatitudes, we see the blessing of those who are self-empty and the promise of the kingdom of God entering the world through them.