Commentaries
Show gratitude by returning the kindness you’ve received
Sarah Hanley advises that in the Advent season, we should be thankful, understanding, gracious and kind. The smallest act of compassion can make the biggest impact on someone else.
When Sister Amanda met Alexa
Father Paul Morrissey tells how his cousin, a religious sister for 50 years, discovered the joy of a home device that not only plays her favorite songs, but tells her goodnight.
A Christmas without traditions opens way for the new
Instead of griping about what is missing this Advent and Christmas, we can discover that our God of goodness is waiting to give us new graces and fresh ways to celebrate, writes Laura Kelly Fanucci.
The gift of light
Maureen Pratt suggests not only sharing gifts of candles for loved ones, but lighting a spiritual candle of prayer both locally and globally to share Christ and the essence of the Advent and Christmas season.
Why the nation’s first Black cardinal matters
Cardinal Wilton Gregory is a powerful reminder that the Catholic Church must go forward, not backward, if racial justice and peace are ever to be achieved, writes Philadelphia-area scholar Shannen Dee Williams.
Bishops’ balancing act on Biden’s policies just beginning
President-elect Joe Biden once opposed the abortion industry's extremism. The church's task will be to call him to the better angels of his nature, writes Richard Doerflinger.
To everything a season: to weep, to social distance, to dance
This season indeed is a time to die and a time to grieve, but it is also a time to live fully, writes Moises Sandoval. At Thanksgiving, we have much more to be thankful for than in ordinary times.
Catholic social teaching can restore our nation’s soul
The tenets of Catholic social justice, which dovetail with America's dearest values, can replace the misguided and exhausted ideology of unfettered free market libertarianism, writes Basil Merenda.
Ministry for caregivers makes house calls amid COVID
Even amid COVID restrictions, Catholic outreach Nourish for Caregivers continues to help those who give their lives to help loved ones, writes Aimee Gustitis.
Heal politically divided families, communities through friendship
The malady of division did not happen overnight, and it will take decades to heal, writes Hosffman Ospino. Catholics can model a nobler way for church and society: the way of Christ, the way of communion.