Commentaries
The Easter Effect today
Two millennia ago the disciples of Jesus finally understood what "rising from the dead" meant. Today despite the despondence Catholics feel, there are living signs of renewal in the church, as George Weigel points out.
A letter in the inbox of every young Catholic
Pope Francis has written a letter to everyone under 30, but anyone who is young in spirit should take it to heart, writes Greg Erlandson on the pontiff's personal advice on good living and decision making.
Notre Dame’s stones point forward
The treasures of Notre Dame Cathedral aren't merely a part of France’s past but a beacon of hope and a sign for the future, writes a Catholic journalist who found his faith in the cathedral a decade ago.
Get outside and the take the Bible with you
God's word was made for outdoors, writes Effie Caldarola, who with poet Wendell Berry notes the "thin place" where the boundaries that separate us from God slip away and we can appreciate life's miracles.
We’re all connected by hunger for food and one another
Patrick Walsh helps to run a Catholic Social Services food pantry in which he sees how people -- both those who need help obtaining food and those who don't -- share vulnerability and potential in our shared humanity.
The awesome role of liberal arts
When liberal arts are neglected by universities it is possible for schooling to focus solely on the pursuit of money and a narrow mentality in which humanity takes second place, writes Father Eugene Hemrick.
Nicholas Black Elk: Prophet to Lakota a sign of hope today
The Native American convert to Catholicism and declared Servant of God strengthened his people's faith in Christ amid the collapse of their world. His example does the same for all today, says an expert on his life.
Creation, redemption, martyrdom: A Lenten reflection
God formed and then restored the world so that we might share his holiness, writes George Weigel. Even amidst the recent murder of an African missionary priest, God remains with us, thirsting for our loving "yes" to his offer of salvation.
Learning to be astonished
How do we draw strength to remain hopeful and active in the world? Effie Caldarola suggests we quiet down, look at the natural world, and read the poetry of Mary Oliver for inspiration.
An ark for a new world
Maureen Pratt tells how one volunteer with a group where people with and without intellectual disabilities live alongside one another discovered that her value was not in what she did, but in her presence.