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(Photo: Unsplash) Twenty years ago, I published a small book, The Cube and the Cathedral: Europe, America, and Politics Without God. It enjoyed a fair sale, got translated into French, Spanish, Polish, Italian, Portuguese, and Hungarian, and was named a FOREIGN AFFAIRS  Bestseller. In it, I argued that Europe was experiencing a crisis of “civilizational morale,” evident in sclerotic governmental bureaucracies, an unwillingness to contribute appropriately to the defense of the

"No matter how many times the Church seems destined for destruction, or at least precipitous decline, Christ is born anew in the world." St. John Paul II looks out over a massive crowd gathered for World Youth Day Denver 1993. Throughout his papacy, the saintly pontiff signaled a "new springtime," a New Evangelization for the Catholic Church in the twenty-first century, one filled with hope. (Denver Catholic file photo) “Remember that you were at that time separated from Chri

German Bishops at Mass in the Papal Basilica of St. Paul outside the Walls during their visit in Rome, Nov. 17, 2022. (Photo: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA) When it was first published in 1993, Pope St. John Paul II’s encyclical on the reform of Catholic moral theology, Veritatis Splendor  (The Splendor of Truth), dealt a severe blow to the pride of many German theologians, who had long thought themselves the cutting edge of Catholic intellectual life. Indeed, within a year of the encycl

From trust to temptation, Pope St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body reveals why the fall wasn’t about an apple, but about doubting the Father's love. (Photo: Lightstock) I have a friend who had a very sweet and precocious son. When he was very little, she told me, “Jack has a question for you.” The question: “Why is God so mean? He wouldn’t even let Adam and Eve eat apples!”           Don’t we all kind of feel that way? I know I did. It took my beloved Pope St. John Paul I

We’re made in the image of a God who is a communion of love — Father, Son and Holy Spirit — and we can only mirror that image when we live for others. (Photo: Pexels) I just finished reading the excellent book “From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life” by Arthur C. Brooks. One of my favorite parts was his discussion of the importance of relationships to our happiness. Like many other academics who study happiness, he ha

(Photo courtesy of the Mother Cabrini Shrine Facebook page) Did you know that Colorado has a rich Catholic heritage, stretching back...

Pope John Paul II celebrates Mass at Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception for pilgrims from each diocese in U.S. and...

Pope John Paul II, bishops, cardinals co-celebrate morning Mass at Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. (Photo by James...

File photo by James Baca/Denver Catholic Register On Aug. 12, 1993, the “Rockstar Pope” arrived in the Mile High City for World Youth...

File Photo by James Baca/Denver Catholic Register Today marks the 30th anniversary of World Youth Day Denver and Pope St. John Paul II’s...

(Photo by James Baca/Denver Catholic Register) It’s not that often that bishops are able to announce the kind of good news I am about to...

A triptych is a picture, or more commonly an altarpiece, that appears on three panels, though meant to be understood as a single...