Perspective

(Photo: Lightstock) The American holiday calendar is surprisingly rich with Catholic traditions — St. Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, All Hallows Eve, Christmas and Easter. All of them, however, have taken on a life of their own, shaped by American consumerism, and often bear little resemblance to their Catholic origins. Halloween, in particular, has drawn elements from the celebration of All Souls Day and various pagan traditions, especially the Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked...

Faith is not just an idea but a relationship — a lived encounter with the Person of Jesus Christ. (Photo: Lightstock) “Do you know Jesus?” I let the question hang in the air, my go-to whenever I walk with someone in discipleship. A blank stare. “…I mean, I guess?” “You guess ?” A smile. “Let me ask you a different question. Do you know me ?” “Yes.” “Do you ‘guess’ that you know me?” “No.” “Ok, then why do you guess that you know Jesus?” “Hm. Well, I guess I know about Jesus, but I don’t...

The UK Parliament has debated "assisted dying" for months, the latest affront to life and a clear misunderstanding of compassion. (Photo: Unsplash) The “Mother of Parliaments” — that’s the one in London — has been embroiled for months in a debate over “assisted dying,” which is euphemized elsewhere under other Orwellian monikers: “Medical Assistance in Dying,” “Physician Assisted Suicide,” “Physician Assisted Dying,” and so forth. The bill legalizing this odious practice narrowly passed the...

Pope Leo XIV's first exhortation reminds us that the poor are not a problem to fix, but persons to love — and that every act of service begins with conversion of heart. (Photo courtesy of Christ in the City) By Philip Couture Director of Formation Christ in the City There’s a question that has defined all my years in Denver: “How do I serve the poor?” That’s probably not the question that follows most people through the Mile High City, but it marked my very first days here up to the...

(Photo: Lightstock) By Alli Kalina In the depths of grieving yet another miscarriage, my husband gently posed a question that shook things up in my spiritual life. After expressing to him that I felt hopeless and like God had abandoned me, he delicately asked me, “What’s your hope in?” I slumped into our old, sunken couch and thought to myself: “ What was my hope in? What even is hope?” I’m a convert, and the Lord brought me home to the Church my freshman year of college. Despite being one...

These reflections from Scripture reveal how Jesus meets us in our worries and brings lasting peace. (Photo: Lightstock) I have been an anxious person for most of my life, but it definitely ramped up when I became a mom. Over the last fourteen years of motherhood, I’ve learned a lot about where my anxiety comes from, and I’ve learned tools to help deal with it. In particular, God has spoken to me through his Word to show me a path forward through my mental struggles. I will share some of my...

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' in 2021. (Photo: Marcel Badykshin/Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0) When Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ was head of the Russian Orthodox Church’s external relations department, he would occasionally come to Washington, where the Librarian of Congress, James Billington, a distinguished historian of Russian culture, would host a small dinner for him. I was a guest on one such occasion, and the impression Kirill left that night remains in my mind:...

From lost remotes to deeper faith, my son is teaching me to let go of control and find God’s peace in even the most unexpected places — like the ice dispenser. (Photo provided) By Meg Stout Like all parents, my husband and I have learned a great deal from our children about life. But Paul, having Down Syndrome and Autism, has been my best teacher. Paul cycles through different quirky habits. Imagine pouring yourself a nice drink. You take a sip, place it on the counter and walk a few steps...

(Photo: Unsplash) The partisan division that runs deep in America has recently taken a violent turn. Political affiliations manifest...

Revisiting Gilmore Girls this fall, I’m learning that true freedom isn’t about doing whatever we want — it’s about choosing the good....

(Photo: Lightstock) The late Father Richard John Neuhaus had a love/hate relationship with the New York Times . Richard was a passionate...

Julian Fellowes should consider adding St. Katharine Drexel to the show's cast — an example of what it means to find something worth more...