by Brendan Gottschall, SJ | Sep 25, 2017 | Faith & Family, Science & Technology ~ Approx. 3 mins
Full disclosure: I was not an ideal teenager. In retrospect (and perhaps even at the time), I followed the example of one of my favorite saints, who once prayed: “Grant me chastity… but not yet.” While I did a lot of things I later came to regret, I also learned a lot...
by David Inczauskis, SJ | Sep 22, 2017 | In the News, Pop Culture, Spirituality ~ Approx. 4 mins
And when I think upon that night My eyes are dim with tears. From William Wordsworth “Strange fits of passion I have known” The death of Princess Diana was the first sad memory of my life. I saw my mother’s eyes dim with tears as we reclined to watch the Sunday...
by Michael Mohr, SJ | Sep 21, 2017 | Faith & Politics ~ Approx. 3 mins
One of the oldest Benedictine monasteries of Southeast Asia is nestled in the lush highlands of central Vietnam. As we travelled on a small road surrounded by an extensive variety of fruits and vegetables through picturesque farmland, we glimpsed into the simplicity...
by Andrew Hanson | Sep 20, 2017 | Blogs, Spirituality ~ Approx. 3 mins
Two wheels and a slender frame make it hard to wrap, but I still marvel at the unexpected Christmas gift leaning on its kickstand. Santa came through big time this year. It’s 1994 in the urban sprawl of São Paulo, Brazil. The gear shift mounted on the stem...
by Brian Strassburger, SJ | Sep 18, 2017 | Humor ~ Approx. 5 mins
To all our youthful readers: stay in your 20s as long as you can! Ah, how fondly I remember that decade! It was filled with new experiences and opportunities for growth and adventure. But just as it did for me, the day will inevitably come for you: your 30th birthday....
by Lucas Sharma, SJ | Sep 15, 2017 | Faith & Politics, In the News, TJP Reads ~ Approx. 4 mins
In almost 500 pages, Hillary Rodham Clinton’s new memoir What Happened says what many might say in two words: she lost. Her explanation nuances her own personal mistakes, her emails, Russian intervention, Bernie Sanders, sexism, and the intersection of race and class....
by Colten Biro | Sep 14, 2017 | Film, Pop Culture ~ Approx. 3 mins
One might assume that a special release of a television show in IMAX would come with striking clarity and amazing special effects, but with ABC’s Marvel’s Inhumans I found myself struck not by the wonder and the ‘super’ but by the sheer humanity involved. While...
by Chris Williams, SJ | Sep 13, 2017 | Blogs, Spirituality ~ Approx. 4 mins
I spend time each week in a pod at the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center – the JDC. Each pod is visible through thick panels of glass which, sadly, makes it feel like looking into an exhibit at the Lincoln Park zoo. But instead of animals, there are 14 to...
by Juan Ruiz, SJ | Sep 12, 2017 | In the News ~ Approx. 2 mins
The last time I was in a hurricane, I was four years old and remember a few things. We hid in a closet with the glow of a flashlight while wind howled outside. The next day I still remember seeing palm trees that had blown over and knew that it was a miracle, even...
by Marc Fryer, SJ | Sep 12, 2017 | In the News, Spirituality ~ Approx. 3 mins
As a Houstonian, the past few weeks have been a struggle. As a Houstonian living away from home, rather than dealing with flood damage and other chaos, I have struggled with being away from family and friends when they most needed help. As a Jesuit with a vow of...