This year I am graduating for the fourth time from a Jesuit school. 1 Throughout the past fifteen years, I often heard encouragement from teachers or other students to be “a man for others.” When I was in high school, the phrase often meant having an other-oriented...
In the crook on the crozier of my shoulder, a premature, newborn baby is sleeping; little tiny fingers cling to the adjoining bend of my collarbone. The sweetness nestled therein has found its tending. Like a sheep unto a shepherd, this one tends toward being tended...
Two common questions I had growing up as a Catholic were: “What is prayer?” and “How do I pray?” Fast-forward to today, when I am an ordained priest. And whether I’m on a retreat, at church after Mass, or really just about any other place (including getting a drink...
The following is an edited excerpt from The Crucible of Racism: Ignatian Spirituality and the Power of Hope, a new book from TJP contributor Patrick Saint-Jean. “To Christians, the future does have a name, and its name is Hope. Feeling hopeful does not mean to be...
Peter denied Jesus, but he is not held back by this mistake. After his encounter and reconciliation with Jesus on the seashore, Peter lives with bold faith. Tucker Redding, SJ, reflects on our own need to live like we’ve been forgiven. Based on the readings for...
This is the eleventh installment of A Deacon’s Diary. In the tenth installment, Steve wondered if God made him eccentric. I. The checkerboard squares of the stone floor were cold. And uncomfortable as they pressed into my ribs. It was Good Friday and after...
I spent my early childhood in Vietnam, and one of the things I remember quite vividly is the frequent blackouts. Imagine a huge chunk of the metropolis going dark, succumbing to the night. The darkness seemed to have power over us. It literally stopped everything in...
In the story of “doubting Thomas,” Jesus shows compassion and mercy on him by showing Thomas his wounds. Matthew Zurcher, SJ, reflects on the vastness of God’s mercy on Divine Mercy Sunday. Based on the readings for Sunday, April 24, 2022. Christ is...
On a hot summer afternoon, a brother Jesuit and I heaved one last bag full of clothes into the back of our minivan to make our annual donation to the local Goodwill. As I drove the minivan loaded with bags and boxes full of clothes, shoes, suitcases, and household...
In the special 8 days following Easter, known as the Octave, we get one gospel reading after another about the resurrection. It’s easy to grow accustomed to these readings if you’ve heard them year after year, but they really are quite varied, incredible, and...
