In August 1876, Bayreuth Festspielhaus was christened as an opera house erected exclusively for the performance and reverence of Richard Wagner’s work. Built to the composer’s obsessive specifications, it was to be a temple that celebrated his own celebrity and genius...
As a scientist, I am sometimes terrified of not being able to predict the outcome of my actions. But as a Jesuit, I’m often called to take huge leaps of faith. Discernment has taught me a lot about working through those conflicting feelings. Many times, the most...
Jesus says it is what comes out from within that can defile. Eric Sundrup, SJ, reflects on our own need to take a look within our own hearts in this week’s One-Minute Homily. Based on the readings for Sunday, August 29, 2021. I’m rubber and you’re glue, whatever...
What is your dream? What would be the thing that you would strive for no matter what? We can answer that question in a myriad of ways, and the answer may vary from year to year. But, I think that deep down we all have something we want more than anything else. The...
I have yet to discover how I am supposed to feel about the abandonment of Afghanistan. I can only imagine how it must be for the people who were more intimately involved in the war than I was. As an Air Force officer, I served in an airborne command center that...
Being a disciple of Jesus is not easy, but it is worth it. Are we willing to put in the work? Doug Jones, SJ, reflects on discipleship in this week’s One-Minute Homily. Based on the readings for Sunday, August 21, 2021. Following Jesus is hard work! Hi, I’m Doug...
The following is a translation of a reflection by St. Alberto Hurtado about his visit to America in 1946. It is published in Spanish here. Today, August 18th, is St. Alberto Hurtado’s Feast Day. I just returned from the greatest country in the world. At least that’s...
What if God loves us as we are? And God calls us to something higher? These might seem like odd questions to address to a great philosopher and social theorist, but I propose they are good ones to bring to Charles Taylor. Taylor is a scholar whose work not only...
A few years ago a Jesuit friend of mine told me that he was looking forward to “Jesuit summer.” Huh? When he explained that phrase, it made sense. For him, Jesuit summer was the period between the Ordination Mass for Jesuit priests, usually in the second week of June,...
What better way to celebrate the Assumption than with a bit of Catholic Trivia. Q. How many times has a pope used Papal Infallibility, or the dogma that a pope can speak without error on specific matters of faith and morals, to promulgate (i.e. roll out) a revealed...
