This piece was edited from its original publication on March 8, 2018. I overheard an awkward sentence on my way to Ash Wednesday Mass. With playful humor and sincere determination, a girl said to her friend, “I gotta get to church today, get my ashes and figure out...
*Warning: This piece contains significant racist language* In 1967, Superior General Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ, wrote a letter to the American Jesuits calling them to task for their collective inaction on racism. Arrupe stated, “The racial crisis involves, before all else,...
Turn the other cheek, give your cloak, love your enemies. Eric Immel, SJ, reflects on how Jesus teaches us to go against our natural instincts in this week’s One-Minute Homily. Based on the readings from Sunday, February 23. Today is opposite day! Today, I’m...
Two weeks ago, Pope Francis released his post-synodal exhortation, Querida Amazonia. TJP – as well as many others – has published reflections and inspirations that have grown out of this attentive, patient, and poetic document. But I want to focus on what...
I’m really interested in the way technology has warped our relationships with our true selves. I’m talking about the selves that show up when we’re all alone, in front of God, no masks. Because we’re liable to be “on” at all times, we rarely take a moment to be still....
The Synod for Bishops of the Pan-Amazonian region caused quite a stir in the life of the Church, at least for those of us tuned into mainstream Western media. Controversy swirled around two proposals (ordained priesthood for married men and a female diaconate) and a...
Surely, you’ve already seen the headlines and the great racket they made. Pope Francis released his response to the “Amazon Synod” last week, and (for now) he hasn’t addressed the two headline issues: married clergy and women deacons. You may be disappointed. You may...
Jesus did not come to abolish the law, but he reminds us that there is much more to it. Jeff Ryan Miraflor, SJ, reflects on what we often miss when we think of law and rules in this week’s One-Minute Homily. Based on the readings for Sunday, February 16, 2020....
Happy Valentine’s Day! Like last year, we are following the example of longtime Catholic journalist, Sr. Mary Ann Walsh, and sending some valentines to a few fellow Catholics who gladden our hearts. A red valentine for the newly red hatted Cardinal Michael Czerny....
The mystery of wonder involved in the Spiritual Exercises – a retreat to grow in union with God and to discern God’s will, developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola – consists of meeting people in their spiritual journeys with God. The wonder includes...
