How are humans meant to understand suffering? Jackson Graham, SJ, reflects on a fable by Jane Collier and how it shows us the way that Christ, the true Lamb, empathizes with and accompanies us in our own experiences of suffering.
Posts in Spirituality
A Grace Worthy of Our Attention
“Difficult consolation” is the grace that helps us realize humanity is messy, and that, even though we might not want to experience the pains of the world, we’re grateful that God doesn’t make us experience them alone. Jesus models that for us.
Ask God First: Rethinking Our Lenten Sacrifice
Before Lent, we often feel a rush of anxiety or excitement as we try to answer the question: “what are you giving up?” As we prepare to enter this new liturgical season, Eric invites us to ask a deeper question, considering what God might desire for us in this time.
Beavers, Muskrats, and the Real Invitation of Lent
As Lent approaches, Brennan Dour, SJ, reflects on the curious historical case of Catholics in New France classifying beavers as fish during Lent, and the reminder it offers that Lent’s purpose is not a rigid intensifying of rules, but God’s invitation to grow closer to him whatever our circumstances.
Meeting Voters Where They Are: The Success of Jonathan Haidt
In a deeply polarized political climate, Jonathan Haidt has helped unite ideologically diverse states around phone-free school policies. Alex Hale, SJ argues that this success reflects an Ignatian way of proceeding—meeting people where they are through genuine dialogue.
Encountering the Thriving and Universal Church at SEEK
SEEK gathered 20,000 Catholics in one place—and what emerged was friendship and consolation. Luke Lapean, SJ reflects on how encounter, curiosity, and shared faith reveal a Church that is more thriving and unified than most assume.
Ignatian Contemplation: A Man Healed at the Pool of Bethsaida
Ignatian Contemplation is a distinctly Jesuit way of praying with Scripture that invites the reader to enter the scene using their imagination. As you watch this video prepared by Alex Hale, SJ, allow the video’s prompts to guide your prayer on the man healed at Bethsaida.
Millennial Optimism and the Year of Hope
As a new year dawns, Nate Cortas, SJ invites us to reflect on choosing faithful hope over shallow optimism.
Lessons from a Twenty-Two-Hour Advent
One of the biggest challenges in Joe’s ministry as a Jesuit also proved to bear incredible spiritual fruit. It taught him the importance of waiting for God to come to our rescue, and the importance of celebrating when He does.
Alfred Delp and the Mystery of Advent Hope
What does it mean to embrace radical hope in God during Advent? Brennan Dour, SJ, reflects on the Advent meditations of Fr. Alfred Delp, SJ, who discovered this season’s profound spiritual invitation to trust in God while awaiting execution in a Nazi prison cell.