Shame and fear are never good reasons to stay away from God. Angelo Canta, S.J., reflects on how shamelessly placing ourselves before the Lord opens pathways to healing.
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.
St. Paul Miki and Companions: A Witness to God’s Transformative Love
Ben Jansen, SJ, reflects on the legacy of the 26 Martyrs of Japan, whose joyful witness to Christ in the face of persecution and death continues to inspire Christians worldwide.
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.
The Catholic Church & Antiblackness: An Interview with Katie Grimes, Ph.D.
As an activist and theology professor at Villanova University, Katie Grimes, Ph.D., is trying to make sense of the Catholic Church’s relationship to white supremacy and antiblackness. She answers questions about the shooting of Ahmaud Arbury, the complicated history of the Church and slavery, and what we can do to make a difference today.
Getting Married in a Pandemic Calls You to “See the Unseen”
A wedding in the midst of a pandemic puts things in perspective.
The Risen Jesus Meets Us in Our Anxiety
It can be hard to feel the joy of Easter during this pandemic, but Jesus meets us in our anxiety and his words have “the ring of truth” in our ears.
Easter is a Family Reunion
Being at home with my family during the pandemic has made me appreciate the familial dimensions of the Resurrection. This is the latest in our signs of Easter series!
This is What Happened When Jesus Found Me Wallowing in the Lilac Patches
My abrupt final days as a tutor at McQuaid Jesuit High School coincided with the famed Rochester Lilac Festival when a glorious garden in the middle of the city is filled with flowers and fragrance and visitors coming to soak it all in. A few weeks later I yearned to be back with the students and our jokes and routines and even the boring vocabulary tests.
Finding Freedom in a Lockdown:The Common Good and Liberty Don’t Have to be at Odds
Protesters have demanded an end to stay-at-home orders. Public health officials warn that reopening now will lead to more deaths. How do we reconcile this conflict between liberty and the common good? By re-thinking what it means to be free.