The Potlucks of Vatican II

The Potlucks of Vatican II

‘‘The Council’ is an abstraction and as such cannot be allowed to obscure the mix of forces and personalities that marked the Council.’’ 1   In What Happened at Vatican II by John O’Malley, SJ, he mentions that “council” is a bit of a misnomer. I suggest that the...
What Pilots Can Teach Us About Prayer

What Pilots Can Teach Us About Prayer

I like flying less and less. Perhaps it is because I am getting older, but the thrill I once had of “getting away” no longer holds much luster. Airport trips, I now realize, require me to arrive early – which I do not tend to do – only to wait – which I often struggle...
Laudate Deum: An Overview

Laudate Deum: An Overview

If Laudato Si’ was a gentle and pastoral invitation to care for creation, Laudate Deum is a visceral, prophetic call to conversion. Eight years after Laudato Si’s initial publication, Pope Francis once again takes on the looming challenges of the climate crisis that...
How Chaplains Heal the Beleaguered Self

How Chaplains Heal the Beleaguered Self

Prayer as the unveiling of the heart “Hi, I’m Chaplain James. Is there a way I can support you this morning?” The man had asked his nurse to page a chaplain, so I suspected that his looming surgery was weighing heavily on his heart, but I wanted to hear the request...