by Brett Helbling, SJ | Dec 22, 2021 | Christmas, Current Events, Holidays, Justice, Spirituality, Topics ~ Approx. 4 mins
Nativity scenes are everywhere this time of year. There’s a porcelain one on the mantel, one made of small clay figures on the dinner table, a large one adorns the altar of the parish. I’ve even seen a nativity scene with living animals. Be careful, the donkey bites. ...
by An Hoang Vu, SJ | Dec 16, 2021 | Blogs, Prayers, Religious Life, Spirituality ~ Approx. 4 mins
“Look at him, he is such a loser…” I wonder if that was what Íñigo López de Loyola, who would later be known as St. Ignatius of Loyola, was imagining others saying after he was struck down during the battle of Pamplona. Although his forces were outnumbered, Íñigo, who...
by Steve Molvarec, SJ | Dec 13, 2021 | A Deacon's Diary, Advent, Prayers, Series, Spirituality ~ Approx. 7 mins
This is the fifth installment of A Deacon’s Diary. In the fourth installment, Steve tried to answer a perennial question. I. For the past few weeks, I’ve had a repetitive dream. The only part of it I remember is the sound of someone knocking on my door, which always...
by Conan Rainwater, SJ | Dec 10, 2021 | Creation, Current Events, Global Catholicism, Holidays, Jesuit 101, Prayers ~ Approx. 5 mins
The following reflection is part of our “Jesuit 101” series, celebrating the Ignatian Year. This piece helps us to dive deeper into the Contemplation on the Incarnation from the Spiritual Exercises. To learn more about this contemplation, check out our explainer...
by Dan Finucane, SJ | Dec 8, 2021 | Blogs, Justice, Religious Life, Spirituality, Topics ~ Approx. 5 mins
It is Thursday morning. I walk into one of the halls at the ARC1, the prison unit where I work. I make eye contact with Adam.2 He is in the corner of the hall, nods slowly, and raises his eyebrows saying, “we meeting?” I nod. He stands up, retrieves his fan a few...