July-August

I congratulate you on a particularly fine issue of Liguorian (February 2015). You present a panorama of areas—from global to personal areas of present-day American life—in which the theme is overcoming the evils of hatred due to differences. You touched on topics that reflect great tension in the lives of American Catholics and did so in a calm, respectful way—as Pope Francis is encouraging. I hope you are able to lead similar discussions in other areas where we have slipped out of the path set by Christ onto the highway of our individualistic, contentious, and materialistic modern culture. May God bless the work of your hands!

Rev. Robert F., CO

I’ve received Liguorian
since the summer of 1986. A priest from Liguorian’s staff came to my parish and talked about the magazine, and I signed up. That was almost thirty years ago. I like that most of the articles are easy to read and inspiring. Articles like the one about the woman who was recently divorced, suffered breast cancer, and found peace through praying to Mary [a “Faith Hits Home” column]. Some articles written by priests are more scholarly and pretty hard to relate to.

I do have some suggestions on how to make the magazine more relevant to today’s reader. Offer articles about real, well-known people who follow their faith. It’s a celebrity-driven world, and this is what people are interested in. Include stories about athletes, politicians, actors, and other well-known young people involved in their Catholic faith, who have overcome the obstacles we all face to become better people. We live in a world full of stories of nonbelievers, and the current generation has seen religion-twisted from church scandals, to ISIS using religion to slaughter people.

Another idea: articles about saints who are inspiring in today’s world. We are the only religion that venerates average people as saints. We need the encouragement that these ordinary people who loved God enough to become saints exhibit.

Finally, I’d like to see articles about how to talk to young people who have lost touch with the Church and don’t see any reason to consider adding religion to their lives. Two of my three sons don’t practice any religion and most of their friends are similar. Thanks for allowing me to offer these suggestions.

Skip C., PA