Catholic. Pastoral. Trusted.
Cover Story 10 Cultivating Empathy: We agents of Jesus must empty ourselves of ego to take on the pain of others, Mark C. McCann Features 16 Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati: The story of a young Italian’s lifetime of generosity, Dawn Peterman Allred-Kraemer, PhD 19 Serving with Gratitude: Profiles in Service:...
People tend to take things for granted. Americans in particular exhibit an orientation to life that can become so ingrained that it provides the lens through which we understand ourselves and evaluate others. If we fail to widen our focus, we risk becoming ethnocentric, a trait that can be positive...
A ton of turmoil abounds around the globe. From navigating the uncharted waters of the coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19, to the economic and social hardships the threat of the virus has wrought, to the numerous other challenges people face, many find it difficult, if not impossible, to attain...
I was bothered by the meditation piece “What the Soul Needs to Breathe” (October 2019). Though I agree wholeheartedly with the basic idea that getting outside and into God’s creation can help me “get in touch with my soul,” I disagree with the tone of the feature. To have access...
Cover Story 10 Looking Immigration Right in the Eye: The Church understands that a simple solution to the crisis does not exist, Jim Graves Features 7 Forgiveness: Poem, Bonnie LeMelle Abadie 15 The Freedom of Forgiveness: A couple helped “boat people” find peace, Joy McCuen 16 Sister’s Lessons: Cardinal Tobin’s...
I thought “It’s A Good Thing Jesus Came Along” (February 2020) was a very odd look at salvation history and how to live with your neighbors. In the Old Testament, God made a covenant of a Promised Land in Genesis. In Joshua 23:5 God said about the Canaanites, “The Lord,...
According to my husband and others close to me, I have difficulty accepting or acknowledging if and when I need help. I admit there is more than a morsel of truth to my tendency to do it all myself. On too many occasions, I’ve gotten myself into jams because I...
Cover Story 10 When Scandal Strikes: Part 1: The Church in Crisis, Now and Then, Fr. Daniel J. Harrington, SJ 14 Part 2: A Bishop’s Call to Action, Bishop Randolph Calvo Features 9 The Cross of Christ: Poem, Glenda Wiegard 16 “We Belong to God and Each Other”: Profiles in...
A Model Evangelist, a Life of Struggle These encouraging words from a man with a complicated story can inspire and guide us if we let them. Saint Clement Hofbauer spoke them more than 200 years ago, and the truth in them is as fresh today as they were then. How...
Cover Story 24 St. Clement Hofbauer: A Model Evangelist, a Life of Struggle: His encouragement is as true now as it was 200-plus years ago, Brendan McConvery, CSsR Features 9 Flowing Water: Poem, Glenda Wiegard 10 The Glorious Mysteries: A Meditative Guide to Easter, Sara Beth Meyer 14 God at...
I enjoyed the January issue. Great job. I was most interested in reading “You Welcomed Me” (“Plain Talk”). The ID cards sound like a good starting point. Kudos to that pastor. However, I was sad to see the plan does not go a step further and include helping the recipient...
Several months ago while sitting around the supper table, the youngest in our family blurted out what sounded like an innocent question: “What does ‘OK, boomer’ mean?” Everyone looked at one another bewildered, not even sure if we heard his question accurately. Then my middle daughter, who’s twenty-three, began to...
Cover Story 10 Broken Healers: To reach the wounded, we must become poor, chaste, and obedient to the One who calls us to take up our own cross, Mark McCann Features 7 Fortitude: Poem, Bonnie LeMelle Abadie 9 Scripture Picture: Photo Meditation: Romans 15:13 16 A Valentine to...
I was saddened to read the letter to the editor by Dierdre P. [November 2019] regarding the statue of Mary of the Delta. Instead of seeing the beauty and the love of the Virgin Mary that the statue represents, she focused on the hate that seems to be spreading across...
Lately, I feel like I’ve been bombarded with requests to analyze my “former self.” You know, questions that ask: “Based on what you’ve learned, what advice would you give yourself at age twenty, thirty, forty, etc.” I have had many “relevations.” (Please don’t call out our editor; that’s an intentional...
Ideas Parishes Can Use to Server a Fast-Growing Population By Barbara Lee As a spiritual director with a ministry to the aging, I often hear two complaints from older men and women about parish life: First: “We’re left out. Parish activities focus on families and young people, most parish events...
In this first issue of the year, I’m pleased to introduce you to the new content you’ll find between our covers and briefly review some of the Liguorian features that we’re excited to continue offering to you. Though we’ve dabbled in publishing poetry in the past, in 2020, we plan...
I recently read the opinion of Dierdre on “Mary, Mother of the Delta,” on the 1950s-ish image of Mary [“Mail,” November 2019]. Yes, it would be nice if art in the Church were more historically correct. As another example, in artwork depicting the crucifixion, the nails should be in Jesus’...
Cover Story 10 “The Patron Saint of Our Difficult Century” St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe, a martyr at Auschwitz, is a model to follow today, Michael T. Best Features 16 St. John Neumann: His Writings and Spirituality; Excerpt: A creative biography in the “first person” Fr. Richard Boever, CSsR 22 A...
Today’s chaotic society, which seems to draw our attention from big-picture concerns to minutiae, may make us want to run and hide. For example, consider the pressure that builds as we get ready for Christmas and compare it with, say, a family mourning the death of a child lost to...