Catholic. Pastoral. Trusted.
Editor’s note: Readers submitted the following content. Points to Ponder When I was young, it would be so quiet in church that you could hear a sin drop! A young boy was scolded by his mother for having his fingers in the butter—“Jimmy! What did I say I’d do...
Choosing Happiness Lizzie Velasquez Liguori Publications $15.99 What defines you? Is it where you come from? Your friends or family? The stuff that scares you or makes you strong? Motivational speaker Lizzie Velasquez won’t let her audience leave without addressing this, something she was forced to do earlier than most....
July-August 2014 When Jesus was asked where the reign of God was to be found, he simply responded that the reign of God is in our midst—in the midst of our families, our faith community, and our neighborhoods—in the midst of our world. The reign of God is especially found...
July-August 2014 The Miraculous Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help is the official title of this famous image of Mary. An icon is called miraculous when, through the prayers, devotion, and the sincere faith of those who come to the person represented in the icon, miracles occur. Not because...
July-August 2014 What’s in a namesake? This year, one of my beloved aunties turned eighty. She rides her bike every day. She attends choir rehearsal every week. And she loves to travel. Everyone knows her as Auntie Maddy. I was shocked when I learned many years ago that Maddy’s real...
July-August 2014 Throughout its history, the Church has paid attention to the female voice. GPS, cell phones, and many commercials have something in common—more often than not, a feminine tone communicates the information. Have you noticed that computerized announcements, such as those made at public facilities like the airport, the...
July-August 2014 Prayer is the glue that binds the body of Christ to its head and its members to each other. My grandmother looms large in my childhood memories. She spent her summers out on the farm, helping us pick and prepare, can and freeze a year’s worth of produce....
July-August 2014 We all have moments when we need healing in our lives. Maybe we suffer from an illness or just the wear of years on our bodies. Or maybe we need healing for hurts to our soul or mind. The Church offers us a wonderful sacrament, the anointing of...
Editor’s note: Two readers share their thoughts on annulments being seen as part of a healing process and an aid to help make second marriages work. Recently, Catholics in Germany and elsewhere have asked Rome to allow divorced Catholics in nonsacramental second marriages to receive Communion. This suggested policy would...