The Muslim holy season of Ramadan this year has been marred by major terrorist attacks by radical Islamic militants all around the world, from our own nation, to Turkey, Iraq, and others. Reading an article about the bombings in Bangladesh, … Continue reading →

“Be excellent to each other” is not only the catch-phrase of an 80s cult classic but also an excellent guide to life. And despite its dubious origin, there is wisdom contained in the memorable phrase, a wisdom of which we … Continue reading →

This day in the United States is often marked by an outpouring of patriotic fervor. But in troubled times (which are, perhaps, every time), it can be difficult to square patriotism with devotion to God, or even simply with right … Continue reading →

Last year many of us Dominican friars here in D.C. were fortunate to attend the canonization Mass of Saint Junipero Serra officiated by Pope Francis. Serra, a Franciscan friar and the “Apostle to California” whose feast we celebrate today, was … Continue reading →

St. Augustine enjoyed watching lizards catch flies. He also confessed that he would become quite distracted at the sight of a dog hot on a rabbit’s heels, or a spider entangling its prey (Confessions, 10.35.57). Although he blames himself for … Continue reading →

It’s a heavy burden to correct the pope, but sometimes a saint has to do what a saint has to do. Likewise, sometimes a saint has to gird himself like a man and receive that correction. In his Letter to … Continue reading →

“Home is where the heart is” and “life is a journey” are familiar sayings, too familiar to carry profound meaning for most of us. But they do connect to a Christian tradition almost as old as the Church itself. This … Continue reading →

Br. Joseph wrote about offering it up and relaxation a few weeks ago. My consideration today will focus in a little bit more on hardships offered up. Maybe you heard your parents or grandparents use the classic Catholic expression “offer … Continue reading →

Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. John the Baptist is part of an elite company (with Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary) whom the Church honors the births of in Her liturgical … Continue reading →

This summer, I have been working in Youngstown, Ohio, at the St. Vincent de Paul Society Soup Kitchen. Each day, we feed about 200 of the poor in the city. Some are homeless, some have been abandoned, some are sick … Continue reading →

While it is true that single-celled organisms like yeast are alive and that certain pine trees can survive for over 5000 years, they can only begin to resemble the complex, gregarious, and highly active life of the honey bee. Yet … Continue reading →

In our contemporary culture, one Christian claim is harder than all others for people to accept: that Christianity is not merely true, but that it is the truth. Few deny that Christ is a helpful guide or an admirable model, … Continue reading →

“The Lord, our All-Powerful God, is King; let us rejoice, sing praise, and give Him glory! Alleluia!” In our society of the popular vote, rejoicing under the domination of a king is inconceivable. We view kings as despotic and tyrannical, … Continue reading →

Who are the saints? What are they like? I recently heard a priest explain, “saints are like stained glass—they let the light in.” I have had ample opportunity to reflect upon this beautiful image while living at St. Vincent Ferrer Church … Continue reading →

A university is much like heaven—or the medievals meant it to be, at least. Take, for instance, Oxford University: the quintessence of higher learning for English speakers since the eleventh century.  In his poem “Thyrsis,” Matthew Arnold famously termed Oxford … Continue reading →

The parable of the Prodigal Son is among the most famous teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This parable has been proposed as the icon of God’s mercy in the preaching of our three recent Popes, who have stressed how … Continue reading →

A little over a month ago, the bishop of Legnica, Poland, announced that the relics of an apparent Eucharistic miracle would be made available in his diocese for the adoration of the faithful. The episcopal approval comes at a propitious … Continue reading →

Marriage is being threatened by the law in many nations, and it seems that the best that can be hoped for in the legal sphere is some small semblance of protection for religious liberty. Sheltered in the care of Mother … Continue reading →

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became … Continue reading →

Is the soul by itself man? No; but the soul of man. Thus Justin Martyr, the sainted philosopher and apologist commemorated by the Church today, explained the connection between the human spirit and the whole human being. Today many have … Continue reading →

Repetition is a fact of life. But not all repetitions are the same. On the one hand, there’s a repetition that imposes and sustains a natural order. Think about the repetitive cycle of traffic lights or the weather of the … Continue reading →

With such tumult in the public square, it seems almost laughable that silence would be a remedy for it. Robert Cardinal Sarah recently exhorted Americans at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast to be prophetic, to be faithful, and to pray. … Continue reading →

If you had a choice between God and nothing, which would it be? The answer is obvious. But given the option “God or something,” many of us will choose something besides God. This is really a senseless choice, though, because … Continue reading →

When Alexander the Great first went on military campaign, he gave away to his relatives all of his inherited property in Athens. Asked what he would keep for himself, he replied, “Hope.” It’s easy to be hopeful at the beginning. … Continue reading →

“How could a good God permit evil?” This question has plagued the faithful and armed the faithless for as long as there have been sufferings to endure. The topic is vast, but for the purpose of this post, the following … Continue reading →