Woodstock: Back to the Garden

Today would have been the opening day of Woodstock 50, a celebration of the pivotal music festival of 1969 that took place on a farm half a century ago in New York from August 15th – 18th. Woodstock 50 was … Continue reading

Atlas and the Infant

In the heart of Midtown Manhattan lies a juxtaposition of cosmic irony. On the west side of Fifth Avenue, between 50th and 51st Streets, stands Atlas, a four-story bronze statue of the great Titan of ancient Greek mythology, who was … Continue reading

The Gas Pump Preacher

[T]o speak of a ‘new evangelization’ does not in fact mean that a single formula should be developed that would hold the same for all circumstances. ~ Pope Benedict XVI He came up to me with a question about Aquinas. He … Continue reading

Memory

Today is Memorial Day, when Americans take time to remember those who have given their lives in defense of their country. I am, in fact, not an American, but in my native Canada we have a similar commemoration called Remembrance … Continue reading

Smoke

Ideas affect us. Bad ideas affect us for the worse. Like smoke in the air, they make it hard to see things as they really are, and breathing them in makes us sick. We’re bombarded with smoke from every direction … Continue reading

May the Bell’s Ring Be Heard

To this day, I remain struck by the ending of Chris Van Allsburg’s children’s classic, The Polar Express, when Sarah, the narrator’s sister, finds one last gift under the tree and—lo and behold—it is the lost bell from Santa’s sleigh! … Continue reading

What are you fighting for?

We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner! I can’t think what anybody sees in them. —Bilbo Baggins Life is a great adventure, and as every seasoned adventurer … Continue reading

Hollywood Needs Miracles Too

Faith and Film Friday: The Song of Bernadette Editor’s Note: This is the second review in our series, Faith and Film Friday. Read the whole series here. Imagine a world in which a film about Marian apparitions and simple Catholic piety could … Continue reading

Religious Sign Value

Just a few weeks ago, a man approached me as I marched with my brothers and sisters up Constitution Avenue. “Hey! I was curious … who are you guys?” Having commonly fielded this question, I answered, “We’re called Dominicans. We’re … Continue reading

Knitting

Attention artistic vandals! Looking for a cozier creative medium than graffiti? Try yarn bombing, the urban art that bedecks everyday objects (traffic posts, bicycles, city busses, etc) with colorful displays of crocheted yarn. Although steeped in the ideological debates of … Continue reading

Mother of Exiles

Sun flashing and gleamingon the shining sea     stretching far beyond the bridge.But my eyes strayed not so far out.Wreathed in light,     gentle foam lapping her island pedestal,          stands the American Colossus.From the rooftop thirty stories … Continue reading

Reflect on the Bible with PRIXM

Reflect on the Bible with PRIXM We are honored to share with you a new opportunity for reflection on the Scriptures with the Order of Preachers. PRIXM, a weekly newsletter you can receive by email, “comments in surprising and clever … Continue reading

Just Keep Your Eyes on Me

By your counsel you will guide me,and then you will lead me to glory.What else have I in heaven but you?Apart from you, I want nothing on earth. (Psalm 73:24-25) The rails clacked and the din of passengers subsided to … Continue reading

The Big Plan

A few days ago, I heard a talk Bishop Robert Barron gave to the seminarians of Philadelphia. He told the graced story of the Word on Fire apostolate and gleaned from it some guiding principles for proclaiming the Gospel through … Continue reading

To Be Like Them

Wouldn’t it be nice if being Catholic didn’t make us so annoyingly different from everyone else? If we didn’t have such a strong emphasis on sacraments and hierarchy, while those around us rely on egalitarianism? If Sundays meant football and … Continue reading

A Growing Spirit of Criticism

This game I’ll call “Guess This Conservative Author,” and it only works if played by the rules. Without reading ahead, consider these select criticisms of modernity: Against self-serving politicians: See the moral hypocrisy of the commanding class. They know no … Continue reading

Sports and Religion

Sports are all around right about now. The NFL season is in full swing, the College Football Playoff is just around the corner, and college basketball has tipped off (Go Friars). It’s an exciting time of the year for sports … Continue reading

The Eucharistic “Tiramisu”

Roman culture is well-versed in the art of “lifting up” body and soul. As my friends and I experienced on our semester abroad, one is normally connected to the other. That is, if you did not treat cappuccino as a … Continue reading

Persecuted Christians

The past few years have seen a number of high-profile acts of violence committed against Christians on account of their faith. In 2015, the Islamic State (ISIS) broadcast from a beach in Libya its beheading of 21 men, most of … Continue reading

Beauty That Makes You Want to Believe

Editor’s note: This post was originally published on April 24, 2013. At the reception of a Catholic wedding I lately attended, a groomsman made his way over to the table where a priest and I were sitting. After enthusiastically shaking … Continue reading

Lord, that I may see (more than myself)

After listening to a talk about the dangers of narcissism in the spiritual life, a brother turned to me and said, “I’m pretty sure that whole talk was about me.” I assured him that the talk was definitely about me. … Continue reading

St. Patrick’s Slavery

Similar to the Irish people, St. Patrick moved from slavery to slavery. Looking at the life of today’s celebrated saint, we see three modes of slavery which are emblematic of the people he helped save. St. Patrick and his flock … Continue reading