Why does the Eucharist look like bread and wine? The Eucharist, of course, is not bread and wine. It is the body and blood of Jesus. Nevertheless, Jesus wants his body and blood to look like bread and wine, not … Continue reading
The Church
Perfect Prayer
“The Lord’s Prayer is most perfect” (ST II-II q. 83, a. 9). Such a bold claim might be supported by observing the centrality of this prayer in Christian life. In the first decades of the Church, the Our Father came … Continue reading
The Colors of the World
Faith and Film Friday: The Scarlet and the Black Editor’s Note: This is the seventh review in our series, Faith and Film Friday. Read the whole series here. If I may lift a lyric from Les Misérables (the musical), “The … Continue reading
Evil Shall Not Prevail
Editor’s note: This post was originally published on August 23, 2013 as part of a series called To the Heights. The entire series can be found here. Father Pier Giorgio Dengler was ordained to the priesthood in May 2018 and serves … Continue reading
I’ll leave the light on
I see the terrifying spaces of the universe that enclose me, and I find myself attached to a corner of this vast expanse, without knowing why I am more in this place than in another, nor why this little time … Continue reading
Sharing More Than Germs
Even as a kid, if I wanted to drink from my brother’s water bottle, he asked me to “waterfall” it. When I was in college, it was alright to share a pint of ice cream with friends, even if there … Continue reading
Killing the Good Priest
Faith and Film Friday: Calvary Editor’s Note: This is the first review in our series, Faith and Film Friday. Read the whole series here. I had never even heard of the movie Calvary when, in the summer of 2014, my … Continue reading
Jesus Can
The waters of Baptism have washed billions of men and women. They keep flowing. The Church has absolved sins since her foundation. She still pardons. God secretly has graced and forgiven unknown multitudes. He ever labors. Jesus is always able … Continue reading
Loving Lawyers
You should also learn to understand and—dare I say it—to love canon law, appreciating how necessary it is and valuing its practical applications: a society without law would be a society without rights. Law is the condition of love. -Benedict … Continue reading
Cries from the Depths
Cries from the Depths Dominicana is happy to offer this audio recording of “Cries from the Depths,” a reflection given at the Vigil of All Saints by Br. Joseph Martin Hagan, O.P. The vigil focused on readings from four saints: John … Continue reading
Mi Mamá Me Ama
I was taught to write cursive as a child back home in Venezuela. The typical method of instruction involved painstaking copying of letters or short sentences several times. I still remember that to learn how to shape the letter ‘m,’ … Continue reading
A New Springtime
After the many sufferings of the twentieth century, the new millennium offered so much promise and hope for the Church. Though she no longer held sway over society, the Church, stirred by the person and thought of Pope John Paul … Continue reading
Why Doesn’t God Give Everyone Faith?
Those who do not believe the Christian faith fit into two categories: those who have heard the faith and rejected it and those who have never heard the faith. The former group was offered the gift of faith but did … Continue reading
Sigrid Undset and an Escape to Reality
In times of crisis, both personal and ecclesial, it can be a great comfort to revisit the lives of Catholics who have gone before us, who have suffered for the faith valiantly (or at least patiently), and have faced the … Continue reading
Lord, Have Mercy
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.Rise up, O Lord, and save your people whom you have redeemed at the price of your own blood.Good Shepherd, save your sheep who are ravaged by wolves. Raise up shepherds after … Continue reading
Who Am I to Judge?
We are called to be judges, but all too often we are unfit to judge. In the same epistle containing his great hymn to love, St. Paul rebukes the Corinthians for not fulfilling their noble role as judges. Do you … Continue reading
Praying Amid Scandal
How do we pray amid Church scandals? One helpful way is to return to the basics: The Our Father. For this meditation, I’ll look to the various parts of the prayer in reverse order. Deliver us from evil — Father, … Continue reading
In the Breach
One of the homeless men in the basement was snoring. Loudly. Some years before I entered the Dominican Order, in the middle of a Confirmation class I was teaching, one student announced that he didn’t really believe in the Real … Continue reading
The Treasure of the Church
Where are the treasures of the Church? Perhaps you have seen some in art museums. There are stunning reliquaries, beautiful chalices, and intricately decorated liturgical books. And yet behind glass these treasures appear dead. They sit sadly empty, no longer … Continue reading
The Faculty of Wonder
The mother of Holy Father Dominic allegedly discerned an “odor of holiness which always clung to” the preacher of grace. Bl. Jane of Aza must have reared her son with wonder and admiration, rejoicing at the mysterious designs of divine … Continue reading
1.2 Billion
In the Midwest, July is the official month for fireworks. The moment venders begin selling fireworks directly into the hands of patrons, quiet evenings spent outside in the balmy summer heat are a thing of the past. The sounds of … Continue reading
Saint Who?
Saint Dogfan. Ours is the kind of Church that can boast of a saint named Dogfan. No boasting really happens, however. Today is St. Dogfan’s feast day, but it’s unlikely that Masses commemorating this fifth-century Welsh martyr will be celebrated … Continue reading
An Undivided House
Social-justice-warrior Catholic or conservative Catholic? Advocate for the oppressed immigrant or for the unborn child? Must the two be at odds? Either of these issues could demand the full dedication of a person. And there are far more than these … Continue reading
How Can We Understand?
“In the beginning . . .” And from here, many Christians begin their journey through the Bible. It seems like a reasonable place to start, and considering that it contains the beginning of salvation history, it’s not a bad idea. … Continue reading
Prenups with God
A few months ago, thirteen friars, including myself, made solemn vows. We offered everything to God, including all our possessions. But before the big day, a few friends and family members made some startling suggestions. Some counseled me to keep … Continue reading