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Faith
Savoring the simplicity of Lent
by Jeff Young For me, one of the most beautiful aspects of being Catholic is celebrating the liturgical seasons: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time. There’s something so simple, so … human about this. The seasons ground us…
The gift of accompaniment in the aftermath of losing a child
by Jeannie Ewing In the aftermath of significant and devastating loss, what matters most to those who are grieving is the gift of one’s time — to listen, to care, and to just be present. It’s not so much that something specific must be said…
The Bible: Mystery or History?
by Fr. Dwight Longenecker After my talk at a parish mission, one of the women came up looking a bit flustered. “Father, can I ask you a question?” “Sure.” “I was at Mass yesterday and the priest said in his homily that the story of Jonah…
An Ordinary Miracle
by Jeannie Ewing “One day you will have a son who will do great things for God.” Through a stranger My fingers gingerly traced these words in a diary I kept more than 20 years before when I was a naïve teenage girl with no experience with…
Meet women who chose life
by Nancy Flanders Pregnancy can be hard enough even when a woman’s situation and health are good. But for a Catholic woman facing extreme circumstances in a pregnancy, she may also experience heartbreaking societal pressure and medical…
THE SIGN OF BREAD & WINE
By Fr. Dwight Longenecker So often we attend Mass and take things for granted. Not paying attention, we miss the meaning and overlook the significance of the little things. The bread and wine are brought forward during the offertory, and…
ANGER: A passion for good
by Bert Ghezzi One week after the tragedy of 9/11, my wife, Mary Lou, and I were traveling to visit family in Pittsburgh. At the Orlando International Airport, we stood in a long security check line. When we reached the agent, he asked for…
Five types of biblical writing
by Amy Ekeh When we pick up the Bible and begin to read, understanding what we read is a common challenge. As modern readers of ancient literature, we can expect to run into some difficulties! But understanding the Bible becomes much easier…
Lord, Make Us Instruments of Your Peace
A Prayer Attributed to St. Francis Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope;…
10 simple spiritual resolutions for the new year
Losing weight, eating healthier, exercising more regularly, getting more sleep, or quitting a bad habit probably top your New Year’s resolution list for 2020. Have you thought about making a spiritual resolution for 2020? It’s great to…