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Spirituality
St. John the Baptist: ‘Graced by God’
John isn’t exactly a funny name to us but when St. John the Baptist was born, his relatives were scratching their heads over it. “Where did that come from? Nobody else in the family has that name.” “Elizabeth dear, shouldn’t the boy be…
Eyewitness news
When I was growing up, one of the local television news channels had the upbeat brand “Eyewitness News.” They prided themselves on being on location as news events unfolded, providing sharp analysis and snappy interviews with those who had…
I have loved, O Lord, the beauty of thy house
Who was the gray-haired little lady tidying up the sanctuary before the 6 o’clock evening Mass? She puttered noiselessly in and out, setting up this, removing that, sometimes smiling a little to herself. She disappeared during Mass, but at…
A guide to growing in gratitude
If you are like me, it is easy to forget how “God provides” if you are too focused on others’ blessings. We live in a culture that incessantly prompts us to want more and more of what others have – and INSTANTLY! Temptations are thrown in…
What my first fishing trip taught me about the Gospels, evangelization, and the spiritual life
The parishes I serve in southern Door and Kewaunee counties in Wisconsin are surrounded by bodies of water. One is close to the Bay of Green Bay, off which, many of my parishioners live. The other is situated closer to Lake Michigan. In my…
St. Callinicus: Love your pagans as yourself
St. Callinicus (feast day July 29) may be the perfect saint for our times, even though he lived in Asia Minor and died in the year 250. You see, he was born into a Christian home at a time when most of his neighbors were pagan. Imagine an…
Jesus, Mary, and the solar system
Subscribers to the print edition of Catholic Digest probably already saw the Apollo 11 moon landing cover story for the June/July/August 2019 issue. With the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 this week and thinking about outer space, I thought…
Catholic Digest talks about Apollo 11 on Catholic radio
Paul McKibben, managing editor of Catholic Digest, appeared on two Catholic radio programs to talk about Catholicism and Apollo 11. You can listen to the segments below: "Spirit Mornings" with Jen Brown and Bruce McGregor on Spirit Catholic…
At the hour of our death
Have you ever been with someone as they passed from this life to the next? As a priest, I have been. I also hear many stories about someone’s last moments before drawing their dying breath. The richness of our Catholic tradition preserves…
Apollo 11 memories: How a sleepy kid almost missed Armstrong’s ‘one small step’
I was 9 years old when Apollo 11 made history. Throughout the 1960s, it was nearly impossible to miss the excitement of America’s program of space exploration. Not all of it was triumphant. I remember looking at the front page of the New…
