Catholic Journal

Cardiac Catholics

As the late Christopher Hitchens wrote in his book, Mortality, we are all born to die. There is no escaping this truth. As the Bible says, we all owe God one death. It was 18th century...

Pope Francis in His Own Words

Now that Pope Francis has entered Heaven to participate in the eternal banquet of the Paschal Lamb, may we recall some of his important words. As time goes by, I am certain that they will act like fine wine...

Glorious Freedom: Giving Thanks to God

Easter is the most festive season of the Liturgical Year. It is a time of both joy and remembrance. It can easily be a time to lose focus as Spring begins and things start to get busy. Just as we are meant to...

Tag: Resurrection

Recent Essays

When Fear Meets Hope

In 1938, a young Spaniard traveled to Japan where, for more than a quarter century, he worked as a medic, teacher, and counselor. One date, however, divided those years: August 6, 1945. For on that morning, at 8:15 a.m...

Easter: Becoming Apostles of Hope

This year’s Jubilee is called the Jubilee of Hope for a very specific reason. Pope Francis realizes that our world is in desperate need of apostles of Hope, called to rekindle in people’s hearts hope in a future worth...

Wayfinding

In 2010, a father (Martin Sheen) and son (Emilio Estevez) starred in a movie about a father and son. EntitledThe Way, it was filmed on the Way of St James, a stretch of hundreds of miles. Having a myriad of potential...

From Our Archives

Of One Heart

On Divine Mercy Sunday, there are many images… The Psalmist (132: 22-24) proclaims that: The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the LORD has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes...

Overcoming Evil

In the Gospel for this seventh Sunday of Easter, Jesus is quoted as saying, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one.” (John 17:15) In this week’s Gospel for the...

Ignorance in America

Street interviews have been a staple on TV since Steve Allen’s original Tonight Show. One reason for their success is that they reveal the depth of people’s ignorance. Lately, more and more, it seems like a bottomless...

Our Highest Call

Saint Pope John Paul wrote that “the paths to holiness are personal and call for a genuine ‘training in holiness,’ adapted to people’s needs. This training must integrate the resources offered to everyone with both...

All Essays

Cardiac Catholics

As the late Christopher Hitchens wrote in his book, Mortality, we are all born to die. There is no escaping this truth. As the Bible says, we all owe God one death. It was 18th century writer Samuel...

His Mighty Cross

I have always been intrigued by the beautiful praise song by Mark Altrogge Thank you for the Cross the Mighty Cross. Yes, the Cross of Jesus is, in fact, the mighty Cross. Obviously, it is mighty thanks to Jesus who is...

The Mystery of Holy Week

During Holy Week it is important that our hearts do not get tired or overwhelmed with unnecessary things that can distract us from benefiting the most from this special time. The saints surely must have lived this...

Good Grief

If we were aficionados of the comic strip Peanuts, we remember that loveable little boy named Charlie Brown. For many reasons, his common response was “Good grief.” Although it may be a popular term, it is more than...

Father Joe

In a recent issue of Catholic Vote’sThe Loop, the on-line publication, there was a short feature on a priest who had been murdered in the diocese of Kansas City, Kansas, the other KC as we used to call it when we lived...

Surrendering to God

Once there was a young woman from a rather poor family—let’s call her June—who had known very little happiness, and the outlook for her life didn’t seem all that promising. However, she unexpectedly ended up meeting the...

Giving One’s Heart

To give one’s heart, completely, to someone who accepts and returns the same complete love: everyone wants this. Most hope to do it in marriage. As Catholics we learn that there are other ways; priests and members of...