Catholic Journal
Faith

A Mystery Beyond Our Understanding

A religion teacher in a Catholic high school had been talking to her students about the Holy Trinity, and at the end of the class period she gave them an assignment. They had to write their answers to the question, “Which Person of the Trinity do...

Fr Joseph Esper
1 hour ago
Culture

A Trojan Horse, Twenty-First Century Version

Remember the ancient story of the Trojan Horse? The Greeks filled a giant wooden horse with soldiers and left it outside the walls of their Trojan enemies, then sailed away. The Trojans, thinking the Greeks had given up battle, took the horse inside...

Vincent Ryan Ruggiero
2 days ago
Faith

As We Gaze Upon the Holy Cross, Jesus Whispers to Us

“God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” This most powerful statement made by Jesus about the extent of our Father’s love is re-proposed to us...

Fr Dino Vanin
5 days ago

Recent Essays

Faith

A Mystery Beyond Our Understanding

A religion teacher in a Catholic high school had been talking to her students about the Holy Trinity, and at the end of the class period she gave them an assignment. They had to write their answers to the question...

Fr Joseph Esper
1 hour ago

Reflections- From Our Archives

Faith

To Be Salt and Light

The Gospel passage (Mt 5:13-16) for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time offers two vivid images that Jesus must have picked up from his Mom, as well as from the simple, daily life of his village of Nazareth. Salt and...

Fr Dino Vanin
Culture

7 Pieces of Advice for Modern Men

As well as being the feast of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary this day also is the first anniversary of the beatification of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński. His liturgical memorial was celebrated for the first...

Paul Suski
Faith

Turning a House into a Home

The Gospel passage for the Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Mark 3:20-35) mentions what is needed, in Jesus’ eyes, to turn a house into a home.  Jesus came home with his disciples. Mark 3:20 Jesus and his disciples...

Fr Dino Vanin
Faith

Making Families Holy

One day a newspaper reporter saw a fire engine racing down the street; sensing a possible story, he followed it to a residential area where a house was on fire. Fortunately the family—a husband, wife, and their young...

Fr Joseph Esper

All Essays

Faith

A Mystery Beyond Our Understanding

A religion teacher in a Catholic high school had been talking to her students about the Holy Trinity, and at the end of the class period she gave them an assignment. They had to write their answers to the question...

Fr Joseph Esper
1 hour ago
Faith

How Prayer Meets Leadership

When Catholics speak of prayer, we often refer to our practice of praying the Rosary, or the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, or praying before the Blessed Sacrament, or Sunday worship, or our penitential requirements, or our...

Michael Baglino
1 week ago
Faith

The Work of the Holy Spirit

A simple, inescapable statement gleaned from today’s gospel passage (John 20:19-23): every single aspect of our life, at all levels, from the biological to the supernatural, is brought into existence and to action by...

Fr Dino Vanin
Faith

Finding Veronica

As an adult I have tended to have disappointing health insurance.  When I gave birth to my younger daughter, Veronica, in 1990, I had no health insurance at all. I secured a midwife for $1200, a fortune for me. She was...

Jennifer Borek
Faith

Where the Spirit Reigns

Years ago, there was a country doctor in rural Oklahoma who was known for his dedication to the poor. Many of his patients had no transportation, so he would often drive out to their rundown shacks and homes to treat...

Fr Joseph Esper
3 weeks ago