In a remarkable communiqué, the Assembly of the Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land has put Christian persecution in the Middle East in the wake of the Arab Spring in the proper perspective. The persecution of Christians in the region is real and gravely serious, but it does not exist in isolation. Other groups are… Read More A Prophetic Rejection of Sectarianism and Defense of Human Rights in the Middle East
Here are some highlights of Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa’s (the preacher of the papal household) Good Friday homily: “Mammon, money, is not just one idol among many: it is the idol par excellence, literally ‘a molten god’ (see Ex 34:17).” “Mammon is the anti-God because it creates an alternative spiritual universe; it shifts the purpose of… Read More Money is the Anti-God, the Idol Par Excellence
On Palm Sunday I got out a little bit earlier than I normally would, especially after a decidedly non-Lenten Saturday night. I wanted to see the Passion play put on by the Life Teen group at my parish, and they don’t perform it at the mass I usually attend. As it turns out, while the… Read More One year and thousands of miles later
“What are you doing for Lent?” A few years ago, when I was a parish youth minister, I asked the students to think about ways they could truly live the season. There was a lot of discussion about giving things up: technology, certain foods, picking on a younger brother or sister. Some mentioned collecting money… Read More What Are You Doing For Easter?
Millennial co-founder and contributing editor Christopher Hale has a new article in Time, reflecting on Easter. He writes: This Easter story isn’t simply for us, but also for the transformation of our families, our communities, our Church, our country and the entire world. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead gives us a chance… Read More Christopher Hale in Time (Again!): The Radical Easter Proclamation
Millennial co-founder and contributing editor Christopher Hale has a new article in Time, in which he explains why we shouldn’t ignore the cross. He writes: Good Friday allows us to admit our own destructiveness, our own vanity and our own failures. Too often we have built our lives on the misfortunes of others. Too often… Read More Christopher Hale in Time: Why Focus On The Cross?
After washing the feet of his apostles in today’s Gospel reading, Jesus asks, “Do you know what I have done for you?” He isn’t bragging. He isn’t seeking praise. His question is authentic, and it is worthy of reflection for all of us who call ourselves followers of Jesus: Do you know what I have done… Read More Service Rooted in Encounter
