Millennial Catholic Jonathan Lewis writes: Waiting can be painful, especially when it feels forced upon us due to COVID-19. The spiritual writer Father Henri Nouwen speaks into this pandemic moment, pointing out that “increasingly in our society we feel we have less and less influence on the decisions that affect our own existence. Therefore it… Read More Advent Lessons on Patience from Henri Nouwen

Michael Gerson writes: During last week’s budget negotiations, and as America prepared for the full-scale arrival of the omicron coronavirus variant, every present Senate Republican voted to “defund” the federal vaccine mandate on businesses, the military and the federal workforce. This indicated a political party now so intimidated by its liberty caucus that senators such… Read More The Consistent Ethic of Death Within the Republican Party

via CNS: The beatitudes were created by Italian Archbishop Mimmo Battaglia of Naples, who was dubbed “Bergoglio of the South” while he was a bishop of another southern Italian diocese and continued his work as a “street priest,” especially in aiding those with drug dependencies. The archbishop, 58, presented the beatitudes during a homily ordaining three new… Read More 8 Beatitudes for Bishops to be Good Shepherds

via the Vatican: Baptism makes each one of us a full-fledged member of the Church community, so that all of us, without exclusion or discrimination, can say: “I am Church!” The Church is truly your home! We, all of us together, are Church, because Jesus chose to be our friend. The Church – and this… Read More Pope Francis: Every Baptized Person Can Say They Are The Church

via the Washington Post: Fred Hiatt, who edited these pages for nearly 22 years before his death on Monday at the age of 66, was a consummate journalist: a dogged reporter, a brilliant editor, a graceful writer. He will be remembered by us above all for his human qualities. Mr. Hiatt — to everyone at… Read More Fred Hiatt (1955-2021)

Pope Francis to young people: When we embrace the new life bestowed on us in baptism, the Lord gives us an important and life-changing mission: “You are to be my witness!” Today Christ speaks to you the same words that he spoke to Paul: Arise! Do not remain downcast or caught up in yourself: a… Read More Pope Francis: Protect the Persecuted, the Poor, and the Vulnerable

Marcus Mescher writes: Pope Francis’ call to build a “culture of encounter” is not just an invitation to bring people together across differences in the spirit of mercy, solidarity, and hope; it is also how disciples emulate Jesus Christ’s teaching and healing ministry by practicing inclusive outreach, engaging in mutually respectful exchange, and opening up new… Read More We Need a ‘Culture of Belonging’