Vol. 79, No. 12
Cover
The courage to forgive
By Kathy Saunders
Forgiving those who have hurt you is never easy, but it is often the best thing you can do for yourself.
Feature
It’s complicated
Despite what online dating sites may claim, true love is never just a click away. Finding your perfect match takes time, truthfulness, and plenty of trial and error.
Web-only sidebar:
How prevalent is the hook-up culture on college campuses?
Expert Witness
Accomplices of the Spirit
An interview with Claretian Father José Cristo Rey García Paredes
Religious orders are men and women on a mission, says this Claretian priest. Their goal: Spread the hope-filled message of the gospel far and wide.
Web-only sidebar:
The life of a Catholic missionary in China
Sounding Board
Don’t bring back the boys club
By Mary Kathleen Cahill
Parishes shouldn’t go back to the days of all-male altar servers at Mass. In Feedback, readers consider the value of boys and girls serving side by side.
Essays
(Essays, short stories, and poems may not be available online.)
Essay: Margaret
By Brian Doyle
Sticks and stones may break your bones, but hurtful words spoken on a playground can linger in our memories for years.
Essay: Pining for Advent
By Gina Ciliberto
A tree-trimming tradition may be just what you need to light up your Christmas spirit.
Essay: Away in a movie theater
By Sister Rose Pacatte, F.S.P.
Christmas movies don’t need Santa and Rudolph, or even baby Jesus, to teach us about the true reason for the season.
In Person: See no limits
By Jessie Bazan
John Erickson’s blind ambition has led him to adventures he never could have foreseen.
Departments
Editors’ Note
You May Be Right (Letters to the Editor)
Signs of the Times (News)
Catholic Tastes (Humor)
Reviews
At Home with Our Faith (Family spirituality)
Eye of the Beholder (Art meditation)
Glad You Asked: What is the communion of saints?
Columns
The Examined Life: Undocumented failure
By Kira Dault
Margin Notes: Cool it this Christmas
By Kevin Clarke
Culture in Context: Keeping up with the Roosevelts
By Nicholas Liao
Testaments: While you wait
By Alice Camille
*Some articles are available only in the print issue. For online access to the complete digital version of the magazine, click here to subscribe.