Corresponding Reader Survey: Catholics explain the heart of what they believe The first time I attended Mass was on a lunch break at my Protestant seminary. I...
Sacraments
Corresponding essay: For this Catholic, real presence is the heart of Catholicism In 1979 U.S. Catholic ran an essay titled “It makes a difference whether...
Things are moving so rapidly it’s difficult to get some perspective. In a span of a few weeks we’ve gone from praying for people elsewhere in the world...
During a recent Mass at a local Catholic school the pastor asked the students, “Why do you like this building?” One student raised their hand and eagerly...
In our daily rush through life, we so often neglect the body’s wisdom. We work through fatigue and illness, pushing our bodies and feeling frustrated when they...
“The Body of Christ . . .” In early September of 2012, Cardinal Donald Wuerl looked pointedly at me as he offered holy communion on the high altar of the...
A group of Catholic ministers gathered last Friday to reflect on the ongoing clergy abuse and cover-up crisis. The pain that some ordained men inflicted on...
I cried at my wedding. After we exchanged the vows I sat down next to Bill on the altar and the tears started. Unfortunately I’m not one of those dainty criers...
One summer afternoon, driving past a cemetery, I saw six bikers talking, laughing, and drinking beer, their motorcycles parked nearby. My initial indignation...
Our culture subscribes to some notions of “godparent” that don’t exactly advance the pastoral plan of the church for this essential ministry. Even people who...
