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The feminine genius of Our Lady of Guadalupe
A few weeks ago, I attempted to make an appointment for an intake session with a therapist. My co-pay would be zero, I’ve never availed myself of such help, and especially after this past year of COVID-19, wildfires, and political unrest, I thought: Why not?
I had to speak to three people first, repeatedly assuring them I did not own a gun, did not intend to harm myself or anyone else, and did not have suicidal ideation. Each employee was civil and also without an iota of warmth, humanity, vitality, or sense of humor.
Our power to heal others
Nearly 50 years ago, Henri Nouwen wrote a book titled ,“The Wounded Healer.” Its reception established his reputation as a unique spiritual mentor, and he went on to become one of the most influential spiritual writers of the past half-century.
Henri Jozef Machiel Nouwen (1932-1996), a Dutch Catholic priest, professor, writer and theologian; photo: Frank HamiltonWhat made his writings so powerful? His brilliance? His gift for expression? He was gifted, yes, but so are many others. What set him apart was that he was a deeply wounded man and from that disquieted place inside him issued forth words that were a healing balm to millions.
How does this work? How do our wounds help heal others? They don’t. It’s not our wounds that help heal others. Rather, our wounds can color our gifts and talents in such a way so that they no longer educe resistance and envy in others, but instead become what God meant them to be, gifts to grace others.
We often let other’s gifts separate us from them
Sadly, the opposite is often true. Our gifts and talents often become the reason we’re disliked and perhaps even hated. There’s a curious dynamic here. We don’t automatically, nor easily, let the gifts of others grace us.
More often, we’re reluctant to admit their beauty and power and we resist and envy those who possess them, and sometimes even hate them for their gifts. That’s one of the reasons we find it hard to simply admire someone.
Catholic bishops' anti-racism book wins prize for children's literature
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ recently-released children’s book, “Everyone Belongs,” has won a gold medal in the Religion/Spirituality category of the 2020 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards, the conference announced Oct.15, 2020.
The Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards, according to its website, are “100% dedicated to identifying the best children's books published each year for the North American market.”
Read more Catholic bishops' anti-racism book wins prize for children's literature
New Vatican coin depicts 'mother carrying the earth in her womb'
A new coin minted by the Vatican City State depicts a woman carrying the earth in her womb. The artist who designed the coin, which commemorates Earth Day, has said the design was his response to the ecological theme he was commissioned to portray.
The Vatican City State Mint released a new series of coins Friday, with themes on migrants, Earth Day, the painter Raphael, and the Acts of the Apostles.
The 10 euro silver coin marks the 50th anniversary of World Earth Day. The front of the coin is the image of a pregnant woman embracing her round belly, which looks like a globe. Stalks of wheat are in her hair.
Read more New Vatican coin depicts 'mother carrying the earth in her womb'
The Beauty of Slow Miracles
A friend asks me to write about miracles, taking as an example the events that brought him and his wife together in a happy marriage now in its 58th year. To his credit, he doesn’t suggest their case is exceptional. Rather, he sees it as an instance of God’s hand at work in their lives, just as God is at work in everyone’s lives. Other people, he suggests, might benefit from seeing their lives the same way he and his wife see theirs.
The happy experience of my friend and his wife certainly doesn’t involve anything resembling what we usually call miracles — instantaneous occurrences in which God sets aside the laws of nature to produce some desirable result.
Fr. Michael McGivney, ‘holy priest’ and Knights of Columbus founder, beatified
A portrait of Bl. Michael McGivney, unveiled Oct. 31, 2020 during the priest's Beatification Mass at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Hartford, CT; photo: Christine Rousselle/CNAFr. Michael McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus, was beatified October 31, 2020 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford, Connecticut. He will now be known as “Blessed Michael McGivney” and his feast day will be observed August 13 in the Archdiocese of Hartford.
The Ceremony of Beatification and perhaps a future Canonization
Fr. McGivney was formally beatified through an apostolic letter from Pope Francis that was read on Saturday by Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, the appointed representative of Pope Francis. Tobin was the principal celebrant of the beatification Mass at Hartford’s cathedral.
“Fr. McGivney’s life is an illustration of how a holy priest can provide the necessary and intimate connection, so crucial in the life and mission of a parish,” Tobin said. He described McGivney as a priest who loved his flock, and was happy to see them work together as a community.
Read more Fr. Michael McGivney, ‘holy priest’ and Knights of Columbus founder, beatified
A New Era of Mission for Catholic Citizens
Argentina celebrated its 200th anniversary as a country in May 2010. Then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J.—now Pope Francis—wrote a pastoral “Citizens, We as a People.” Although written for Argentina, the letter has implications for the United States—and for missionaries in the U.S.—as we stand on the eve of the 2020 presidential election.
All those living in our country have inherited both the successes and mistakes of earlier generations. We, as an intergenerational cohort of “citizens” must, as Bergoglio wrote, “take charge of all its achievements and all its imperfections because this is precisely the starting point from which we must make our contribution to the future.”
Pope Francis signs his new encyclical in Assisi
Bringing the Vatican official in charge of translations with him, Pope Francis signed his new encyclical, "Fratelli Tutti, on Fraternity and Social Friendship," at the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi, source of the document's title and inspiration.
After celebrating Mass at St. Francis' tomb Oct. 3, 2020, the eve of the saint's feast day, the pope called up Msgr. Paolo Braida and explained to the small congregation that the monsignor is in charge of "translations and the speeches of the pope" in the Vatican Secretariat of State.
Romano Guardini addressing the culture of our world
Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address is one of the most remarkable documents in American history, a serious theological meditation by a president as well as a work of great literary art. Speaking March 4, 1865, to a deeply moved crowd just weeks before his death, Lincoln suggested that “this terrible war,” the Civil War, was God’s punishment of America for the sin of slavery.
The theology may have been overly Calvinistic, but Lincoln’s fundamental insight was profoundly correct and remains so today. The roots of our national crisis — or, more precisely, our interlocking crises — are moral and must be addressed as such. Neither the familiar triad of more money, more programs, and more institutions, nor changes in police policy and procedures measure up to the need.
Read more Romano Guardini addressing the culture of our world
How homeschooling shaped some of the Church's great saints
And — just like that — millions of parents found themselves educating their children at home.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has forced U.S. school districts to impose full or partial closure of their buildings. Some districts were hit by COVID-19 outbreaks just days after opening for the academic year, so the kids went right back home.
Read more How homeschooling shaped some of the Church's great saints