ach-logo-en.svg

Columns

Conversion through giving and sharing

By
There was a time in medieval history and in some places even later when believers would use extreme methods of self-discipline or self-punishment during Lent as a penance for sin. We’re most familiar with these practices from movies we’ve seen or, in my case, the historical novels I enjoy reading. Hair shirts that bit at […]
3/18/15
Reading Time 2 min

‘For God so loved the world’

By
There is a dual dynamic that marks our relationship with God. On the one hand, our broken and bruised human nature finds it too easy to turn away from God, slide into ugly self-centeredness and become proud and stubborn in our sin and selfishness. Yet, on the other hand, God remains remarkably patient with us. […]
3/12/15
Reading Time 4 min

Keeping Catholic schools Catholic

By George Weigel
There seems to be some dispute as to whether the original Trotskyite, Leon Trotsky, ever said, “You may not be interested in the dialectic, but the dialectic is interested in you.” One quotation-archaeologist, digging deeply, claims to have found the origins of Trotsky’s alleged bon mot in the treatise, “Petty-Bourgeois Moralists and the Proletarian Party.” […]
3/12/15
Reading Time 3 min

Aggressive tenderness

By Soren Johnson
Pope Francis’ “Joy of the Gospel” is a 50,000-word treasure trove and arguably his blueprint for the church today, but two words have been ringing in my head ever since I first laid eyes on them: “aggressive tenderness.” The words are addressed to all those who would like to share Christ’s love today – but […]
3/10/15
Reading Time 3 min

Decency persists

By Russell Shaw
A man I know was walking his dog when a neighbor woman approached him and inquired about his wife. Not having seen her out and about in quite some time, the lady wondered: Was she well? “Not really,” the man said, going on to explain what that meant. “I’m sorry,” the woman said when he […]
3/10/15
Reading Time 3 min

A Capitol snow

By
Children sled on the West Lawn of the Capitol in Washington during a snowstorm March 5.
3/6/15
Reading Time 1 min

It’s not about the hamburger

By Elizabeth Foss
So, how’s the fasting going? You are not alone if you’re finding that it is a struggle to give up what you gave up. It’s not just a corporal struggle – at least, it’s not supposed to be. Our purpose in fasting is spiritual. In our daily lives, the world can overwhelm us. We are […]
3/3/15
Reading Time 3 min

Cultivating awareness of God’s presence

By
This Sunday, St. John offers his account of Jesus cleansing the temple. For many, the image of Jesus making a whip and chasing out the vendors and money changers is disturbing. Some might even mistake His anger-inspired actions for sin, even though we know that could never be true. Jesus is God and therefore is […]
3/3/15
Reading Time 3 min

The hidden lives of Catholic sisters

By Christina Capecchi
Belinda Monahan has analyzed more than 100,000 animal bones in Armenia dating back from the Early Bronze Age (1200 BC) to the Medieval period. For the 44-year-old archaeologist from New Jersey, the thrill never wears off. “When you look at a stork’s lower leg bone,” she says, “it’s about as long as my lower leg […]
3/3/15
Reading Time 3 min

The Inquisition — Part 1

By Fr. William Saunders
Q: In light of the President’s recent remarks at the Prayer Breakfast referencing ISIS to the Crusades as if the beheadings, burnings, etc. throughout the ages had already happened in the “name of Jesus,” I would like to know a little history of the Crusades/Inquisition. – A reader in Woodstock A: Recall, the last issue […]
3/3/15
Reading Time 3 min

Popular

Popular