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Columns

God’s providential plan

By Russell Shaw
A chorus of populist theologizing greeted the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. Much of it was along the lines of “Considering that the shot missed killing him by only a couple of inches, God must have been looking out for him.”
7/31/24
Reading Time 3 min

Loaves and fishes

By Fr. Richard Miserendino
(Jn 6:1-15) (July 28) God is never outdone in generosity. It’s a truth of our faith that touches deep down to the roots of the universe. After all, everything we behold, every atom in every molecule in every second of every day is God’s creative gift. That’s tough to outdo. That said, the principle still […]
7/27/24
Reading Time 3 min

The prodigal son

By Elizabeth Foss
One of the enduring beauties of Scripture lies in its ability to reveal new nuances each time we approach it with an open heart, reflecting our evolving needs and perspectives. Take, for instance, the parable of the prodigal son and the forgiving father — a tale that has unfolded differently for me over the years.
7/25/24
Reading Time 3 min

Old age is a blessing

By Mary Beth Bonacci
Apparently, I have reached the age where everybody around me is thinking about old age. It comes, I suspect, mostly from watching our own parents die and seeing the helplessness and dependence that precedes death. Those of us fortunate enough to have parents who live into old age also, to some extent, have the experience […]
7/25/24
Reading Time 5 min

The little church-library by the river

By Christina Capecchi
NEWPORT, MINN. – The little church in this river town looks like the kind of porcelain church you’d place in a Christmas village, its white siding dotted with tall green windows, centered by arched green doors and topped with a green gable roof. It lacks only an oversized wreath with a red bow.
7/25/24
Reading Time 3 min

Gotta pray

By Fr. Steven Oetjen
Mk 6:30–34 (July 21) St. Francis de Sales once said that everyone needs at least half an hour of prayer a day, unless you are busy, in which case you need a whole hour.
7/20/24
Reading Time 3 min

Loneliness in Ordinary Time

By Lucia A. Silecchia
Four years ago, Pope Francis inaugurated the “World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.” He proposed that this day would be observed each year on the Sunday closest to the July 26 celebration of Christ’s grandparents, Saints Joachim and Anne. In past years, two of the themes chosen celebrated the comforting closeness of God to […]
7/18/24
Reading Time 3 min

Chosen by Christ

By Fr. Jack Peterson, YA
Mk 6:7-13 (July 14) “In him we were also chosen … ” These words from St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians speak loudly to us as followers of Christ. What does it mean to say that you and I have been chosen by Christ? The Scriptures today teach us three aspects of what […]
7/13/24
Reading Time 3 min

In conversation with God

By Elizabeth Foss
I heard two things recently that have completely transformed my prayer life. First, someone pointed out how our conversational habits with others often spill over into our prayer life with God. Just as in ordinary conversations, where we might overshare, dominate discussions, or hold back due to shyness, our prayers can reflect similar tendencies. Do […]
7/11/24
Reading Time 2 min

Eucharistic pilgrimage shows unity among diversity

By Sr. Constance Veit, LSP
After participating in the launch of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage in New Haven, Conn., I had the grace of rejoining it in New York. Although a New York native and frequent visitor to the Big Apple, the pilgrimage introduced me to areas of the city that I had never seen or experienced. Over the course […]
7/11/24
Reading Time 3 min

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