Daily Theology
Catholicism
Let’s Hold Hands: The Value in Public Displays of Solidarity
This weekend marks the 27th anniversary of “Hands Across America,” a cultural event of the 1980s where people of all walks of life joined hands in hopes of forming a human chain that zigzagged from the mid-Atlantic to Los Angles. Why on earth would over five million people stand in the street holding hands across … Continue reading
A Mother’s Day Interview with Julian of Norwich
Yesterday being Mother’s Day, one does not expect to find a sermon relating the absence of one’s father on a business trip to the ascension of Jesus, and one might be surprised to hear a letter from the Bishop which in no way mentioned women or mothers. Yet, there I was, hearing all these exciting … Continue reading
Meeting Hatred with Love: Burying Tamerlan Tsarnaev
In general, the Catholic Church deals with death and suffering well. In many cities across the country, the Church ensures that the unclaimed dead receive a decent funeral with prayers and dignity. By most all accounts, the church in Boston under the leadership of Cardinal O’Malley handled the impact of the heinous acts on Marathon … Continue reading
The Pope and the Power of Humility
Few events have defined Pope Francis’s young papacy as much as his monumental decision to break from tradition in the Holy Thursday ritual of washing the feet. The moving witness of him bending over and cleaning the feet of twelve marginalized poor (non-Italian) young men and women may be remembered as an important moment in … Continue reading
A Prayer for Peace in the Face of Violence
Given today’s tragic events in Boston, how does one respond in light of the Christian faith? This is not an easy question and it is one faced by millions of people around the world who endure violence on a more regular basis than most of us in the United States. The first response, as always, … Continue reading
Breaking down the Elite 8: A Pocket Guide to the Pope’s New Super-Cardinals
Yesterday, our newly beloved Pope Francis announced perhaps the most remarkable move yet in his short pontificate: he has selected an eight-person group of Cardinals, handpicked to represent every Christianized continent of the world (sorry, Antarctica), to accomplish two modest tasks: 1. Advise him in the governance of the Universal Church. 2. Help him revise … Continue reading
Vatican III?
I’d like to begin with a disclaimer. This story might be a moving target, and I am not a journalist. But I’ll do my best here. According to a twitter feed claiming to be the official feed of Jean-Louis Cardinal Tauran, Pope Francis is planning to call an ecumenical council. It’s a few days late … Continue reading
Nanni Moretti’s “We Have a Pope”
I have been meaning to see Nanni Moretti’s film We Have a Pope ever since I first saw the trailer a year or so ago. The basic premise of the film is that a cardinal, on being elected pope, has a nervous breakdown before being introduced to the crowds in St. Peter’s Square. The Vatican … Continue reading
Downton Abbey’s Finale and the Tragedy of Benedict XVI
I would caution anyone who did not see last night’s episode to stop reading at this point. So many SPOILERS. First of all, let me apologize for the absence of a Downton reflection last week. I woke early Monday morning, ready to take on the exciting two-hour Sunday night episode, when I saw the news … Continue reading
Embracing Our Human Finitude During Lent: The Spiritual Witness of Pope Benedict’s Resignation
It has been a busy week for Catholic Christians. Monday we were rocked by the Pope’s resignation and today, Ash Wednesday, we join fellow Christians around the world in celebrating the Season of Lent. Lent is often portrayed as the time Christians “give up something” like chocolate, alcohol or, in this day and age, social … Continue reading
