In discussions of faith, it seems to be a constant that conscience as the basis of religious faith gets overlooked or is even replaced by some other principle. So one more time, let us hear Cardinal Newman…
“I add one remark. Certainly, if I am obliged to bring religion into after-dinner toasts, (which indeed does not [...]

The chaplains of Wesleyan University—Rabbi David Teva, Sister Marwa Aly, Pastor Joan Burnett, and myself—are offering a six session non-credit course on Mondays…Oct 5, 12, 19///Nov. 2, 9, 16 at 4:15-5:45 PM. We plan a panel, discussion with snacks, student journaling, covering love of neighbor, pursuit of happiness, the identity of women, and the controversial [...]

Some great literature begins with a sentence about getting lost…and how did we get here? Peggy Steinfels has a Commonweal article, about how her Catholic life in Chicago and some great teachers and great questions. One of her teachers was John L. McKenzie…a priest who knew so much about the Bible he did a huge [...]

I cannot leave August behind without sharing Newman’s honest description of the depression he suffered as a Catholic. I do this because we think of saints as cheerful in God’s service even though John of the Cross writes horrific accounts of the dark night of the soul, Therese of Lisieux suffered near despair the last [...]

This is making the rounds of the blogs. I wanted to do my part in sharing it not only because it rings very true and up to date, but because a writer like CS Lewis has his day and then passes from the scene only to have events catch up with him dead in the [...]

Easter? Easter! Keep your eye on the prize, says the old hymn that inspired the Civil Rights movement. That hymn came out originally as Keep Your Hands on the Plow.
Farmers like students are tempted to give up because spring is so lovely and who wants to work? Keep your eyes on the prize.

Andrew Cherlin (The Marriage-go-round) has an interview with his editors at Random House. He writes about the American tendency to partner and re-partner…with spouses and with live-ins. No other countries has the same pattern. They either emphasize marriage or individualism but not both the way we do. Here is something from the interview about the [...]

Ben Hur (1880) anticipates the hidden prisons/prisoners problem. In Book Sixth, chapter 1, the author , Lew Wallace, has Pontius Pilate taking over from Valerius Gratus. Pilate wants to start well:
“The worst of men do once in a while vary their wickedness by good acts; so with Pilate. He ordered an inspection of all [...]

I am sending this page out to the students at Wesleyan…
Busted Halo has a great article on meditation. There is a long tradition in Catholicism here that got lost in the parishes where people thought this kind of prayer was only for the cloister….
Since January the Vatican has made a series of tragic mistakes [...]

www.goarch.org/chapel/chapel/calendar
is the Greek calendar including the fast days which started last Friday. This calendar is good for Byzantine and Orthodox in general and is very helpful in the holidays. Sorry, I forgot to send the link out as a friendly reminder.
Fr. Hal