On May 20th, 1521, a fiery young man named Íñigo López de Oñaz y Loyola—better known to us as St. Ignatius of Loyola—was injured in a battle at Pamplona in Spain. In the long months of bedrest and boredom during his convalescence, Ignatius either daydreamed about great romances and adventures …

As I write this article, I’m surrounded by children with the flu. Coughing, fever, body aches and calls for more Tylenol and water have been part of our hourly routine for the past five days. Even now, I’m fighting off the inevitable congestion and body aches and know my time …

As a priest and punk rocker who, through loud, angry music, found meaning and hope in the midst of suffering, I was overjoyed to discover Walk the Line: Rock Music and the Christian Imagination. This collection’s essays delve into particular songs and various artists’ work to find expressions of the …

How is it decided what is the proper age for receiving Holy Communion and Confirmation? Why do some parishes offer the sacraments at different ages? The age considered proper for sacramental reception has changed over time. In the early Church, the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion) were …

For the new martyrs We pray that those who risk their lives for the Gospel in various parts of the world inflame the Church with their courage and missionary enthusiasm.

To understand Dominican spirituality, one needs to know the circumstances that prompted the founding of the Order of Preachers in the early 13th century St. Dominic founded the Order in 1216 in response to the Albigensian heresy spreading throughout southern France. Many people were falling prey to this heresy because …

For years I’ve moonlighted as a minimalist consultant, guiding clients as they simplify their possessions and demands on their time. Talking about simplicity makes me bubble over with enthusiasm, as when you share a life-changing book or a crowd- pleasing recipe. You’ve found something so good that it’s hard not …

What better way to bring a Family of Parishes together than through the Eucharist, the source and summit of Catholic life? That was the thought of Father Ed Burns and his staff at Tri- County Catholics Family of Parishes, which includes St. Gabriel and St. Michael churches in Cincinnati and …

Catholics mark the beginning of the holy season of Lent with the reception of blessed ashes, acknowledging our sinfulness and the reality that one day we ourselves will return to dust. Over the course of these 40 days, the Church encourages us to refocus our lives on the things of …

The most obvious association that people have with Lent is of “giving something up.” In many cases, of course, this is perfectly legitimate. Along with prayer and almsgiving, fasting is one of the three traditional pillars of Lenten observance, and it is mandated (with exceptions) on Ash Wednesday and Good …