Pope Francis’ choice of shoes is not just about his preference of accessories. It’s a statement about the direction he’ll be taking his papacy. There’s a powerful witness in that direction.
That said, lest we get the wrong message (and I think many are), this new direction should not be perceived as a condemnation of his predecessors, nor of the rich symbolism that has always surrounded the papacy.
The recent papal interregnum and conclave underscored the importance of re-forming, and reforming, the College of Cardinals.
As configured on February 28, 2013 (when Benedict XVI’s abdication took effect), the College was a somewhat strange electorate, albeit one that produced a striking result. Almost 20 percent of its members were retired. Only eight cardinal-electors were under 65 (and half of the youngsters were Americans — Cardinals Burke, DiNardo, Dolan, and Harvey).
Q: A recent visit to a relative in a nursing home left me feeling very frustrated. My mother-in-law only wanted to complain about everything. This included everything from “I’m sure I have cancer,” to “my roommate leaves her television on all day,” and ending with “I think that infection is coming back.” You get the picture. It doesn’t make for a pleasant visit and I end up feeling as though my visits are an opportunity for a complaint session. I leave feeling less motivated to visit. Any suggestions? (From a daughter-in-law in Madison)
With his calling for a Year of Faith, Pope Benedict XVI issued a direct challenge to each of us stating, “To rediscover the content of the faith that is professed, celebrated, lived, and prayed, and to reflect on the act of faith, is a task that every believer must make his own, especially in the course of this Year.”
What exactly is “the content of the faith,” where does it come from, and how does it relate to the “act of faith”?
In March, 2013, the British paper The Independent ran an article entitled, “Children in gay adoptions at no disadvantage: Research confirms same-sex couples are just as good at parenting as heterosexuals.”
The article, based on a study at Cambridge University, concluded there was “no evidence” to support the claim that children’s masculine or feminine tendencies were affected by having gay or lesbian parents, nor were the quality of their family relationships significantly different.
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Just over 50 years ago, the earth as we know it came dangerously close to being engulfed in a nuclear fireball.
In October of 1962, the United States demanded that the Soviet Union’s nuclear missile sites in Cuba be dismantled and removed. After the Soviet Union refused, the U.S. established a Cuban naval blockade.
SAUK CITY — Bill Liegel and his wife, Marcy, were one of the four couples on the founding committee for the Eucharistic Adoration program that began 10 years ago at St. Aloysius Church in Sauk City.
The program was started during Advent of 2003 under the direction of Fr. Kevin Holmes, who was pastor at the time (it is now Divine Mercy Parish).
A mother overheard Danny, her five-year-old son, talk with his friend Jeremy whose father recently died. “Where did your dad go when he died?” asked Danny. “Mom said that he went to Heaven,” replied Jeremy.
“What’s Heaven?” asked Danny.
Jeremy answered, “Mom said that Heaven is a place where we go after we die. Everyone will be happy. We’ll see Jesus, his mom, my grandma, grandpa, dad, and others we know who died. I can’t wait to go there!”
“Wow! Wow!’ said Danny, “But how did your dad get to Heaven? His car is still here.”
“I don’t know,” replied Jeremy. “I’ll ask mom. She knows everything!”
Most people would find it difficult to get through a day without reading or hearing about some violent or painful situation.
It can be about people being beaten or killed for protesting an unjust situation in their countries, or about the threat of nuclear bombs being used by an unstable ruler.
There are stories about homes and lives being destroyed by natural disasters or of a company who has to lay off many of its employees due to the poor economy.
We can’t live out our vocation as faithful citizens unless we are also active between elections, when the hard work of making laws and policies is done.
Some of that hard work will take place in the next few weeks when the Joint Committee on Finance schedules its hearings on Governor Scott Walker’s state budget proposal. Those hearings will give Catholics and others a chance to influence the content of that budget. It is a chance we should exploit.
