Respect Life Month was begun in 1972 by the American Catholic bishops. It is observed in Catholic dioceses throughout the United States during October.
Category: Columns
Cardinal Etchegaray, Fr. de Lubac, and Vatican II
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On September 4, Cardinal Roger Etchegaray passed away. Perhaps his was not a household name, but this very decent man made a substantive contribution to the life of the Church, serving in a number of different capacities over the years and collaborating closely with Pope John Paul II.
I had the privilege of meeting him in the mid 1990s when he visited Mundelein Seminary, where I was serving as professor of theology. The Cardinal wanted to address the community, but his English was a bit shaky, so I translated for him. But I recall that his smile and evident joy in the Lord needed no translation whatsoever.
Contradictory suicide messaging
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In July 2014, police found the body of 18-year-old Conrad Roy inside his truck in Fairhaven, Mass. He had died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
As the case unfolded, it became apparent that a friend of his, 17-year-old Michelle Carter, had encouraged him toward suicide. In a series of texts, she repeatedly pressured him to go through with it by sending messages like, “You keep pushing it off and say you’ll do it but u never do. It’s always gonna be that way if u don’t take action.”
God is calling us to break violence’s stranglehold
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The recent tragic mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas, killing at least 29 people, point to an ongoing epidemic of mass shootings in the United States.
As of August 5, the 217th day of the year, there were 255 mass shootings — more mass shootings than number of days so far this year.
God gives us the ability to pick up where we left off
The other day I ran into an old friend at the grocery store.
She was behind me in the checkout line and as her eyes recognized mine, we both erupted into laughter of surprised reunion, as the memories of our past times together flooded my mind.
We laughed and chatted and updated each other, picking up from where we’d left off seven years ago.
God’s timing and the petitions of St. Monica
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| Word on Fire Fr. Steve Grunow |
St. Monica was likely born in the year A.D. 331 and died in the year A.D. 387 . Her husband was a Roman of minor nobility named Patricius, and with Patricius, Monica had three children, one of whom was named Augustine.
Augustine would become one of the premiere converts to the Catholic faith, and his works of theology and spirituality are among the greatest of the treasures of the Church.
Labor Day invites us to reflect on the value of work
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Labor Day is a public holiday when we honor the American labor movement and contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. It also offers us opportunities to reflect upon our work’s value.
No back to school fun for child laborers
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It’s that special time of the year again for kids in the northern hemisphere as they start heading back to school. And for those who have discovered the fun of learning, school is an adventure!
But for millions of working children worldwide, the adventures of a new school year remain but a dream. Sadly, these children will never learn to read or write. They will not acquire computer skills. They will not experience singing in chorus, going on field trips, or playing at recess.
Thoughts for high school grads going to college
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| Journey with Faith Deacon Lawrence Oparaji |
Hello, dear graduate, Congratulations on achieving such an important milestone! You have reached it because of your faith that God, who started this good work in you, will bring it to fulfillment.
In addition, your hard work, your dedication, and some very vital relationships — family and friends who have supported you and loved you and journeyed with you — have all helped you come to this moment in your life. Please know of my best wishes going forward.
Protecting an authentic democracy
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Those of us who have grown up within the womb of a democratic society may not always recognize how radical the idea behind such a society actually is, nor how fragile its structure can be in the face of strident claims regarding individual freedoms.
Legalization of abortion, to focus on one of the most strident claims, corrodes the very pillars of our democratic society.