Category: Columns

On
Fr. Steve Grunow

The lessons within Christ’s Baptism

Word on Fire
Fr. Steve Grunow

On January 8, we celebrated the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, and it is with this awe-filled liturgy that the three great revelations or “theophanies” of the Christmas season were brought to stunning fulfillment.

The first of those revelations was the birth of the Christ child, which was celebrated on Christmas Day. This “theophany” presented to us the first occasion when it was made known to human sight that God had accepted for himself a human nature and allowed himself to be born in this world as a man.

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On
Fr. Donald Lange

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., inspires us to work for equality

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is an American federal holiday that marks his birthday, observed this year on January 15.

In his speech to Congress in September of 2015, Pope Francis lifted up four Americans who worked for social justice. Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton were Catholics. Abraham Lincoln and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. were not Catholics.

Dr. King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law.

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On
Fr. Donald Lange

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., inspires us to work for equality

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is an American federal holiday that marks his birthday, observed this year on January 15.

In his speech to Congress in September of 2015, Pope Francis lifted up four Americans who worked for social justice. Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton were Catholics. Abraham Lincoln and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. were not Catholics.

Dr. King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law.

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On
Bishop Robert Barron

Downsizing and bigger matters of faith

Spoiler Alert! This column reveals details of a newly released film.

When I saw the trailer for Alexander Payne’s new film, Downsizing, I thought the movie would be a light-hearted farce, relying principally on visual gags.

In point of fact, the jokes based on the contrast between regular-size people and their five-inch tall counterparts are surprisingly rare. Most of the film deals with events within the world of the downsized — so everything seems more or less normal.

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On
Fr. Donald Lange

Christ Child shows way to peace

The World Day of Peace takes place during the Christmas season on January 1 on the feast of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.

Inspired by St. John XXIII’s encyclical Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth), it was introduced in 1967 by Pope Blessed Paul VI and first observed on January 1, 1968.

At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Jesus redeemed us from sin, which causes war and other violence, and taught us how to live peacefully. After his Ascension, he sent the Holy Spirit to help us live a peaceful, Christ-like life.

Unfortunately since Jesus, many wars have occurred. In the 20th century, World War I was followed by World War II, which was much worse. According to the New Orleans National World War II Museum, worldwide there were 60 million civilian and military casualties in World War II.

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On
Bishop Robert Barron

Lady Bird and the breakthrough of grace

Spoiler Alert! This column reveals details of a newly released film.

Greta Gerwig’s new film, Lady Bird, has taken the critics by storm. It is the most reviewed movie in the history of the website Rotten Tomatoes to have sustained a 100 percent positive rating, and it is receiving serious Oscar buzz for best picture, best director, and best actress.

Having seen the coming attractions, I knew it would be a quirky, offbeat comedy, but I had no idea that Lady Bird would be of considerable religious interest as well.

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On
Bishop Robert Barron

Advent: become a witness of waiting

This column is the second part of Bishop Robert Barron’s essay on Advent anticipation.

So when I’m told that waiting seems to belong to the heart of the spiritual life, I’m not pleased, for here, too, I want answers, direction, clarity — and I want them pronto. I desire to feel happy and to know what God is up to; I need my life to make sense — now.

I’m pleased to live a spiritual life, but I want to be in charge of it and to make it unfold according to my schedule: Run Barron Run. All of this is profoundly antipathetic to the mood and spirit of Advent.

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