I was born on September 14, the Feast of the Triumph (or Exaltation) of the Cross. Perhaps this is what drew me to reflect on the cross from an early age. More »

Life on this earth has always been stressful. Threats to our survival and well-being, whether from the natural world or from what we may perceive as dangerous, have been part of every age. More »

As the new school year begins, parenting magazines, chat rooms, and talk shows come alive with suggestions for success in the schoolroom. There’s enthusiasm, and often good advice, for parent-teacher teamwork, helping kids learn, believing in your child’s potential, and making this “the best school year ever.” More »

Near the end of his life, Francis [of Assisi] was nearly blind and in constant pain from misguided treatments he had received for an ailment he probably contracted when he was traveling in Egypt and the Middle East. More »

"I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul. For he has clothed me with a robe of salvation, and wrapped me in a mantle of justice." (Isaiah 61:10) More »

Prayer is not a last resort. It’s not what we do after we read the self-help books, after we go to the specialists, or after we surf the Internet. Prayer is our lifeline to God. More »

How many times have we heard someone tell us that God loves us? Love is a powerful and profound experience and yet those words—“God loves you”—can be so easily forgotten amid the day-to-day routine of life. More »

The seven hundred acres of fields on the ranch providing feed for cattle and horses were a challenge for plow and sower and reaper. And if one of those machines broke down during the window offered by the season, it could mean losing a crop. More »