Though it doesn’t even use the term stem cell, Pope John Paul II’s encyclical, The Gospel of Life, while it is challenging reading, should be required for anyone who wants to think and pray through the issues raised by stem cell research. Why? Because the truth about life in its earliest stages can never be understood until we listen to what the Author of Life has to say about it. More »

It happened years ago. I was a college student on my first visit to another country. It was past midnight, and I was on the last train speeding out of Paris toward the suburbs where my French hosts lived—or so I thought, until I learned I had taken the wrong train. More »

Sometimes when God speaks, our natural reaction is fear. We don’t understand or can’t grasp what he’s saying. Or maybe we understand just enough to see potential difficulties or dread possible consequences. Sometimes so much seems unknown that reason fails and emotion takes over—fear. More »

Around the middle of the sixth century, an Italian monk wrote some guidelines for people interested in the monastic life. The result was a small book that he described as “advice from a father who loves you.” More »

God’s presence in the world often leads to wonderful events that awaken us to divine power going beyond the observable laws of nature. We use the word “miracle,” which can have several different but related meanings, to describe these inexplicable events. There are medical miracles and miracles officially recognized by the church. More »

Jack and Elizabeth (names have been changed) were engaged and living together when they asked me to marry them. They were a very sincere young couple who wanted a better understanding of their Catholic faith and help for living it out. In fact, during Jack’s first conversation with me, he expressed a desire to be confirmed before their wedding. More »

Burning napalm. Fleeing refugees. Soldiers slogging through rice paddies and jungle trails. Booby traps, snipers, ambushes, bloody firefights. The anguished faces of the wounded and dying, desperate for compassion and comfort. When we think of the Vietnam War, these are the images we see. More »

The radio on the counter crackled. “Storm warnings posted along the entire northeast coastline,” the announcer said, “with high seas and gale force winds.” I smoothed another wrinkle with my fingers and pressed the steaming iron over the sleeve of my daughter’s blouse. More »