For years I fingered my rosary at night when I couldn't sleep, repeating my childhood prayers without thinking much about their meaning. More »

God is present to us in many ways—in the beauty of creation, in those around us, in our own hearts, and in his church. More »

“Ecco Filippone! Here comes the great Philip!” This was not an unfamiliar cry in the streets of sixteenth-century Rome as the local youth spotted Philip Neri strolling down the street with his friends in the late afternoon. Philip was hard to miss, with his large white shoes, rough coat and comical hat. More »

In the movie “Fiddler on the Roof,” Tevye asks his wife, Golde, “Do you love me?” She responds by listing some of the everyday services she performs for him. Indirectly, she is telling him that married love is intricately related to darning socks, washing clothes, and the countless other ordinary ways in which a husband and wife serve each other. More »

Have you ever read a newspaper story about a prison inmate who was facing execution? Or perhaps you’ve seen a movie that depicts a convict on death row. It’s a very intense situation, and the condemned man tends to be solemn, quiet, and reflective. More »

At sixteen years old, I was a “good Catholic kid.” I went to church every Sunday and on the surface seemed confident and even spiritual. More »

Years ago, as a fledgling reporter for a diocesan newspaper, I remarked that the paper’s weekly presentations of the Sunday Gospels for children were too complex for four-to-twelve-year-olds. “If you think you can do better, give me three columns by the end of the week,” my editor replied—and suddenly I had added “columnist” to my job description. More »

Tom and Ann, two members of their parish’s prison outreach team, joined Fr. Joe one Sunday as he celebrated Mass for the men in a local correctional institution. More »