One of Pope Benedict’s favorite themes in his preaching, his publications and his official pronouncements is the natural law. more

A Rhode Island judge understands government neutrality regarding religion to be the perennial and the best policy that a civic administration should maintain toward a nation’s faith life. more

Imagine the joy of the blind man who could see after his encounter with Christ. Consider the elation of the lame man who could leap to his feet after his dialogue with Jesus. more

The agony of the leper in the ancient world was not limited to the physical pain one endured as the body became more decrepit. more

A venerable Protestant church along Boston’s fashionable Newbury Street was announcing its 150th anniversary as a church community. The attractive poster on the church door featured a head and shoulders photograph of the local minister (actually ministeress) robed in alb, stole and chasuble with an especially welcoming and hospitable smile on her healthy face. more

The promise of Advent, the joy of Christmas and the enthusiasm of Epiphany have yielded to what the church’s liturgy labels rather blandly Ordinary Time or, in some other languages, Numbered Time. more

The ancient Jews really cannot be blamed for their standoffish attitude toward their pagan neighbors. The Old Testament records century after century of plunder, pillage, and persecution of the Jews by their pagan neighbors. more

Readings: Jonah 3:1-5,10; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; and Mark 1:14-20 more

Jesus Christ was undeniably a man of the people, in fact, a man of the common people. His common touch stood in great contrast to the more fashionable ministry of his cousin St. John the Baptist. more

The solemnity of the Epiphany celebrates three events in the early life of Jesus Christ. Shortly after Christ’s birth, as St. Matthew notes, the wise men from the East arrived to offer the newborn King of the Jews their threefold gifts. more

American Christmas cards and English Christmas carols will more often than not proclaim, “Peace on earth; good will toward men.” more

The Trappistine Sisters in Wrentham, MA. have happily inaugurated a newly enlarged chocolate factory whose delightful products help sustain their monastic life. The new building also boasts an improved gift shop and, more important, an expanded and selective religious book store – La Sallette and Tally’s watch out! more

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is a celebration of the mystery of divine election. From all eternity God has elected and selected certain souls on whom he has showered definite blessings and whom he has challenged with specific adversities. more

A public television channel recently featured a presentation on the Woodstock Folk Festival, undoubtedly the iconic event of the late 1960s. more

Sometime ago mention was made in this column of the second Confiteor recited by the altar boy just before the communicants approached the altar to receive the Body of Christ. more

Perhaps it was Anglican Bishop John A. T. Robinson who first pointed out that when the just are rewarded by Christ on Judgment Day for their practical charity toward the poor and needy, they are unanimously caught off guard: more

In his recently published book, “In Defense of Faith,” Jewish author David Brog celebrates the role that members of religious congregations have played in the history of the Western world. more

Readings: Wisdom 6:12-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; and Matthew 25:1-13 more

German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer is labeled pastor, martyr, prophet and spy, by Eric Metaxas, author of a new biography about the Lutheran clergyman executed by the Nazis toward the end of World War II. more

As Mary's month of October draws to a close, two scriptural events, actually twin scriptural events, can provide a fitting meditation on Mary’s role in salvation history. more