Imagine a World at Peace
Imagine a world in which active nonviolence is the normative daily news story. You may chuckle and say, “Dream on,” and this is exactly what I am going to ask you to do. Pope Francis’ message on Jan. 1, 2017,…
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast Day: Miraculous Graces Rain on Us
The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is celebrated joyfully by Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary every July 16. Our beautiful home above the Mississippi River is our Mount Carmel; surely it is as beautiful as…
Father’s Day Reflection: Patience and Playing Barbies
The Freunds at a family reunion in 1995: Josh (l.), Marabeth, Norm, and Gabe Freund. My favorite devotion is to the Communion of Saints. As living, breathing human beings, they faced adversity in their lives. And when push came to…
Love Calls Us to Listen to Strong Winds and Whispers
"Suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind . . ." (Acts 2:2) This reading for Pentecost shows that sometimes we recognize the Spirit in strong driving winds. But other times, Spirit speaks in quiet whispering…
Celebrate the Legacy of All Kinds of Motherhood on Mother’s Day
Associate Grace Mendez and her family: John Sr. (l.), John Jr., Norma, Grace, and Norma Wright in 1957. Mother’s Day has been an official holiday since President Woodrow Wilson signed the measure in 1914. It was conceived by Anna Jarvis…
A Tree Was Created to be a Tree
Be a tree hugger: BVMs Mira Mosle and Mary Ann Zollmann embrace a tree during a prayer ritual. Featured in the fall 2020 issue of Salt magazine. by Eileen Fuchs, BVM I recall as a child going on trips with…
Easter Sunday: The Resurrection
THE RESURRECTION GOSPEL Jn 20:1–9 EASTER SUNDAY Let him easter in us, be a dayspring to the dimness of us, be a crimson-cresseted east.”—GM Hopkins Do you believe that we are “easter” people? How do we show that Christ easters…
Palm Sunday: The Passion of Jesus
THE PASSION OF JESUS GOSPEL Mk 14:1–15:47 PALM SUNDAY Jesus did not come to explain away suffering or remove it. He came to fill it with His Presence.”—Paul Claudel Who needs the Presence of Christ today? By phone or visit…
Women’s History Month: Who Are Your Unsung Heroines?
Heroic women! Theresa Rhea, Dolores Williams, Beverly Kelly, Carrie Miller are the names of four unsung heroines. These women are probably not familiar to you. They are four African American women who have served as teachers, principals, and counselors in Chicago’s parochial…
Fifth Sunday of Lent: Jesus Speaks the Power of the Cross
JESUS SPEAKS OF THE POWER OF THE CROSS GOSPEL Jn 12:20–33 FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT I look at your cross, O Christ, and I read there the song of your love.”—St. John of the Cross Take the crucifix off the wall,…