I have had numerous conversations with friends and professional acquaintances over the years on the subject of openly sharing our Catholic faith. I am always a little surprised at how often many of them express strong reluctance to being open about their beliefs. The reasons given have included many you may have heard before. “I don’t want to offend anyone.” […]
culture
The Winning Strategy
Editor’s Note: Dr. Kreeft’s classic essay on successfully winning the culture wars is timeless. For more information, see his book, How to Win the Culture War. To win any war, the three most necessary things to know are: (1) that you are at war, (2) who your enemy is, and (3) what weapons or strategies can defeat him. You cannot […]
Fighting Our Own Indifference
Do you ever feel numb or helpless because of all the problems the world faces each day? One only has to watch the news or follow the events of the day online to feel completely overwhelmed. Some of the challenges facing the world include ever-increasing threats to our Catholic faith. The Church is being accosted on all sides and the culture […]
Keeping the Memory of Christmas and Resisting the Siren Call of Our Culture
"Adoration of the Shepherds" (detail) by Gerard van Honthorst [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King! Merry Christmas! It is a wonderful time as we celebrate our Savior’s birth with friends and loved ones. It is also an appropriate time to focus on what is most important and reject the siren call of our culture. I enjoyed this past Advent season, perhaps more […]
The Prophetic Voice of the Catholic Church for Human Dignity
“Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what it wants.” (Saint Teresa of Calcutta) We live in an age that is filled with signs and wonders, many of which are ominous and terrifying—our politics continues in turmoil, fears of wars and terrorism are still with us, our environment […]
Struggling with a Restless Heart
“Thou movest us to delight in praising Thee; for Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee” (St. Augustine, Confessions). I think most writers are naturally introspective and reflective. While praying in preparation for Lent not long ago, I prayed for strength and courage to stay focused on the path Christ […]
Worlds Apart
Michelangelo's "Last Judgment" on the Altar Wall in the Sistine Chapel
Photography by Mark Armstrong
I am a father and a philosopher. This is not necessarily an unusual combination, but it does give me a range of interests that spans two rather distinctive worlds. I am interested in the family, its challenges and rewards, its hard work and its joyful celebrations. As a philosopher, I am interested in an array of ideas that range from […]
CARDINAL ETCHEGARAY, HENRI DE LUBAC, AND VATICAN II
Last week, Cardinal Roger Etchegaray passed away. Perhaps his was not a household name, but this very decent man made a substantive contribution to the life of the Church, serving in a number of different capacities over the years and collaborating closely with St. Pope John Paul II. I had the privilege of meeting him in the mid 1990s when […]
One Cheer for George Will’s “The Conservative Sensibility”
I have been following George Will’s thought for a long time. I’m old enough to remember when his column occupied the last page of Newsweek magazine every other week and when he sat in the chair of conservative thought on David Brinkley’s Sunday morning political talk show. I have long admired his graceful literary style and his clipped, smart manner […]
The Sign of the Cross
Our behavior will be the proving ground of our deepest convictions. This firmness in the Faith is often an excellent testimony to the beliefs of the Christian. In some cases it can cause people to begin their return to the House of the Father. – Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God Several weeks ago I had lunch with one of […]