October 27, 2013 This afternoon I found myself sitting on the front porch of a woman named Maggie. No, I wasn’t with my own mother on our front porch on Pennsylvania Street in Indianapolis, but it was about as close as I could get here in Amman. I had been walking to the Vatican library …
Christus Paradox: Reflections on “Of Gods and Men”
You shouldn’t read this blog post. At least not until you see the film, “Of Gods and Men.” Really, stop now if you intend to watch it and don’t want me to spoil it for you. The movie tells the true story of French monks living in the hills of Algeria during the civil war …
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My talk at the Ignatian Family Teach-In
Last weekend, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to deliver the following speech at the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice to an audience of over 1,000. Using my own experiences with Muslim-Christian dialogue and the documents of the Second Vatican Council, I argued that we as Catholics are called to engage in interreligious dialogue. …
Conversations with a Carmelite
When I chose the name Teresa of Avila for my Confirmation name during my freshman year of high school, I didn’t know what an important, meaningful decision I’d made. I picked her because she founded the Discalced Carmelites, a group of sisters I had grown close to in Indianapolis and admired for their contemplation, simplicity, …
Lessons from Good Pope John, Part 3: Detachment and trust
This is the last post in a series about the exemplary life of Blessed Pope John XXIII, whose feast we celebrated on October 11. Today's post is on detachment and trust. John allowed God to carry him through life, just as his father carried him on his shoulders when he was a boy. His motto …
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