The familiar statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, with her foot forcing the innards out of the serpent, is grotesquely satisfying. We delight in the final victory over the powers of darkness. But is devotion to Mary as a dragon-slayer a mere pious distraction based on tenuous Scriptural...

Sacraments, according to the Baltimore Catechism, are outward signs instituted by Christ to give grace. The Sacraments define and direct our lives. Our choices form us. When we choose to live a sacramental life, in a sense we become sacraments reflecting the Lord. But the contrary is also...

During the COVID-19 pandemic, bishops have canceled the public celebration of the Mass in obedience to government authorities. Live-streamed Mass on the internet has become the “new normal” of worship for the duration. But this quasi-liturgical innovation may have problematic long-term...

War is hell, and malicious misconduct in waging war may send malefactors to hell. The hatred among warring parties often distorts our capacity to assess the morality of violent responses within war in the light of the Ten Commandments. (A soldier who kills an enemy combatant in battle is without...

The Child Jesus and his Holy Family are the source of all that is good in the world. Our families determine the foundation and moral strength of society, and the Holy Family provides the perfect model of family holiness. So for a healthy and happy culture, we need to live marriage and family life...

Cynics believe in the worst of human nature and motives, and ultimately the futility of human existence. Bitter experiences and disappointments in life easily lead to a cynical spirit. The constant barrage of bad news in our day feeds it, as do everyday annoyances. All of us are motivated by an...

God is love, our faith teaches us. Jesus reaffirms that our response to God’s love is to love God and neighbor. Is there evidence of God’s love? Many people reject religion because of the lack of direct evidence. Indeed, atheism can result “from a violent protest against the evil...

Regardless of age, most of us have emotional maturity issues. How can we harness the insecurities of adolescence and the immaturities of young adulthood? How can we tame the neuroses of middle age and the eccentricities of old age? How can we become normal? Of course we all want to be...

Many years ago, in a terrible accident, a NASCAR collision caused a wheel to fly high into the air. The errant wheel killed a spectator sitting in isolation in the upper grandstands: an unfortunate, freak accident. An investigation of the crash scene would reveal the convergence of many unlikely...

“Expect a miracle!” Those words on the lips of TV evangelists are particularly effective in fundraising. We use social media platforms pleading for prayers and miracle cures. (Beware of high-tech gossip.) Miracles validated by science and the Church testify to the sanctity of saints....