Posts Tagged

Catholic Beauty

We see signs of summer’s passing in golden leaves, shortening days, misty mornings, autumn glow. We sense its passing in rain that dampens, winds that chill, Harvest’s bounty placed on show. Creator God, who brings forth both green shoot and hoar frost, sunrise and sunset, we bring our thanks for …

Some of my greatest experiences of peace came when wandering the woods as a child. My backyard was a lovely forest that boasted of nothing extraordinary. The foliage towered above my small frame when I hiked steep hills, grabbing rocks and branches so I could pull myself along. The environment …

We go around the table every year: “I’m grateful for my family and friends,” somebody says. “I’m grateful for pie,” one child pipes up. Thinking ahead to my turn, I want to voice something that’s heartfelt and unique, but, most years, I realize that I’ve done little reflection on the …

We experience and express progress in our spiritual lives when we develop an ever-increasing capacity to live for others. We develop that capacity by using the gifts God gives us to live a life of service. “Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever …

When I taught theology to undergraduates, I would ask for a show of hands of those students who agreed with the statement, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” In most cases, every hand went up, even from the most devout students. And my reply would be, “I didn’t …

by Jonah McKeown Denver Newsroom, Nov 22, 2020 / 03:01 pm MT (CNA).- For one Catholic businessman in New York City, Thanksgiving has long been a time of sacrifice and generosity. For each of the past four years, Alphonse Catanese and his wife have donated hundreds of turkeys to needy …

by Courtney Mares Rome Newsroom, Oct 16, 2020 / 06:30 am MT (CNA).- Fifteen-year-old Carlo Acutis died within a week of being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia, offering his suffering for the pope and for the Church. Following his beatification last Saturday, his doctors and hospital chaplain recalled their memories …

by Mary Farrow Denver Newsroom, Oct 15, 2020 / 03:25 am MT (CNA).- Michael Stevens and Nicolas Fredrickson are good friends who meet weekly for Bible study. While they liked studying the contents of the Bible, they were less than impressed with the design and materials of the physical Bibles …

CNA Staff, Oct 12, 2020 / 07:36 pm MT (CNA).- A new statue of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini now overlooks Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty and other New York City landmarks associated with immigrants, concluding a long effort by Catholics and others who objected to her exclusion by a …

By Courtney Mares Vatican City, Oct 7, 2020 / 04:45 am MT (CNA).- Pope Francis invited Catholics to rediscover the beauty of the rosary prayer this month, encouraging people to carry a rosary with them in their pockets. “Today is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. I invite …