As Tamara (pseudonym) drove to her abortion appointment, the radio played an ad for Pregnancy Center Plus (PCPlus). Her eyes welled with tears. In that moment, she changed course and drove directly to PCPlus. She was 12-weeks pregnant, her boyfriend had recently died in a car crash, and she was …

Note: This article is part of an ongoing series on Pope St. John Paul II’s “Theology of the Body.” In his analysis of Ephesians 5:21-33, Pope St. John Paul II highlighted St. Paul’s use of analogy. This passage of Ephesians compares the relationship of Christian spouses with the relationship between …

At the time of this writing, my family of seven plus two mutts are in an Airbnb in our own town. Two weeks ago, a small leak in our bathroom turned into the space being gutted from water damage. We were assigned project managers, contractors, and an adjuster to boot. …

In a visually saturated world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and become desensitized to beauty. Visio Divina, Latin for “divine seeing,” encourages us to slow down and engage in visual contemplation, using art as a profound tool for connecting with the Divine. A Guide to Visio Divina Begin by making …

Advent is a season of hope. It is the beginning of the liturgical year, and a time for us to reflect on the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, as well as the long centuries of yearning by the Israelite people for the Messiah promised by God. During the …

(Note: The first installment of this 3-part series can be found in the November 2025 issue.) Some heard it as a child. Others were well into adulthood amid a lucrative career and serious relationship. That still small voice. That restless heart. That sense of emptiness despite having everything they thought …

There’s always a blend of sadness and excitement when I leave Cincinnati to return to my studies in Rome. It’s tough to leave home: family, parishioners, Skyline Chili, and the Midwest’s iconic seasons, especially the snowfalls (Rome only sees snow once every 10 years); but it is exciting and a …

 

Catholics engage with their faith in bodily and material ways—not just genuflecting, kneeling, and making the sign of the cross but thumbing rosary beads, collecting holy cards, and praying before statues and artwork. Unlike members of some non-Catholic faith traditions, Catholics have long fostered a kind of tactile piety. But …

Three years ago, I was blessed with the opportunity to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. While in Bethlehem, I was deeply moved by a reflection on Luke’s Gospel. Standing in the fields where the shepherds once stood, I imagined myself alongside those shepherds, encountering the angels. As I …