The Way of Beauty
The Olympic Games
You may be surprised to read that the Olympiads began in the Far East dating from 776 BC. The game... Read more
Lombardi’s Trophy
Last week, the Super Bowl; tomorrow, the Winter Olympics. Last week, the Lombardi Trophy; soon the Gold. Always, running the... Read more
We, the Gifted: A Case Study
Each of us is a unique person, willed into this world to fulfill a mission, one that is entirely ours. ... Read more
'To Shine in Use'
The month of January is named after the Roman god, Janus, who presides over beginnings, transitions, and ends. Janus wears... Read more
Beautiful Christmas music
With the arrival of Gaudete Sunday, the Church’s liturgy now focuses with intense eagerness on Christmas Day itself. The readings... Read more
Beauty – the Church’s Greatest Power
In this month’s issue of First Things, Dana Gioia’s superb article, “The Catholic Writer Today,” sums up the diminished state... Read more
Advent beauty
There is no time quite like Advent. This liturgical season is rich in symbol and exalted in sacred poetry and... Read more
You can never say thank-you enough
On the eve of Thanksgiving Day and the season of Advent, a few thoughts ...The Jews Say ‘Blessing’ and ‘Thank... Read more
Rose, Mother of John F. Kennedy
Toward the end of her memoir, Times to Remember, published in 1974, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, an octogenarian, reflects on the... Read more
Out of darkness, light
On October 12, fifty years ago, a plane landed in the United States from the former USSR carrying the Jesuit... Read more
The Invasion of Mobile Devices
In 1532, Thomas More resigned his position as Lord Chancellor of England because he refused to take the Oath of... Read more
Saints galore: a triduum of beauty
In the very first days of November, the Church celebrates a triduum of saints galore, a triduum of beauty. The liturgies... Read more
A world of beauty
Lately, the words beauty and beautiful have been featured in essays among Catholic writers. Perhaps they have been prompted by... Read more
Leadership in a leaderless world
Leadership styles affect us all. The Mideast conflict has raised questions about the inability of world leaders to resolve the... Read more
Yeast in the dough
On her TV program, “Martha Bakes,” the talented Ms. Stewart cannot contain her delight when she makes a yeast dough.... Read more
Is the world growing more secular? Is religion on the decline?
What is the status of religious belief in America? Those who say that the world is growing more secular are... Read more
The papacy in a new key
It is said that Jesuits don’t sing. But recently, Pope Francis broke with the tradition of his Order. He is... Read more
'Q' and 'non-Q' in Catholic education
In November 1980, Barbara Tuchman, the historian and twice-winner of the Pulitzer Prize, published an essay in the New York... Read more
