We may have packed away our tinsel and Christmas trees for another year, but the Christmas story doesn’t end with Christmas Day. The Gospel of Matthew tells us that “After Jesus was born … wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For …
The use of Scripture in Dilexit nos
PART 2 Dilexit nos was the first post-Vatican II papal encyclical dedicated to the Sacred Heart, a central feature of private Catholic devotion. Released by the late Pope Francis (1936-2025) in October 2024, Dilexit nos sets forth philosophical, biblical and doctrinal aspects of the Sacred Heart, discusses the Sacred Heart tradition in the writings of Catholic mystics, and …
When guests came bearing treasures
A first-person retelling of the visit of the Magi. I was sweeping the corner near the door when I heard the sound of hooves outside. Not the quick clatter of local animals, but the slower stately clop, of large beasts bearing heavy loads. We had been in Bethlehem for some time. Joseph worked at his …
For Venezuela, it’s always about oil
Venezuela’s political history since 1950 has been profoundly shaped by oil. In the mid-20th century, Venezuela tentatively emerged from decades of often chaotic military rule. The pivotal turning point came in 1958, when a popular uprising — joined by business leaders, students, and military factions — overthrew the authoritarian regime of Marcos Pérez Jiménez. His …
The first place was a voice
No galaxies, no sun, no Earth, no oceans, no flora or fauna, no history, no you or me. Only the living God, who is Spirit. The Bible begins with this breathtaking sentence: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Those words serve as a doorway through which every conscientious reader of …
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