Sister Julia Walsh talks with author Jon Sweeney about his journey from Evangelical Christianity and Moody Bible Institute to writing about saints, becoming Catholic and marrying a rabbi. They also explore his thoughts on what Christians need to know and respect about Judaism. And they discuss Jon Sweeney’s new book about Nicholas Black Elk.
Tag Archives: Catholicism
Teilhard in the age of Trump
I was first introduced to Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s cosmology at a bar in Wisconsin. I was a recently graduated senior out to eat with my parents, drinking a beer in public for the first time. I was still 18, but in western Wisconsin the legal drinking age is as obfuscated as Teilhard’s arduous writing.Continue reading “Teilhard in the age of Trump”
sing, blessed women
I have memories of my grandma embarrassing me in church when I was a little girl. She would sing really loud and off-key. I couldn’t hear the choir or the piano; I just heard my grandma blurting out hymns like she didn’t care what others thought. It didn’t make sense to me. Being my boldContinue reading “sing, blessed women”
an economy of love
When I was 20 I studied abroad in South Africa. When I came home, I was a bit of a mess. I was angry about the drastic economic inequality that I encountered in Southern Africa during my six months away. Something felt horribly wrong about how people could live in a secure mansion while the peopleContinue reading “an economy of love”
1, 2, 3: eyes on me!
Guest blogger: Steven Cottam One of my many duties as a religion teacher involves getting the students ready for our monthly school Masses. Despite our preparations together, predictably, some of the younger kids always get anxious. Recently, I was in a pew during Mass in front of a group of first and second graders whenContinue reading “1, 2, 3: eyes on me!”
holy leftovers
Happy Halloween!! It’s the start of a triduum of sorts; three days of praising God for our mortality and the communion of saints. In the video above, the wise young women on the streets of New York name a Truth that I will reflect on for three days. On November 2 we celebrate the leftovers!Continue reading “holy leftovers”
Dear Aemiliana, Dear Sarah
Note: Mother Aemiliana Dirr founded the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in 1849. After difficulties fulfilling their mission, she and some other sisters left the order in 1860 and lived out the rest of their lives as lay women. I have written Mother Aemiliana a letter. July 28, 2011 Dear Aemiliana, My heart is soContinue reading “Dear Aemiliana, Dear Sarah”
Poems For Corpus Christi
My Daily Bread Will I grow old alone, a pitied spinster, the dried-up nun? Can we grow young, Like the seaside, when your first Kiss taught me justice? Elopement was never much of an option. A slow steady courtship has made me yours a thousand times. My wine-soaked heart My lungsContinue reading “Poems For Corpus Christi”
freely united lenten grumbling
In those days, in their thirst for water, the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “Why did you ever make us leave Egypt? Was it just to have us die here of thirst with our children and our livestock?” So Moses cried out to the LORD, “What shall I do with this people? a little moreContinue reading “freely united lenten grumbling”
Sorry, I Didn’t Recognize You (part two)
Guest blogger, Amy Nee, part two of two (here’s part one) I caught that train and took it to Cermak-Chinatown. The Congress on Urban Ministry had converged on the Hyatt at McCormick Place (a hotel and convention center the size of a neighborhood) and was hosting free “Words and Worship” services in the evenings. ThatContinue reading “Sorry, I Didn’t Recognize You (part two)”