Do we really want to be human? Sometimes I think not. I’m pondering this now in light of Pope Leo’s first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas: On safeguarding humanity in the time of Artificial Intelligence. Billed as the “AI” encyclical, it is more than that. The document includes a masterful summary of Catholic Social Teaching. It recenters […]
Sr Beth Murphy
Sister Beth Murphy, OP, is the communication director for the Dominican Sisters of Springfield.
Posted inCommunity & Lifestyle
Sacred faces, sacred voices
The Vatican’s World Day of Social Communications was last Sunday, May 17. Next Sunday, May 24, is Pentecost. There is a lot to think about there. The Sunday before Pentecost was purposely chosen by Pope St. Paul VI in 1967 as the date for this observance when “social communication” meant television, radio and print, and […]
Posted inCommunity & Lifestyle
Just before, just after, during: Experiencing Easter transformation
What are we doing during these 40 days of Easter? In more than six decades of living, I feel I’ve not yet grasped all there is to this feast of paschal mystery. This year, my ponderings have been ordered by three images, a triptych, if you will. The center panel is baptism – a very […]
Posted inCommunity & Lifestyle
Reading the Bible through Jesus’ eyes
You may often hear how important it is for U.S. citizens to return to the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights so we don’t lose sight of the wise but imperfect aspirations that birthed our nation into being. Equally for Christians, reading and praying with scripture keeps us grounded in the […]
Posted inOpinion
New wisdom for a dangerous world
“We live in a world – the real world, Jake – that is governed by strength, that is governed by force, that is governed by power. These are the iron laws of the world that have existed since the beginning of time.” – Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff, to journalist Jake Tapper […]
Posted inCommunity & Lifestyle
How does Jesus save?
Have you heard the one about Jesus and Satan, a computing contest and a power outage? I’ll spare you, but the joke came to mind while I was thinking through the question about how Jesus saves in light of a particular text from Matthew’s Gospel. In that scripture Joseph is told to name Mary’s baby […]
Posted inCommunity & Lifestyle
For what do you wait? For what do you hope?
This year Thanksgiving weekend is also the start of Advent, and Advent, the start of a new liturgical year in the Christian calendar. Happy Thanksgiving. Happy new year! Once again, we begin the cycle of the church year that flows from the birth of a child to His self-emptying sacrifice and resurrection, and on to […]
Posted inCommunity & Lifestyle
On love for the poor
Care for the poor is both “the burning heart of the Church’s mission” and the heart of Pope Leo’s first message to the world’s Christians. The apostolic exhortation, released earlier this month, is called Dilexi Te – I have loved you – and subtitled On love for the poor. To take in its message, I […]
Posted inCommunity & Lifestyle
Catholic Social Teaching: A nonviolent response to these times
So says the psalmist: “But they flattered him with their mouths and lied to him with their tongues, though their hearts were not steadfast toward him, nor were they faithful to his covenant.” And so says the same psalmist: “But he, being merciful, forgave their sin and destroyed them not; often he turned back his […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Let’s build communities of creative love
With how many “trinities” are you familiar? Christian belief holds at its center the Father, Son and Spirit. Chefs might refer to a “trinity” of ingredients. For Cajun cooks its onions, green peppers and celery. Italians drop the peppers and add carrots. Preachers like to lead you through three points in a homily. Then there […]
Posted inArts & Culture
What good is prayer if we still suffer?
As of this writing, the nation keeps vigil with the Texas families whose loved ones were swept away by flood waters, the death toll north of 100 and climbing. According to media reports, over the Fourth of July weekend gun violence killed 189 people and injured 500 in our country. Last week I traveled out […]
Posted inArts & Culture
An antidote for cynicism? Catholic Social Teaching
If you’ve driven past the Sacred Heart Convent and Sacred Heart-Griffin High School campus on West Monroe Street recently, you’ve probably noticed the many “golf signs” – what the printer calls them – around the perimeter. They proclaim, “Hear the cry of Earth,” “One Global Human Family” and “Immigrant Rights & Dignity.” Our hope is […]
