I’ve always had a love–hate relationship with New Year’s resolutions. I suspect most people feel the same way — that is, if their attitude toward the concept is anything more positive than pure revulsion. There might not be much of a significant practical distinction between January 1 and December 31, but there is something compelling

When I was growing up, one of the signs that Christmas was fast approaching was when my parents went to the attic and pulled out their Nativity sets. Both my mother and father saved the manger scenes they had used when they were young, and every year each set would make an appearance in our

Is your Thanksgiving menu ready? We’re less than a week away, which means here in the U.S. at least, it’s game time. In the next couple of days, we had better thaw the turkey, prepare the brine, hit the store before the last-minute rush, and marshal our favorite recipes for a long Thursday in the

It would be a mistake to say that politics isn’t important, but I find myself saying more and more often, especially these days, that politics isn’t everything. It is a truth we would do well to reflect on. As the United States finds itself consumed by a presidential election that seems as if it may

“I really only love God as much as I love the person I love the least.” — Dorothy Day There is a graphic that has been making its way around social media in recent days that, when I encountered it, almost took my breath away. “Kamala is beloved.” “Donald is fearfully and wonderfully made.” “Mike

When Amy Coney Barrett walked across the stage with President Trump in the Rose Garden last Saturday evening, I felt an excitement that I haven’t experienced in my entire lifetime of observing American politics. I’ve been plenty invested in the outcome of certain elections or different political battles. I follow U.S. politics not only because

Regardless of intent, there’s an unanswerable objection to the controversial French indy film, Mignonnes—released as Cuties in English—which is that depticting children in sxually compromising ways is wrong, sic et simpliciter. The controversy surrounding the film also brings broader issues into better focus. Plenty of ink has been spilled in the last couple of weeks as

Regardless of intent, there’s an unanswerable objection to the controversial French indy film, Mignonnes—released as Cuties in English—which is that depticting children in sxually compromising ways is wrong, sic et simpliciter. The controversy surrounding the film also brings broader issues into better focus. Plenty of ink has been spilled in the last couple of weeks as

Sr. Deirdre Byrne’s whole life is one of courageous witness. It’s not very often in politics that we get to hear from someone as heroic as Sister Deirdre Byrne, a religious sister, a missionary, a medical doctor, and a military veteran, who addressed the nation during the Republican National Convention. Though Sr. Deirdre since has

On reading in time I grew up in a house full of books. Both of my parents have been life-long book lovers, and like most parents of young children, they read aloud plenty of bedtime stories. But they also cultivated in me a love of books that today has me pitting my desire for an

It turns out, we are social creatures I’ve spent much of my life on a quest for the best romantic comedies. As someone who can’t stomach too much suspense—and certainly not too much violence or gore—these sorts of movies are right in the sweet spot for me. I don’t mind watching the same clichés and

There may not be a cure for distraction in the digital age, but there is treatment. I’ve never had much of an attention span, at least, not that I can remember. Rarely, some writing topic will enable me to train laser-like focus on the page until the words properly convey my thoughts. More often than