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Benedictines offer hospitality to volunteers from England
FORT SMITH — From the time Jean Daly and Marie Gordon were young women living in Leamington Spa, England, they always dreamed of visiting a monastery when they were both retired. Fifty years later, Daly, a widow with six children, and Gordon, divorced and recently retired from teaching in China, decided to live out their dream.
During recession couples place more value in marriage
WASHINGTON (CNS) -— The economic recession may have a “silver lining” in terms of its effect on U.S. marriages, according to a leading marriage expert.
We also ask: ‘Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’
Recently I was talking to someone and I recognized how good a person he was. I was thinking how much I wanted to be like him. A few days later I was praying with the parable of the rich official (Luke 18:18-30) and the words of Jesus to the rich man jumped off the page at me. It was as if Jesus was speaking to me directly, “Why do you call me good? Only God is good.” (Seeds of Faith, Understanding Our Church)
The rosary calls us to strength to overcome our weaknesses
Of those who have seen the movie “The Passion of the Christ,” most would agree the scourging at the pillar scenes were incredibly powerful. As you may recall, about half way through the scourging, the soldiers seemed to reduce their torments. The lashes slowed, and their faces showed signs of satisfaction, as if their job was complete. Our Lord, still chained to the rock, was lying there, in excruciating pain, completely spent. But when he sensed the soldiers backing off, he mustered up all his human strength, crawled up the rock and stood ready for more. (Seeds of Faith, The Rosary: Virtue & Grace)
New book proves Vatican’s archives aren’t so secretive
VATICAN CITY — With millions of documents filling almost 53 miles of shelf space, the Vatican Secret Archives obviously still hold some secrets.
Reactions show ripple effect of goodness
In his new book “The Faux Bishop’s Gems,” Msgr. J. Gaston Hebert speaks of the “ripple effects of sin.” Honestly, I think few people believe in that ripple effect, choosing to think their sin (if they even agree to acknowledge their misdeed as sin) as totally personal and private, affecting no one else. Of course, they are seriously mistaken. (Columns)
‘Radical generosity’ in Arkansas
Rick Warren, the megachurch pastor in Orange County, Calif., and author of “The Purpose Driven Life,” is always a newsmaker with various initiatives he is undertaking around the world. He was, in fact, the top newsmaker of 2009, according to the Religion Newswriters Association. (Editorial)
