-
The Scent Of Unseen Roses
The scent of finding life, wrote George Macdonald, is “to smell the scent of unseen roses. I doubt we understand that very well, caught as we are in the tyranny
-
The Paradox Of Priesthood
Recently I celebrated the 10th anniversary of my ordination. Ten years as a priest! A time for some reflection! I can say it out loud: They’ve been good years, full
-
Theologian Hard To Recognize
Recently I helped plan and direct a seminar by Edward Schillebeeckx. I have rubbed shoulders with some famous persons before but I was a bit more nervous this time. An
-
The Death Of A Soldier
One of the most precious of all experiences is being with a person when he or she is dying. Paradoxically, death clarifies so many things about life and the dying
-
Weakness Leads To Strength
Two years ago I was given a very mixed blessing: I got sick. Oh, I had been sick before: the usual acceptable sorts of things, appendicitis, a couple of ripped-up
-
Zorba and Religion
Zorba and Religion 070483 I am not sure how often I have read Nikos Kazantzakis’, Zorba the Greek. It is a haunting book with a strange power to ignite and
-
Guilt Thwarts Celebration
06/13/83 One of the hardest things to do is to celebrate. We want to, we need to, but we don’t know how to! Celebration does not come naturally to us.
-
Emerging From Stone
A powerful and haunting piece of sculpture by Michelangelo is entitled: The Awakening Slave. It shows a body struggling to emerge from stone, to pull itself free. Part of the
-
Keeping One’s Perspective
I live and work with a lot of talented persons. The University of Louvain is one of the oldest and most renowned universities in the world. It has a unique
-
Author Tells Merton’s Story
In 1948 a young and very idealistic Trappist monk wrote the story of his own conversion. The story was classic: a young man, bursting with life and dreams, searches, desperately