-
Real Miracles
Ralph Waldo Emerson calls the stars in the night sky “envoys of beauty, lighting the universe with their admonishing smile” and submits that if they appeared for a single night
-
The Mary of Scripture and the Mary of Devotions
There’s an axiom that says: Roman Catholics tend to adore Mary while Protestants and Evangelicals tend to ignore Mary. Neither is ideal. Mary, the Mother of Jesus, has, in effect,
https://ronrolheiser.com/the-mary-of-scripture-and-the-mary-of-devotions/
-
Mourning
Our culture doesn’t give us easy permission to mourn. Its underlying ethos is that we move on quickly from loss and hurt, keep our griefs quiet, remain strong always, and
-
Stirring the Smoldering Ashes of Our Faith
Anyone who has ever watched a fire knows that at a point the flames subside and disappear into smoldering coals which themselves eventually cool and turn into cold, grey ash.
https://ronrolheiser.com/stirring-the-smoldering-ashes-of-our-faith/
-
On Being the Beloved Disciple
The Gospel of John presents us with a very powerful and rather earthy mystical image: As John describes the Last Supper scene he tells us that as they were at
-
Mercy, Truth, and Pastoral Practice
Recently a student I’d taught decades ago made this comment to me: “It’s been more than twenty years since I took your class and I’ve forgotten most everything you taught.
-
On Friendship
One of the richest experiences of grace that we can have this side of eternity is the experience of friendship. Dictionaries define friendship as a relationship of mutual affection, a
-
On Suicide and Despair
For centuries, suicide was considered as an act of despair and despair itself was seen as the most grievous sin of all. In many religious circles, despair was seen as
-
Protest, Sanity, and a Christian Response
Dreaming is sometimes the most realistic thing we can do. Or, is there still something else we might do, like public protest, or something else? In his book on prophecy,
https://ronrolheiser.com/protest-sanity-and-a-christian-response/
-
Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience in a Secular Age
Cardinal Francis George was once asked what he thought of the radical pacifism of people like Dorothy Day and Daniel Berrigan, prophetic figures who believed in absolute nonviolence. How can
https://ronrolheiser.com/poverty-chastity-and-obedience-in-a-secular-age/