Arts and Culture

Papacy, despite its warts, is all good

February 8, 2014

Behind the anecdotes and centuries-long ups and downs presented here, Mike Aquilina constantly drives home his central point — the papacy never erred theologically.

The Golden Rule: a Magna Carta for God’s kingdom

February 1, 2014

If there’s any such thing as Christian ethics (and there is), most of us would imagine it might be based on the Golden Rule. But few moral theologians spare more than a passing thought on the crowning lines of the Sermon on the Mount: “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12).

Atheism and the sins of the father

January 25, 2014

A once-popular book that links atheism with shoddy fathering is getting a second life with a new publisher, thanks, in part, to the rise of non-belief in the United States.

Trading the condo for the convent

January 18, 2014

Moses saw a burning bush and heard a voice. Samuel heard his name called three times. Saul also heard the voice of God after having been struck and temporarily blinded by lightning. In the modern age a select few can echo these Old and New Testament stories of an unequivocal call to service from God. But for most, discerning God’s call is a much trickier business. This was the case for Jane Christmas.

Composer humbled by continued response to his 1979 hymn

January 11, 2014

HONOLULU - Fr. Jan Michael Joncas has composed more than 300 liturgical songs, but his name is widely known for the one that tops a list of favourites: “On Eagle’s Wings.”

Faith overcomes hardship

January 11, 2014

TORONTO - Yvonne T. Campbell wants the world to know that Jesus Opened My Eyes.

Canadian artist’s homeless Jesus finds shelter at the Vatican

December 7, 2013

Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz’s life-sized bronze sculpture depicting Jesus as a homeless man lying on a park bench has found a home at the Vatican.

Getting to know the Lily of the Mohawks

December 7, 2013

To grasp the significance of St. Kateri Tekakwitha’s devotion to Christ, you have to understand the context of her life as a young native woman in the 17th century.

Christian art opens doors to our heritage

November 30, 2013

The first thing the Bible tells us about being human is that humans are an image. “Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness.’ ” We are a picture of God made by God.

A Catholic writer’s take on pop culture

November 30, 2013

As Dorothy Cummings McLean’s new novel Ceremony of Innocence hit bookshelves in North America, we interviewed The Catholic Register columnist via a video call about pop culture, Catholic literature and the lives of her characters. Below is an edited and abridged transcript of our chat with Dorothy.