IGNATIUSINSIGHT.COM ARCHIVES from JANUARY 2006 to PRESENT

JANUARY 2008

• "How Difficult It Is!" | On Justice and the Earthly City | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | The search for earthly utopia usually ends badly.

• Walk for Life West Coast | A Photo Gallery | An collection of photos taken at the 2008 Walk for Life West Coast, January 19th, in San Francisco<.

• Pope John Paul II and the Christ-centered Anthropology of Gaudium et Spes | Douglas Bushman | An examination of the essential links between Gaudium et Spes and Fides et Ratio..

• Vatican II and the Ecclesiology of Joseph Ratzinger | Maximilian Heinrich Heim | Intro to Joseph Ratzinger: Life in the Church and Living Theology.

• Putting Things In Order: Fr. James V. Schall, S.J., on 80 Years of Living, Thinking, and Believing | 2008 marks some major milestones for Fr. Schall, prolific author and professor at Georgetown University.

• The World's First Pro-Life Film Festiva: Cinema Vita | Has there ever been a pro-life film festival? If not, there is now: the first annual Cinema Vita Film Festival in San Francisco.

• St. Augustine and Pelagianism | Stephen N. Filippo | An introduction to one of the great theological disputes of early Christianity.

• Death, Where Is Thy Sting? | Adrienne von Speyr | An excerpt from The Mystery of Death.

• Patron Saint of Teachers: Or, On the Meaning of the Second Semester | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | Of the rewards and travails of teaching and studying, there is no end.

• Wise Men from the East | Sandra Miesel | Who were the gift-bearing kings, the Wise Men of the East, who visited the Christ-child?

• The Cardinal | Rudolf Voderholzer | The opening chapter of Meet Henri de Lubac: His Life and Work, introduces readers to one of the greatest theologians of the past century.

• "The Best Books I Read in 2007..." | Ignatius Press Authors, Editors, and Staff | Sixteen Ignatius Press authors, editors, and friends offer their picks for the best books they read during the past year.

• Global Warming and Pagan Emptiness | Michael Gilchrist | Cardinal George Pell discusses the controversy over global warming and the claim of catastrophic man-made climate change.

DECEMBER 2007

• The Obfuscation of the New Atheism | Dr. Jose Maria Yulo | Atheism advocates insist religious belief leads to intolerance and narrowmindedness. So how to explain their obvious intolerance and narrowmindedness?

• Hell on Earth and the Hope of Heaven | An interview with author Michael O'Brien, who discusses his new novel, Island of the World, the virtue of hope, and finding the mind of Christ.

• More Latin, More Reverence | Jeremy Lott | A Catholic World Report interview with blogger and author Amy Welborn.

• Ox and Ass Know Their Lord | Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger | A selection from The Blessing of Christmas.

• Opening pages of Island of the World | Michael O'Brien | An excerpt from the new novel by the author of Father Elijah.

• Faithful Even Unto Death: The Witness of Alfred Delp, S.J. | Fr. Albert Münch | Recollections of Fr. Albert Münch on his close friend, Fr. Delp, murdered by Nazis in 1945.

• The Enormity of the Universe | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | "Should the vast size of the universe concern us? Could indeed we fail to notice it?"

• Sympathy for the devil: Thoughts on "The Golden Compass" | Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. | Remarks on the controversial movie.

• The Case Against Abortion | Carl E. Olson | Dr. Francis Beckwith discusses his book Defending Life: A Moral and Legal Case Against Abortion Choice.

• Come, Lord Jesus! The Meaning of Advent | Fr. Kenneth Baker, S.J. | A homily for the First Sunday of Advent.

• Turn Your Hearts! | Kenneth Baker, S.J. | A homily for the second Sunday of Advent.

• Mary Immaculate | Kenneth Baker, S.J. | A homily for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

• A Perfect Family | Kenneth Baker, S.J. | A homily for the Feast of the Holy Family.

• Christ Our Life | Kenneth Baker, S.J. | A homily for the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord.

NOVEMBER 2007

• The Two Most Important Philosophers Who Ever Lived | Peter Kreeft | One is called "The Father of Philosophy"; the other is "The Father of Modern Philosophy." Who are they?

• Mother Mary Francis and the Renewal of Religious Life | Archbishop Raymond L. Burke | The Foreword to Mother Mary Francis's book, Chastity, Poverty, and Obedience.

• William P. Clark: The Quiet Catholic Who Changed the World | An interview with Paul Kengor | The co-author of The Judge talks about the Catholic who helped end the Cold War.

• Theologians and Saints | Hans Urs von Balthasar | The great Swiss theologian notes that "since the great period of Scholasticism, there have been few theologians who were saints." Why?

• The Illusion of Freedom Separated from Moral Virtue | Raymond L. Dennehy | Liberal democracy cannot survive unless virtues and ethics rooted in the natural law permeate the culture.

• Are Catholics Born Again? | Mark Brumley | Many Catholics have left the Church because of the question: "Have you been born again?" But do Fundamentalists correctly understand the meaning of being "born again"?

• Professor Dawkins and the Origins of Religion | Thomas Crean, O.P. | A chapter from God Is No Delusion: A Refutation of Richard Dawkins, a response to well-known British atheist's best-selling book, The God Delusion.

• Be Nice To Me. I'm Dying. | Mary Beth Bonacci | It's a fundamental truth of the spiritual life that we need to be reminded of the inevitability of our own death. This ride doesn't last forever.

OCTOBER 2007

• Pope Benedict XVI and the New Ecclesial Movements | Bishop Stanislaw Rylko | The Introduction to Joseph Ratzinger's New Outpourings of the Spirit.

• Why Do They Hate Catholics So Much? | Dr. James Hitchcock | "Frenzied blasphemy reveals the depth of the violent hatred because it represents an assault in some ways worse than the desire to do bodily harm."

• Why the Bewilderment? Benedict XVI on Natural Law | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | The Holy Father continues to emphasize the reasonable nature of Christianity as he fights against both religious and secular fundamentalism.

• On Writing A History of Christianity in China | Fr. Jean-Pierre Charbonnier | The Preface to the acclaimed history, Christians In China: A.D. 600 to 2000.

• The Mission: The Introduction to The Judge: William P. Clark, Ronald Reagan's Top Hand | Paul Kengor & Patricia Clark Doerner | A selection from the new biography of Reagan's most trusted advisor, a devout Catholic.

• St. Ignatius of Antioch and the Early Church | Kenneth Whitehead | Who was St. Ignatius of Antioch and why he is still important today?

• A Conversation with a Post-Liberal, Post-Conservative Evangelical Catholic Priest | Carl E. Olson | Theologian and author Fr. Robert Barron talks about his new book, The Priority of Christ.

• Church Indulgences in San Francisco | George Neumayr | The choice facing the U.S. bishops is clear. What will they do?

• The Challenge of Marriage Preparation | Dr. Janet E. Smith | Those working with couples preparing to marry undertake a vital but difficult task.

• 31 Questions for Schall (Part One) and 31 Questions for Schall (Part Two) | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | A visit to the University of North Dakota yielded a number of questions and answers about education, truth, and religion.

• The Past Her Prelude: Marian Imagery in the Old Testament | Sandra Miesel | An introduction to the abundant Marian typology in the Old Testament.

• Happiness and the Human Heart | Fr. Robert J. Spitzer | In this excerpt from Healing the Culture, the president of Gonzaga University considers the mystery of the human heart and the effect of "heart" on the culture.

• Who Is A Priest? | Fr. Benedict Ashley, O.P. | Was Jesus a priest? The answer provides context for understanding how the Catholic priesthood is rooted in the person of Jesus Christ.

• "Where God is, there is the future" | On Benedict XVI in Austria | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | In his recent visit to Austria, Benedict again articulated several themes that have emerged as central to his pontificate.

SEPTEMBER 2007

• Focus Groups and Marriage: A Match Made for Heartache | Mary Beth Bonacci | Why do some Catholic "experts" try to replace Church teachings about sexuality and marriage with "more relevant" beliefs?

• Mary in Byzantine Doctrine and Devotion | Brother John M. Samaha, S.M. | An essay about how Mariology in the Eastern traditions developed through liturgical veneration.

• Why Do Things Exist? On the Meaning of Being | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | Philosophy means not only that all of our experience is the object of our knowing powers, but it includes properly "reflecting" on this reality.

• The Gospel of St. Matthew: The Unity of the Life of Jesus | Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis | An excerpt from the preface to Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word (Vol. II).

• Pope Benedict XVI on Jesus, the Apostles, and the Early Christians | Pope Benedict XVI | These selections from Jesus, The Apostles, and the Early Church display the Holy Father's unique combination of scholarship, pastoral warmth, and spiritual insight.

• Communion of Saints: St. Robert Bellarmine on the Mystical Body of Christ | John A. Hardon, S.J. | Bellarmine's ecclesiology was the main source from which Vatican I drew its decrees and definitions.

• On Wars...and Wars of Ideas | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | Wars, states the longtime Professor of Political Philosophy at Georgetown University, are caused by ideas. The question is: are we willing to honestly and seriously address the ideas that lead to war?

• God, The Author of Scripture | Fr. Dominique Barthélemy, O.P. | The Preface to God and His Image: An Outline of Biblical Theology discusses the task of writing a work of biblical theology.

• "Jews Demand Signs" | An Interview with Roy Schoeman | The editor of Honey From the Rock: Sixteen Jews Find the Sweetness of Christ talks about the unique challenges facing Jews who become Catholic.

• Bella | Steven Greydanus | A noted movie critic goes behind the scenes of the award-winning movie, Bella, created by a group of young Latino filmmakers who are inspired by John Paul II and Mother Teresa.

• A New Era of Liturgical Seriousness | George Neumayr | Summorum Pontificum signals "the beginning of the end to the demoralizing liturgical chaos and distortions of the last four decades."

• "The Self-Revelation of God's Reality in History": On the Final Chapter of Jesus of Nazareth | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | What Benedict XVI "holds about Jesus," explains Father Schall, "is what the disciples and the Church have held about him throughout the centuries."

• The Cross and The Holocaust | Regis Martin | An excerpt from the prologue to Suffering of Love: Christ's Descent into the Hell of Human Hopelessness.

• The Gift of the Abbey of Regina Laudis: An Interview with Antoinette Bosco | Carl E. Olson | The author of Mother Benedict: Foundress of the Abbey of Regina Laudis talks about the abbey and her biography of the foundress, Mother Benedict Duss, O.S.B.

AUGUST 2007

• The Doctor of Divine Adoption | Fr. David L. Toups, S.T.D. | The foreword to Abbot Columba Marmion's Union with God.

• Abbot Vonier and the Christian Sacrifice | Aidan Nichols, O.P. | This introduction to Abbot Vonier's A Key to the Doctrine of the Eucharist, provides a biographical sketch of "the most gifted dogmatic theologian writing--and preaching--in England during the inter-War years."

• Pope Benedict XVI and the Essential Worldwide Mission | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | In recent trips and documents the Holy Father continues to articulate and explain what the Church is meant to be and to do in this world.

• A Summary of Christian Doctrine | Paul Claudel | In this selection from I Believe In God: A Meditation on the Apostles' Creed, the great French writer makes fourteen succinct statements about Catholic beliefs.

• Jean Daniélou and the "Master-Key to Christian Theology" | Carl E. Olson | The author of God and the Ways of Knowing believed that man has been called to participate in the life of the Triune God.

• Leisure and Its Threefold Opposition | Josef Pieper | This essay, from the collection Josef Pieper: An Anthology, introduces reader to a topic that the German Thomist explored in great depth in various writings: the meaning and place of leisure in culture.

• The Quintessential--And Last--Modern Poet | Fr. George William Rutler | The foreword to Thomas Howard's Dove Descending reflects on the influence of American-turned-Englishman, T.S. Eliot.

• On Saying the Tridentine Mass | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | With "the advent of the Novus Ordo in 1969," writes Father Schall, "and its apparent, in practice at least, suppression of the older missal, I, along with most priests on the Roman rite, have said this Mass in the vernacular."

• Fairest Daughter of the Father: On the Solemnity of the Assumption | Rev. Charles M. Mangan | We often contemplate the relationship between Mary and her Son. This reflection focuses on the relationship which Our Lady enjoys with God the Father.

• Why Are There So Many Ugly Churches? An interview with Moyra Doorly | Carl E. Olson | Doorly discusses her book No Place For God and its critique of the banality evident in many modern Catholic parishes and cathedrals.

• The Vatican, Ecumenism, and Tolerance | Dr. James Hitchcock | A poor reading of Vatican II documents often causes ecumenical confusion.

• The Blessed Virgin in the History of Christianity | Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J. | What are the highlights of our Marian faith as found in the Bible and the teaching of the Church?

• Contraception and Homosexuality: The Sterile Link of Separation | Dr. Raymond Dennehy | The practice of contraception is a major force behind the rapidly growing acceptance of homosexuality in Western societies.

• Saint Francis and the Imitation of Christ | Ivan Gobry | In this excerpt from Saint Francis of Assisi: A Biography we see clearly the profound love that Saint Francis had for his Lord, Jesus Christ.

• Women and the Priesthood: A Theological Reflection | Jean Galot, S.J. | This selection from Theology of the Priesthood is a theological consideration of some of the reasons the Church does not ordain women to the priesthood.

• From Defeat to Victory: On the Question of Evil | Alice von Hidebrand | Evil and suffering: these are key questions of human existence which clamor for an answer. WHY?

• "No Weighing, No Disputing, No Such Thing": Ratzinger and Europe | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | In reading Joseph Ratzinger's Europe: Today and Tomorrow, writes Schall, "We begin to realize that one of the unique things about Benedict XVI is his preference for reason and reasoned argument."

JULY 2007

• Going Deeper Into the Old Testament: An Interview with Aidan Nichols, O.P. | The renowned English theologian, author of Lovely Like Jerusalem, reflects on the importance of the Old Testament.

• The Tragic Misunderstanding of Atheist Humanism | Henri de Lubac | An excerpt from The Drama of Atheist Humanism.

• Pulverizing Idols: Lessons From Saint Olav | Stephen Sparrow | "Spiritual timidity (not to be confused with humility) is the curse of Anglo-Saxon Catholicism," argues Sparrow.

• Unity, Plurality, and the Papacy | Hans Urs von Balthasar | A selection from the introduction to The Office of Peter and the Structure of the Church.

• No Tradition? No Civilization! | Fr. John Navone, S.J. | "Living in Europe is living in a place where the stones speak; however, if you have not done your homework, you will not understand what they are saying."

• Reform or Return? An Interview with Rev. Thomas M. Kocik | The author of The Reform of the Reform? discusses Pope Benedict XVI's Apostolic Letter Summorum Pontificum.

• The Essential Nature and Task of the Church | Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger | In this excerpt from From God and the World: A Conversation With Peter Seewald, then-Cardinal Ratzinger reflects on the essential task and nature of the Church.

• Out of Virtue, Greatness: Washington as Aristotle's Magnanimous Man | Dr. Jose Yulo

JUNE 2007

• Defending Devotion to the Sacred Heart | Timothy T. O'Donnell, S.T.D. | In this preface to Heart of the Redeemer, O'Donnell provides helpful definitions, a brief history, and responds to objections made against the devotion.

• Was The Joint Declaration Truly Justified? | An Interview with Dr. Christopher Malloy | In October 1999 the "Joint Declaration On the Doctrine of Justification" (JD) was signed by Lutheran and Catholic representatives. Years later, important questions remain unanswered.

• Jews Find the Sweetness of Christ | Roy Schoeman | This preface to Honey From the Rock: Sixteen Jews Find the Sweetness of Christ reflects on the reasons for Jews from varied backgrounds becoming Catholic.

• The Culture of Modernity and Catholicism | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | The "spirit of renewal" after Vatican II proposed that, wherever possible, Catholicism should accommodate itself to modernity. But how compatible are Catholicism and modern culture?

• Catholic Commencements and Pro-Abortion Politicians | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | Many politicians call themselves "Catholic" but follow the outlines of the Rudy Giuliani position on abortion. Part of the reason has been the confused and lacking guidance from the local or Roman hierarchy.

MAY 2007

• The Comprehensive Claim of Marxism | Peter Kreeft | This excerpt from Socrates Meets Marx: The Father of Philosophy Cross-Examines the Founder of Communism uses an engaging combination of informal wit and philosophical knowledge to help explain foundational premises of Marxism.

• The Mercenary | Susan Peek | The opening chapter of A Soldier Surrenders: The Conversion of St. Camillus de Lellis (A Novel) introduces the story of the dramatic conversion of the 16th-century soldier who became the founder of the "Hospitallers".

• Monsignor Ronald Knox: Convert, Priest, Apologist | An Interview with Fr. Milton Walsh | The author of Ronald Knox As Apologist, discusses the influence of Knox, one of the finest Catholic thinkers of the 20th century.

• Experience, Reason, and Authority in the Apologetics of Ronald Knox | Fr. Milton Walsh | In this selection from Ronald Knox As Apologist, Fr. Walsh shows how Monsignor Knox appealed to both the intellect and the heart when defending the Catholic Faith.

• On Spiritual Warfare | Peter Kreeft | Taking its cue from C.S. Lewis's Screwtape Letters, Kreeft's Snakebite Letters is a combination of satire, humor and devilish insights into the invisible war for the the souls of men.

• What Is the Magisterium? | Thomas Storck | An overview and helpful guide to the teaching office of the Church.

• Know Him in the Breaking of Bread | Fr. Francis Randolph | This opening chapter of Know Him in the Breaking of Bread: A Guide To The Mass, reflects on the beliefs of the early Christians about the Liturgy.

• The Courage To Be Imperfect | Fr. D. Vincent Twomey, S.V.D. | The Introduction to Pope Benedict XVI: The Conscience of Our Age offers a theological portrait of Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI, by a former student and long-time friend.

• The Four Marks of the Church | Ronald Knox | Excerpted from The Hidden Stream: Mysteries of the Christian Faith, this essay considers what it means to say the Church is "one, holy, catholic, and apostolic."

• Origen and Allegory | Henri de Lubac | In his introduction to History and Spirit: The Understanding of Scripture According to Origen the great French patristics scholar laments that Origen is viewed as "a mad allegorist".

• From Protestantism to Catholicism: Six Journeys to Rome | Various Authors | Excerpts from six books explaining why Protestant pastors, theologians, and authors became Catholic.

• What Must I Read To Be Saved? On Reading and Salvation | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | We cannot point to any book, including the Bible, and say that everyone must actually read it before he can be "saved." But that doesn't mean reading cannot have a substantial role in the drama of salvation.

• The Truth About Joan of Arc | Katherine Anne Porter and Régine Pernoud | The Foreword and Preface to The Retrial of Joan of Arc: The Evidence for Her Vindication highlight the importance of looking at both old and new evidence in evaluating the charges brought against Joan of Arc.

• Viagra: It's Not Just for Old Guys Anymore | Mary Beth Bonacci | There remains one dirty little secret in our society. People may be having a lot more sex (or at least trying to). But they're enjoying it a lot less. And nobody wants to admit it. What's the matter here?

• Which atheism do you not believe in? | Carl E. Olson | Fulton Sheen observed that the modern atheist is "always angered when he hears anything said about God and religion--he would be incapable of such a resentment if God were only a myth." And the resentment lives on!

• What Is Catholicism? Questions With Answers | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | The Holy Father's recent comments to a group of theologians stressed that a distinctive mark of the Catholic Faith is the willingness to ask questions and the belief that answers do exist.

APRIL 2007

• PNAC Finishes Round Robin with Loss to Mater Ecclesiae | Joseph Previtali | The Pontifical North American College concluded its round-robin competition in Group A of the 2007 Clericus Cup with a 3-1 loss to Mater Ecclesiae on Saturday, April 28.

• "I never thought I wanted to be a writer": An interview with Thomas Howard | The recently published The Night Is Far Spent is an anthology of essays and talks from Thomas Howard on topics including the Inklings, the sacraments, Handel, ballet, and fatherhood. In this interview, Howard taks about his life of writing, thinking, and teaching.

• A Shepherd Like No Other | Christoph Cardinal Schönborn | This reflection from Behold, God's Son! Encountering Christ in the Gospel of Mark considers Jesus' words: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

• Motherhood of the Entire Church | Henri de Lubac | This excerpt from The Motherhood of the Church contemplates "a specific and fundamental principle: the Church is our mother. We would not be Christians if we did not acknowledge in her this essential characteristic."

• Can Catholics Be Evangelists? | An interview with Russell Shaw | The co-author of Good News, Bad News: Evangelization, Conversion, and The Crisis of Faith discusses why and how Catholics should be evangelizing.

• The Scriptural Roots of St. Augustine's Spirituality | Stephen N. Filippo | The scriptural roots of St. Augustine's spirituality can be seen by examining one of his greatest works, "On Christian Doctrine," but actually "On how to read and interpret Sacred Scripture."

• We Are All Called To Be Evangelizers | Russell Shaw | In his introduction to Good News, Bad News, co-authored with Fr. C. John McCloskey, III, veteran author Shaw admits the difficulty of evangelizing while emphasizing how necessary it continues to be for every Catholic.

• St. Peter and the Primacy of Rome | Stephen K. Ray | The author of Upon This Rock: St. Peter and the Primacy of Rome in Scripture and the Early Church explains the reasons and methods behind his defense of the Catholic Church's teachings about St. Peter and the Papacy.

• Murder On Campus: A Meditation On Death of the Young | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | In the midst of the media furor and questions about who may have been to blame for not stopping the murder of 32 Virginia Tech students, there are deeper questions that all of us should be asking ourselves.

• PNAC Upset by O.M.I. in Clericus Cup | Joseph Previtali | Hampered by rust, injury, and the absence of three starters, the Pontifical North American College soccer team was upset by the previously winless O.M.I. team.

• "Liberation"--And Oppression | Dr. James Hitchcock | The Vatican's recent warning about the work of the Jesuit theologian Jon Sobrino predictably is met by certain responses, beginning with the charge that the Church is hostile to freedom.

• On "Losing" One's Faith at University | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | Granted that most university cultures are either inimical or indifferent to faith, there is a certain exhilaration felt by the student who pursues the truth about Catholicism in the midst of a hostile environment.

• Hans Urs von Balthasar and the Tarot | Stratford Caldecott | Was Swiss theologian Fr. Hans Urs von Balthasar--acclaimed by both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI--a closet New Ager who dabbled in the occult?

• A Great Building Disaster | Moyra Doorly | This excerpt from No Place For God: The Denial of the Transcendent in Modern Church Architecture explains why the modern age has witnessed the construction of the most banal and uninspiring churches in history.

• Sola Fide, Post-Modern Style | Carl E. Olson | Faith, say many skeptics, is a matter of private, personal opinion and should have nothing to do with the public square. Does that make any sense?

• Creation | Adrienne von Speyr | In this excerpt from The Boundless God, the Swiss mystic and author contemplates the meaning of Creation and the work of the Triune God.

• Peace, Justice, Ecology: The "Substitutes" For God | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | The dream of a universal mankind ordered into one political entity is an ever-recurring proposal. Now an increased emphasis on "globalization" has led to visions of world-wide unity that are distinctly anti-Christian.

• Benedict XVI Saves Eros | Rev. Walter Schu, L.C. | Benedict's response to the charge that Christianity alienates men and women from human love runs extremely deep. He turns the tables, showing that what has actually poisoned eros is not Christianity, but modern secular culture itself.

• The New Yorker Thumbs Its Progressive Nose At Benedict XVI | Carl E. Olson | One of world's more famous magazines has made an art out of casual condescension, as evidenced by a skewed and often very annoying April 2nd piece, "The Pope and Islam."

• Feeding New Crocodiles: On Iran and the Dangers of Appeasement | Dr. Jose Yulo | The recent abduction of fifteen British naval personnel by Iran provides an opportunity to consider the lessons of history by reflecting on the parameters laid out by Greek philosophy about a nation's defense.

MARCH 2007

• PNAC defeats Tiberino, 3-1 | Joseph Previtali | Snatching victory from the jaws of a tie, the Pontifical North American College defeated Tiberino 3-1 on Saturday, March 24th

• The Enduring Costs of John F. Kennedy's Compromise | Colleen Carroll Campbell | What role should a Catholic politician's faith play in his governing decisions? The wrong answer was given in 1960 in a speech whose impact is still being felt today.

• The Everyday Lives of the Early Christians | An interview with Carl J. Sommers | The author of We Look For a Kingdom discusses lessons to be learned from the first Christians, and how modern American culture compares to ancient Roman culture.

• The Latin Mass: Old Rites and New Rites in Today's World | Anthony E. Clark, Ph.D. | A helpful, general outline of the Old Rite and the New, as they are offered in Latin, still the official language of the Roman Catholic Church.

• The Pope Believes In What!? | Carl E. Olson | It's always a bit amusing (and, yes, annoying) when people get bent out of shape because the Pope articulates, defends, or preaches about this or that Catholic doctrine or dogma. The most recent example is Hell.

• The Priest as Man, Husband, and Father | Fr. John Cihak, S.T.D. | Some say the vocation crisis can be solved by having women priests, married priests or part-time priests. But the Church says the clergy will be renewed only through a re-appropriation of the very essence of priesthood.

• Faith in the Triune God, and Peace in the World | Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger | In this homily, given on the Feast of the Holy Trinity in 2004 and contained in Europe: Today and Tomorrow, then-Cardinal Ratzinger reflects on the deepest and concerns faced by modern man.

• PNAC Loses to Croatian Team in Shootout | Joseph Previtali | Playing without key starters, the Pontifical North American College lost a tight match with the Croatian team in their third game of the 2007 Clericus Cup.

• The Young, the Fertile, and the Ambitious | Jeremy Lott | In this Catholic World Report interview, Philip Jenkins discusses the demographic trends and religious movements that the elite don't notice, and what they mean for Christians around the world.

• Catholic Spirituality | Thomas Howard | In a selection from The Night Is Far Spent: A Treasury of Thomas Howard, the author remarks, "Let me see if I can throw any light on this topic of Catholic spirituality so that the whole array of us may grasp things in a fairly clear light."

• Pope Benedict XVI On Natural Law | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | A recent lecture by the Holy Father provides an opportunity to reflect on the vital relationship between the divine law, the natural law, reason, and revelation.

• Evangelicals and Catholics in Conversation, Part 2 | Carl E. Olson | Dr. Brad Harper, an Evangelical professor, comments on the strengths and weaknesses, as he sees them, of Evangelicalism and Catholicism in the U.S.

• Ivory Comedy Clubs: The Tragedy of Modern Education | Dr. Jose Yulo | A few semesters ago, a student remarked that he received his nightly news from comedic, "mock" news programs on cable television. The immediate ramifications of this seemed quite telling.

• The Two (And Only Two) Cities | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | The "two cities" is a consecrated phrase that comes from St. Augustine. Thinking about these "two cities" leads to the most profound issues of our time.

• Shootout In Rome: NAC wins its first 2007 Clericus Cup match | Joseph Previtali | On Saturday, March 3, the Pontifical North American College (NAC) soccer team played its first match of the 2007 Clericus Cup tourney. NAC seminarian Joseph Previtali reports.

• The Morning After: What If Cameron Discovered the Other Jesus? | Mark Brumley | Imagine you're James Cameron on the morning after your Jesus Family Tomb documentary aired on the Discovery Channel. You thought you discovered the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth. But did you?

• Benedict and the Eucharist: On the Apostolic Exhortation, Sacramentum Caritatis | Carl E. Olson | Benedict's most recent major papal document is a Eucharistic Catechism and essential reading for anyone wanting to better appreciate the Church's teachings about the Blessed Sacrament.

• Studying The Early Christians | Carl J. Sommer | In this introduction to We Look For the Kingdom: The Everyday Lives of the Early Christians, Sommer explains the methods and approach he used in writing about the world of Christians living between A.D. 100-313.

• NAC defeats PGC, 4-0 | Joseph Previtali | In an offensive explosion, the Pontifical North American College defeated the Pontifical Gallic College this past Saturday in Clericus Cup action by the score of 4-0.

FEBRUARY 2007

• Clerical Celibacy: Concept and Method | Alfons Maria Cardinal Stickler | This selection from The Case for Clerical Celibacy provides historical context for appreciating the Church's teaching about clerical celibacy.

• The Truth of the Resurrection | Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger | An excerpt from Ratzinger's masterwork, Introduction to Christianity, explores and defends the reality of the Resurrection.

• Seminarians and Soccer! Meet the Pontifical North American College Clericus Cup Team | Joseph Previtali | An introduction to the Pontifical North American College soccer team, which will participate in the 2007 Clericus Cup tournament.

• The Papacy and Ecumenism | Rev. Adriano Garuti, O.F.M. | In this excerpt from Primacy of the Bishop of Rome and the Ecumenical Dialogue, an expert on ecumenical relations examines some the challenges facing the Catholic Church as she engages in dialogue with other Christians.

• Wilberforce and the Roots of Freedom | Jonathan J. Bean | William Wilberforce is one of the great forgotten men of history. That is now changing with the remarkable film, Amazing Grace.

• Reading von Balthasar Together | A new online reading group provides readers from hither and beyond an opportunity to read, study, and discuss together online Fr. Hans Urs von Balthasar's sixteen-volume "Trilogy." The founder of that reading group talks about the group and how it operates.

• My Grammys: The 1st Annual Carl the Snarl Awards | Carl E. Olson | Most Top 40 pop music is hyper-marketed aural trash. Which is why the editor of IgnatiusInsight.com offers up the "Carl the Snarl Music Awards," a biased, subjective, but entirely correct collection of popular music worth hearing.

• What Is "Legal"? On Abortion, Democracy, and Catholic Politicians | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | Many people believe that if something is "legal", such as abortion, it can be done without thinking twice. Some politicians insist that supporting abortion is simply giving people what they want. Both beliefs are wrong and lead down the path to spiritual ruin.

• Philosophy and the Sense For Mystery | Josef Pieper | In this selection from For The Love of Wisdom: Essays on the Nature of Philosophy, the great German Thomist writes on the nature and purpose of philosophy.

• Reading In the Light of Christ | An Interview with Lucy Beckett | Carl E. Olson | The author of In the Light of Christ: Writings in the Western Tradition discusses the importance of great literature, how academic fads and radical ideologies have distorted the meaning of that literature, and why people should discover and appreciate the Western literary tradition.

• Lethal Bigotry: An Interview with Bobby Schindler | Benjamin Wiker | In this CWR interview, Terri Schiavo's brother speaks about the newspaper editors who won't publish his letters, the life-saving work of the foundation in his sister's name, and the ongoing struggle against the culture of death.

• End this Scandalous Charade: On Pelosi and the Bishops | George Neumayr | "Good Catholic" Nancy Pelosi assumed her position as Speaker of the House under the reassuring cloak of Catholicism. But it wasn't long before she was back to supporting the culture of death. So what did the bishops think of Pelosi's actions?

• The Danger of Criticizing Bishops and Priests | Rev. Thomas G. Morrow | We have a choice to make: to give in to our sadness and bash priests and bishops, or, while acknowledging the errors of the clergy, we can become morale-builders in the Church.

• The Order of Love | Lucy Beckett | In this excerpt from the Introduction to In the Light of Christ: Writings in the Western Tradition, Beckett reflects on the value of some great Western texts in relation to the truth of orthodox Christianity

• Who Is Catholic? The Awareness of Catholic Identity and the Universal Call to Holiness | Cynthia Toolin | Many people publicly describe themselves as "Catholic," often for very different reasons. What are some of the motives?

• Benedict on Aquinas: "Faith Implies Reason" | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | Remarking upon Saint Thomas, the Holy Father explained there are things to be known by our reason that are not limited to the material realm, contrary to the beliefs of many contemporary philosophers.



JANUARY 2007

• Dark Ages and Secularist Rages: A Response to A.C. Grayling | Carl E. Olson | A professor of philosophy keeps stating that Christianity brought 1000 years of darkness upon the West. Apparently he hasn't studied recent medieval scholarship.

• TIME Magazine Flunks Philosophy 101 | Mark Brumley | Steven Pinker's recent article may not be a swindle. But it does reveal a profound ignorance of basic philosophical issues shocking in a professor of psychology.

• St. Thomas and St. Francis | G.K. Chesterton | Both of these great saints, wrote Chesterton, "reaffirmed the Incarnation, by bringing God back to earth."

• "The Best Books I Read in 2006..." | Various Authors | Dale Ahlquist, Mark Brumley, Fr. Joseph Fessio, Thomas Howard, Joseph Pearce, Karl Keating, and several others list the best titles they read during the past year.

• The Best of IgnatiusInsight.com From 2006 | A somewhat subjective selection of the best columns, articles, and interviews of the past year.

• How To Improve Catholic Biblical Scholarship? | Peter D. Brown | There are reasons for hope as the ideas of Pope Benedict begin to make their mark on the Church, bringing us to the cusp of might be a golden age in Catholic biblical study.

• Why Fantasy? | Richard Purtill | In this excerpt from the Introduction to Lord of the Elves and Eldils, Professor Purtill examines some common misconceptions about fantasy and fairy tales.

• Mary and the Convert | G.K. Chesterton | "The instant I remembered the Catholic Church," wrote Chesterton, "I remembered [Mary]; when I tried to forget the Catholic Church, I tried to forget her..."

• A Black and White Issue? | Carl E. Olson | Compare, if you will, two very different approaches to the issue of being black and Catholic in the United States today.

• A Short Guide to Ancient Heresies | Kenneth Whitehead | A pithy guide to the many heresies faced by the early Church--and which still appear today.

• The Conquest of the Bride | Hans Urs von Balthasar | This excerpt from Heart of the World is a poetic and theological reflection on the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ for His Church.

• Black and Catholic In America | Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers | An African-American deacon discusses the history of black Catholics in America and the challenges facing blacks in today's culture.

• Rich Bad, Poor Good? Is Wealth Good For Our Spiritual Health? | Mary Beth Bonacci | Affluence inspires us to look beyond the material to find meaning in our lives. But is having a lot of money too much of a bad thing?

• Eternal Security? A Trinitarian Apologetic for Perseverance | Freddie Stewart, Jr. | Some Evangelical Protestants insist that heaven is absolutely guaranteed to all who are truly "born again". What does the Bible and the Catholic Church have to say? • Benedict the Brusque? | Carl E. Olson | Francis X. Clooney, S.J., recently criticized the "brusque" methods of interreligious dialogue employed by the Holy Father. But does he have a Catholic understanding of that dialogue?

• Ignatius of Loyola and Ideas of Catholic Reform | Vince Ryan | It's common to see Ignatius of Loyola and the Jesuits as an outgrowth of the Counter-Reformation. But how accurate is this view and how well does it present Ignatius's vision for the Society of Jesus?

• Secularity: On Benedict XVI and the Role of Religion in Society | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | The Holy Father's recent remarks to a group of Italian jurists offer insight into the complex relationship between the sacred and the secular, as well as that between the Church and the State.

• "The Best Books I Read in 2006..." | Various Authors | Dale Ahlquist, Mark Brumley, Fr. Joseph Fessio, Thomas Howard, Joseph Pearce, Karl Keating, and several others list the best titles they read during the past year.

• The Best of IgnatiusInsight.com From 2006 | A somewhat subjective selection of the best columns, articles, and interviews of the past year.

• It's a Box..It's a Gym...No, It's a Parish! | Carl E. Olson | The words "...uplifting and spiritual without sacrificing a sense of community..." signal the presence of that most banal artifice of human "achievement": the modern church building.

DECEMBER 2006

• The God In the Cave | G. K. Chesterton | "God also was a Cave Man," wrote the great English author, "and, had also traced strange shapes of creatures, curiously colored upon the wall of the world; but the pictures that he made had come to life."

• The Mystery Made Present To Us | Fr. Alfred Delp, S.J. | In this powerful pre-Christmas Reflection preached in Munich on December 22, 1942, a soon-to-be-martyr proclaimed, "The world in which we stand is un-Christmaslike, not because God is unmerciful, but rather because man has outlawed the message, and there is no room anymore for the promise."

• "A Requirement of Intellectual Honesty": On Benedict and the German Bishops | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | When Pope Benedict XVI met with the German and Swiss bishops in November, he continued to address the unique challenges brought on by modernity, secularism, and skepticism.

• Why Do Catholics Become Evangelicals? | Rev. Gerald J. Mendoza, O.P. | Anytime a Catholic converts to a fundamentalist Evangelical denomination, "Even the altar cries, and so should we. What attracts so many Catholics to Evangelical groups and movements? And what can be done about it?

• "Lord, teach us to pray" | Gabriel Bunge, O.S.B. | In this Introduction to Earthen Vessels: The Practice of Personal Prayer According to the Patristic Tradition a Benedictine monk explains that "Only in prayer is the Christian really himself."

• St. John of the Cross | Fr. Thomas Dubay, S.M. | What we know so extremely well about St. John of the Cross, explains Fr. Dubay, "is what is most important about anyone: his deepest self."

• "Primacy in Love": The Chair Altar of Saint Peter's in Rome | Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger | In this selection from Images of Hope, the man who is now Pope Benedict XVI considers the meaning of the papacy in light of the altar in Saint Peter's Basilica.

• Seeking Deep Conversion | Fr. Thomas Dubay, S.M. | The renowned spiritual director and author explains the meaning of true moral conversion.

• The Church of Latter Day Sinners | Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, C.F.R. | In this selection from Arise From Darkness, the beloved preacher and spiritual writer reflects on the nature of authentic, holy Christianity.

• Immaculate Mary, Matchless in Grace | John Saward | In this excerpt from Cradle of Redeeming Love Fr. Saward contemplates the person of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

• The Universe is Meaning-full: An interview with Dr. Benjamin Wiker | Carl E. Olson | The co-author of A Meaningful World discusses science, religion, evolution, intelligent design, and the meaning of meaning.

• On the Meaning of Advent | Archbishop Fulton Sheen | Selections from Through the Year With Fulton Sheen.

• Preparing To Meet the Lord: Reflections on the Readings for Advent | Carl E. Olson | A reflective guide to the readings for the four Sundays of Advent, 2006.

• "This book is the fulfilment of my vow" | Franz Werfel | The Jewish author explains, in this preface to The Song of Bernadette, why he wrote a novel about the life of a Catholic saint.

NOVEMBER 2006

• Were the Crusades Anti-Semitic? | Vince Ryan | In recent years, a number of authors have claimed that the Crusades were overwhelmingly anti-Semitic in nature. Does the historical record provide evidence for such a charge?

• What is the Proper Object of Theology? The Pope at the Gregorian | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | A November 3, 2006, lecture by Pope Benedict XVI at the Gregorian University in Rome provides an opportunity to reflect on the purpose of both theology and higher education.

• For "Many" or For "All"? | Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger | The translation of pro multis as "for all" in the words of Consecration has received much attention lately. In this excerpt from God Is Near Us: The Eucharist, the Heart of Life, then-Cardinal Ratzinger commented on the translation.

• Authority and Dissent in the Catholic Church | Dr. William E. May | What is the role of the Church as moral teacher? Can dissent from such teaching be legitimate?

• Evangelicals and Catholics In Conversation | Interview with Dr. Brad Harper | Carl E. Olson | An Evangelical professor of theology discusses Catholic-Evangelical dialogue and how that dialogue has changed over the past few decades.

• A Philosophical Ruse: Is Bioethics Beyond Good and Evil? | Dr. Jose Yulo | Many bioethics experts conduct their work based on unencumbered interpretation of moral judgments. It may well serve the field of modern bioethics to first examine some of its rational roots in philosophical history.

• The Virtually Venerable Fulton J. Sheen | Charles F. Harvey | Archbishop Sheen embodied two qualities that characterized many canonized American saints: zeal for personal sanctity and a drive to realize the unique possibilities for spreading the Gospel that America affords.

• Biblical Scholarship with a Pastoral Purpose | Peter S. Williamson | A professor of Sacred Scripture explains why Scripture scholarship directed to a pastoral purpose must begin with an explicit presupposition of Christian faith.

• The Soul of the West | An interview with Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | Justin Murray | Fr. Schall discusses the ongoing impact of Benedict XVI's Regensburg lecture, the relationship between religion and reason, and the future of inter-religious dialogue.

• Excommunication! | An interview with canon lawyer Dr. Edward Peters | Carl E. Olson | Dr. Ed Peters talks about his new book, Excommunication and the Catholic Church (Ascension Press), and the misunderstandings about excommunication he often encounters.

• Converts and Saints | An Interview with Joseph Pearce | IgnatiusInsight.com | Biographer Joseph Pearce reflects on the nature of conversion, the role of beauty in conversion, and the current state of Catholic literature in the English-speaking world.

• What Is Catholic Social Teaching? | Mark Brumley | This review essay of Fr. Roger Charles's An Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching outlines the essential points of Catholic social doctrine and addresses attempts to misrepresent that same teaching.

OCTOBER 2006

• A Review of Tolkien, Man and Myth: A Literary Life by Joseph Pearce | Jill Kriegel | "This biography of the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy is a study to lure the devout Tolkien novice, as well as one to satiate the veteran Tolkien lover."

• On November: All Souls and the "Permanent Things" | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | The Feasts of All Saints and All Souls are occasions to consider the deeper meaning of life, death, sin, and salvation.

• Fanatic Anti-Christianity | Dr. James Hitchcock | Scarcely a day goes by without some new warning that religious fanatics are destroying American liberties. But who is really attacking liberty and freedom?

• Modern Art: Friend or Foe? | Joseph Pearce | The noted biographer ponders: What about art that is truly modern and truly art? Is such art a friend or foe of the Faith? Should Christians be suspicious of such art?

• The Role of the Laity: An Examination of Vatican II and Christifideles Laici | Carl E. Olson | Vatican II and John Paul II outlined and clarified the role of the laity. Here's what they said.

• Remembering Father Alfred Delp, S.J., Priest and Martyr | An interview with Father Karl Adolf Kreuser, S.J., author of the foreword to Advent of the Heart, the collected Advent writings of Fr. Delp, who was martyred in a Nazi concentration camp.

• The Spirit of Assisi | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | Some observations about Benedict XVI's recent comments regarding Catholics praying with adherents of other religions.

• Jesus Is Catholic | Hans Urs von Balthasar | "Jesus must be Catholic," wrote the great Swiss theologian, "otherwise his Church, which follows him and is promised his fullness, could not be called Catholic."

• Does Christianity Need a Liturgy? | Martin Mosebach | This excerpt from Mosebach's book From The Heresy of Formlessness considers the place and meaning of the liturgy in the life of the Church.

• The Past Her Prelude: Marian Imagery in the Old Testament | Sandra Miesel | The Church Fathers located numerous types and foreshadowings of the Blessed Virgin throughout the Old Testament.

• Intellectual Charity: On Benedict XVI and the Canadian Bishops | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | Addressing the Canadian bishops, Benedict XVI used the phrase "intellectual charity." Here's why.

• Excerpts from The Rosary: Chain of Hope | Fr. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R. | In this excerpt from his book on the Rosary, the beloved priest and author offers reflections on The Joyful Mysteries.

• Purgatory: Service Shop for Heaven | Rev. Anthony Zimmerman | Purgatory is the service shop where repair work is done, and where books are balanced before souls enter heaven.

• The Gift of Masculinity | Mary Beth Bonacci | There are a lot of attacks on manhood and masculinity in our culture these days. Why?

• The Religion of Jesus | Blessed Columba Marmion | A selection from the spiritual classic, Christ, The Ideal of the Priest.



SEPTEMBER 2006

• Tom Burnett: A Hero on Flight 93 | An interview with Deena Burnett, author of Fighting Back | Thomas Burnett led a small group of men that fought back against the terrorists on United Flight 93. His widow talks about her husband's faith and courage.

• The Mythological Conflict Between Christianity and Science | Mark Brumley | An interview with physicist Dr. Stephen Barr about physics, science, and the Catholic Faith.

• The Crusades 101 | Jimmy Akin | A pithy and informative guide to one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented eras in Church history.



AUGUST 2006

• On School and Things That Are Not Fair

• On the Term "Islamo-Fascism"

• Liturgical Roles In the Eucharistic Celebration | Francis Cardinal Arinze
• St. Benedict | Whittaker Chambers
• The Mystery of Human Origins | Mark Brumley
• A Study In Faithful Obedience: The Foreword to From Slave to Priest | Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers
• Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross | IgnatiusInsight.com
• Satan and the Saint | Carl E. Olson

JULY 2006

• Fanatical, Blind Faith . . . in Science | E. Scott Lloyd

• Exploring the Catholic Faith! | An Interview with Diane Eriksen

• Hell and the Bible | Piers Paul Read

• Godless: A Review | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J.

• Do We Deserve To Be Free? On The Fourth of July, 2006 | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J.

• Our Enslavement to "Freedom" | James Hitchcock

• Enter Modernism | Philip Trower

• The Question of Hope | Peter Kreeft

• Lust in the Workplace: It's Not Always About You Know What | Mary Beth Bonacci

• Reincarnation: The Answer of Faith | Christoph Schönborn

• "I'm Not Optimistic, But I'm Hopeful" | An Interview with Father Richard John Neuhaus

JUNE 2006

• Two Chinese Churches? Or One? | Anthony Clark

• Filming God's Footprints | An Interview with Steve Ray | Valerie Schmalz

• 06.06.06 | Is the End At Hand? | Valerie Schmalz | Novelist Michael O'Brien discusses whether or not we are living in an apocalyptic age.

• Creation, Salvation, and the Mass | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J.

• On The Intellectual Needs of Ordinary People | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J.

• Atheism and the Purely "Human" Ethic | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J.

MAY 2006

• The Point Of It All | Peter Kreeft | A professor of philosophy reflects on the Big Question: "What is the point of life?"

• Curran's Attack on John Paul II Rebutted | William A. May | Four major criticisms of JP2's moral thought are found wanting.

• Plato's Ring in the Sudan: How Freedom Begets Isolation of the Soul | Dr. Jose Yulo | The horrific events in Darfur, Sudan, examined in the light of Plato's The Republic.

• Making the Catholic Connection | An Interview with Teresa Tomeo | Valerie Schmalz | Media expert/radio host discusses the role of Catholic media.

• Reading Without Learning: On Not Missing "Sublime Passage" | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | At graduation time, a perennial question arises.

• The Meaning of Dogma | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | Why has "dogma" been given such a bad name?

APRIL 2006

• Discovering the Fatherhood of God in a Gender-Neutral Society | Mary Anastasia

• Reading T.S. Eliot's Four Quartets | An interview with Dr. Thomas Howard

• The Quintessential--And Last--Modern Poet | Fr. George William Rutler

• Saint Martin and the Search for Holiness | Regine Pernoud

• The Story of a Nun and a Medal | Stephen Sparrow

• The Cardinal From Nigeria | Gerard O'Connell
• "My Name is Alex Jones" | Steve Ray • On Adapting to "Modern Times" | James V. Schall, S.J. | Being truly Catholic involves accepting certain things and rejecting others.

• Conscience and Chaos | Dr. James Hitchcock | At one time conscience was experienced as demanding. Now it has been turned into a self-issued blank permission slip.

• Going Ga-Ga Over the "Gospel of Judas" | Carl E. Olson | What's the truth about this "new" and controversial "gospel"?

• Easter: The Defiant Feast | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | The Resurrection of Christ defies human understanding. But that doesn't mean it didn't happen.

• The Easter Triduum: Entering Into the Paschal Mystery | Carl E. Olson | Why the Easter Triduum holds a special place in the liturgical year.



MARCH 2006

• The Jesuits and the Iroquois | Fr. Cornelius Michael Buckley, S.J. | The foreword to Jesuit Missionaries to North America by Francois Roustang, S.J., is a fascinating introduction to a little know era in American and Catholic history.

• Lincoln's Second Inaugural: A Historic Call to Charity | James V. Schall, S.J. | One of the greatest speeches in American history was given 141 years ago in the midst of war, doubt, and turmoil. We would do well to re-read it today.

• Chapter One of The Cypresses Believe In God | Jose Maria Gironella | The opening chapter of a novel that is considered to be the greatest narrative about the Spanish Civil War.

• Mystifying Indeed: On Being Fully Human | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | A review of Christian Faith and Human Understanding, written by Monsignor Robert Sokolowki, professor of philosopher at Catholic University of America.

• Citadel of God (chapter one) | Louis de Wohl | The opening chapter of a novel about the life of Saint Benedict, written by a prolific and distinguished Catholic author.

• Why Do We Exist? | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | One of the most fundamental questions in human history is, "Why do I exist?" Yet many people either ignore the question or arrive poor answers. Why?

FEBRUARY 2006

• Behold the Man! An interview with Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers about his new EWTN series | Carl E. Olson | Deacon Burke-Sivers discusses Christ-centered men's spirituality, how men and women are different, and how Catholic men can encounter the Living God in the person of Jesus Christ.

• The Bible Gap: Spanning the Distance Between Scripture and Theology | Fr. Benedict Ashley, O.P. | Vatican II urged theologians to root their theological systems more firmly in the Bible. Forty years later, that challenge still needs to be met.

• Seeking Deep Conversion | Fr. Thomas Dubay, S.M. | In this excerpt from his new book, Deep Conversion/Deep Prayer, spiritual director Fr. Dubay explains the different types of conversion and what the great saints can teach us about conversion.

• Accidents Happen! | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | Few, if any, human lives are lived in which minor or major issues are not influenced by something that is properly called "accidental." Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

• The Tale of Trent: A Council and and Its Legacy | Martha Rasmussen | A popular overview of one of the most important ecumenical councils of the past one thousand years.

• The Premiere of "The Passion of Bernadette" | Ignatius Press | Why would the pope's publisher take the plunge into the movie business? So that the story of a great saint, brought to life on film by director Jean Delannoy, can be shown to as many people as possible.

• Reformation 101: Who's Who in the Protestant Reformation | Geoffrey Saint-Clair | A helpful guide to the popes, reformers, heretics, theologians, and civil authorities who had key roles in the religious, political, and social unrest of sixteenth-century Europe.

• The Temptation of the Earthly City: Tolkien's Augustian Vision | Dr. Jose Yulo | The Doctor and the Professor both, in their respective fashion, shine a light on the attainment a city that discharges the distresses of those who seek it in earnest humility.

• "Written In Courage": An Analysis of the 2006 State of the Union Address | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | President Bush's latest State of the Union Address wasn't perfect, but it contained several ideas and beliefs worth thinking about further.

• Speaking Up For Life: An Interview with Deirdre McQuade | Valerie Schmalz | The USCCB's Director of Planning and Information discusses her strong belief in the Christ-centered dignity of women, and her belief in the sanctity of life.

• I Sometimes Watch Television. Do You? | Carl E. Olson | The editor of IgnatiusInsight.com finally admits the truth: there are certain TV shows that he watches on a regular basis. How does he live with himself?

• Well-Versed In Faith | Joseph Pearce | Several selections - along with short bios of the respective poets - from Flowers of Heaven: One Thousand Years of Christian Verse, edited by a noted biographer and literary critic.

• Gaudi's Grand Cathedral: Temple Sagrada Familia and Its Saintly Architect | Stephen Sparrow | In 1882, construction began on a remarkable cathedral - and continues today. Here is the story of one the most unique churches in the world and the young architect who designed it.

JANUARY 2006

• The Power of Poetry: An Interview with Joseph Pearce | Carl E. Olson | The noted biographer and author talks about editing Flowers of Heaven.

• The Supreme Court and Abortion | Jonathan M. Saenz, Attorney, Liberty Legal Institute | The Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments on an abortion case for the first time in five years. What's next?

• Singing the Song of Songs | Blaise Armnijon, S.J. | In this introduction to The Cantata of Love, Fr. Arminjon explains the controversies surrounding the most erotic book in the Bible.

• The Jews and the Second Coming | Roy H. Schoeman | How might current events relate to biblical prophecy about the role of the Jews in the Second Coming of Christ? A Hebrew-Catholic speculates.

• "The Best Books I Read in 2005..." | Ignatius Press Authors and Editors | Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J., Mark Brumley, Thomas Howard, Joseph Pearce, and others name their favorite reads of the past year.