Echoes - A forum of Catholic thought. The Opinion section of thebostonpilot.com

May 14, 2021Faith

This week marks the end of an era for us. Marjeta has handed in her last lab report, written her last paper, and taken her last exam. Our youngest child is graduating from college. It's funny how a student's ...

Culture & Events

The red seat and the straw hatDick Flavin

Late in the afternoon of Saturday, June 8, 1946, Boston was struck by a violent thunderstorm. Winds raged at 80 miles an hour, and in one four-minute period a half inch of rain deluged the city. As night ...

Spirituality

Beyond the righteousness of the Scribes and PhariseesMichael Pakaluk

Just as balloons can look designed to be popped, with the merest prick of pin, so do merely human ideals seem to beg for deflation. And yet we need them. If you doubt that, start paying attention. The ...

Faith & Family

The kingdom remainsScott Hahn

Today's First Reading begins by giving us a time frame -- the events take place during the days between Christ's Ascension and Pentecost. We're at the same point in our liturgical year. On Thursday, we ...

Faith & Family

Get Involved: Travel with Missionaries in PrayerMaureen Crowley Heil

Every year, (Arch)dioceses across the country welcome missionaries as part of the Missionary Co-operative Program. The purpose of the program is twofold; first, our goal is to open the minds and hearts ...

Culture & Events

Vatican II on Catholics in public lifeGeorge Weigel

The Second Vatican Council's Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (often referenced by its Latin title, "Gaudium et Spes") is typically regarded as the most "progressive" of the 16 ...

Faith & Family

The teaching of the Church on the ethics of COVID vaccinesFather Roger J. Landry

In recent weeks, I have encountered scores of people who are confused about Church teaching with regard to the morality of taking COVID-19 vaccines. This confusion comes not really because they have ...

Faith & Family

Pope and grand ayatollahFather Kenneth Doyle

Q. When the Holy Father and Ayatollah al-Sistani met recently, at the end they stood facing each other and seemed to be talking without an interpreter. What language did they use in order to communicate? ...

Culture & Events

Stretching out to great things: A commencement address for the University of St. ThomasBishop Robert Barron

I have the very happy responsibility today of congratulating the University of St. Thomas class of 2021! And also to express my pride in becoming today a member of your class. I'm delighted to be in your ...