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

December 1, 2023Faith

The new Church year begins with a plea for God's visitation. "Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down," the prophet Isaiah cries in today's First Reading. In today's Psalm, too, ...

Faith & Family

Give the Gift of Hope to the MissionsMaureen Crowley Heil

Advent is a season of preparation, a time to begin anew spiritually and ready a home for the Christ Child in our hearts. Our culture, however, pulls us in other directions and we find ourselves faced ...

Faith & Family

General principles of Sacrosanctum Concilium, especially the MassFather John F. Baldovin, SJ

The second chapter of the constitution turns to the Eucharist in particular. This chapter reaffirms a number of the theological and pastoral principles set out in the first chapter, among them the richer ...

Culture & Events

The Didache: An ancient catechism, a contemporary messageKenneth Craycraft

Only 150 years ago, in October 1873, Eastern Orthodox theologian (and later Metropolitan of Nicomedia) Philotheos Bryennios made a monumental discovery in the bowels of the library of the Great School ...

Culture & Events

The Sacred Heart Review publishes its first issue 135 years agoThomas Lester

On Dec. 1, 1888 -- 135 years ago -- appeared the first issue of the Sacred Heart Review, a weekly newspaper published by Sacred Heart Parish in Cambridge. The first issue provides insight into the publication's ...

Culture & Events

'Longing': Learning about Eucharistic desire from St. Elizabeth Ann SetonMichael R. Heinlein

My family made a recent visit to the new museum at the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, Maryland. I've always been drawn to St. Elizabeth's story. I remember how it fascinated ...

Faith & Family

Sunday Scripture: Reflections for Dec. 3, First Sunday in AdventJem Sullivan

Is 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7 Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19 1 Cor 1:3-9 Mk 13:33-37 Advent offers us a graced time to recognize that the deepest longings of our heart are for God. The prophet Isaiah shines ...

Culture & Events

How to mix religion and politicsRussell Shaw

After Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, the New York Times pronounced him part of the Christian nationalist movement. Then it hastened to find a sociologist ...

Faith & Family

What are the rules for Catholics and Christmas trees?Jenna Marie Cooper

Q: When I was a kid, we put up the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve and took it down a day or two after Christmas. As an adult, I put the tree up a day or two after Thanksgiving and left it up until Jan. ...