On Memorial Day last year, an acquaintance of mine visited a parish not my own and brought home a church bulletin. I glanced through it and saw, prominently displayed, a colorful graphic wishing everyone a “Happy Memorial Day.” I found myself surprisingly angry to see this festive greeting. I have come to accept the misunderstanding […]
By IHE Scholar Beatriz Lopez Bonetti Most agree that beauty has something to do with symmetry, order, and pattern. When we encounter a nature scene that exhibits these qualities — such as my homeland’s Angel Falls, the tallest uninterrupted waterfall in the world — we naturally find it beautiful and feel a sense of wonder […]
On Wednesday, April 10, students gathered to engage with the work of Fr. Kevin Flannery, SJ, professor of the history of ancient philosophy at the Pontifical Gregorian University and consultor at the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. The class was particularly interested in an article by Fr. Flannery titled “Synderesis, Conscientia, and Human […]
By Lucia A. Silecchia By now, the eclipse glasses have been put away. The photos of the April 8 nature show have all been posted to Facebook and Instagram to prove that it really happened. The stories from the day have, likewise, also been told — ranging from the “wow” from those in the path […]
The M.A. students met with Nick Eberstadt, an expert in demographics, economic development, and international security, who holds the Henry Wendt Chair in Political Economy at the American Enterprise Institute. Dr. Eberstadt gave the students an informative presentation on current birthrates and the demography of male and female births. During his presentation, he brought attention […]
What do justice and almsgiving demand with respect to wealth? Justice is not only about what others owe to us but also what we owe to others. Almsgiving takes on a special significance for the Church during Lent, but it does not end with Holy Thursday. As we celebrate the Easter season, let us reflect […]
By Lucia A. Silecchia Recently, I was in the happy company of a seven-year-old. She asked me the delightfully shocking, and shockingly delightful question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” The question was shocking to me because it has been decades since someone asked me this question with the earnest sincerity […]
By MA Student Sarah Thomas The M.A. students met with Tom Shakely, an alumnus of the MA in Human Rights who is now Chief Engagement Officer at Americans United for Life. Tom gave an overview of AUL’s history and vision. Founded in 1971, AUL’s membership was initially varied including divinity scholars, lawyers, and bioethicists. Their […]
By MA Student Fr. Ambrose Ekeroku Chen Guangcheng, a blind Chinese legal activist known as the “Barefoot Lawyer,” addressing MAHR students on Wednesday, 28 February 2024, shared a remarkable account of his daring escape from house arrest to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing skillfully aided by the U.S. Embassy Staff amid Chinese police pursuit. Imprisoned for […]
By IHE Graduate Scholar Molly Egilsrud Is it still worthwhile to go on pilgrimage? Throughout the Church’s history, pilgrims have traveled hundreds of miles on foot to the Holy Land, to Marian apparition sites, and to the relics of the saints, even walking as far north as Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway, near the Arctic […]
By MA Student Afghani Barakzai On January 29, 2024, one day prior to the start of the Summit on International Religious Freedom, the MA students attended the training in religious freedom advocacy provided by the Religious Freedom Institute (RFI). Students heard from Dr. Jim Bennett, Director of the National Center for Religious Freedom Education ( […]
By Lucia A. Silecchia Happy Leap Day! The elusive February 29 rolls around again this year, as it does in all years that are divisible by four – unless, oddly, they are years that are divisible by 100 but not by 400. This quirky adjustment to the calendar has its origins in the astronomical reality […]
