Our Guest Columnists Columns
Our Guest Columnists
“The Oblate Sisters of Providence: An American story”
BY DIANE BATTS MORROW, Catholic News ServiceEnglish
In observing Black History Month in February 2018, examining the early history of the Oblate Sisters of Providence can teach us several important lessons. The sisters proved exceptional in 19th-century America: They were black and free in a slave society that privileged only whiteness, female in a male-dominated society, Roman Catholic in a Protestant society, […] English
Previous Columns by Our Guest Columnists
Where is the support of human rights?
Did you know? The Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution states in part, “nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” The fact that the law does not protect children in the womb […] English
By MSGR. HUGH MARREN, CommentaryPublished: February 28, 2018
Christ: Light of the world and Prince of Peace
The highlight of Christmas, for me, is hearing the reading from Isaiah (9:1-6) proclaimed at the Mass during the night: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.” The absence of daylight streaming in through the windows reinforces the […] English
By NANCY DE FLON, Catholic News ServicePublished: December 21, 2017
Know your faith: Surrender, and receive
As nearly any of their Christmas shopping lists would suggest, parents know all about surrendering wants and desires—primarily, their wants and desires—for the sake of their children. Going “without,” or with less, is part and parcel of “surrender.” In the context of faith, we—as Catholic disciples—believe that we are called to surrender to God’s will, […] English
By MIKE NELSON, Catholic News ServicePublished: December 7, 2017
Blessed are you … rejoice and be glad
This is the tenth column in a 10-part series. “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Mt 5:11-12 It […] English | En Español
By CACKIE UPCHURCH, Director, Little Rock Scripture StudySeason of preparation
Advent is a season of preparation, anticipation and waiting. It’s a time to stretch and strengthen a particularly stubborn, and sometimes weak, “muscle”—patience. In his Letter to the Galatians, St. Paul lists patience among other fruits of the Holy Spirit such as love, joy, peace, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (5:22-23). St. Thomas Aquinas, […] English
ByPublished: November 27, 2017
Blessed are those persecuted for the sake of righteousness
This is the ninth column in a 10-part series. “Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” — Mt 5:10 Persecution is rampant in our world today. To limit our concern for the persecuted only to those who share our baptismal identity, or some cultural similarity […] English | En Español
By CLIFFORD YEARY, Associate Director, Little Rock Scripture StudyAdvent prompts questions of the heart
Within hours of Black Friday, if not sooner, streets become adorned with Christmas lights, coffee cups change color and stores ready for another holiday season; the Advent season begins. The liturgy of Advent, which begins Dec. 3 this year, with its songs and prayers, emphasizes that we are in a time of waiting, as do […] English
By FATHER JOSE MEDINA, Catholic News ServicePublished: November 27, 2017
An Advent meditation: Memory and hope
“So … what are you giving up for Advent?” Lent gets all the attention. There is Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, the daily “giving up” of chocolate and meatless Fridays. Lent has a lot of reminders. But Advent sneaks up on us. For a string of Sundays, the priest is in green vestments signifying Ordinary Time […] English
By MSGR. J. BRIAN BRANFIELD, Catholic News ServicePublished: November 27, 2017
Blessed are the peacemakers
This is the eighth column in a 10-part series. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Mt 5:9 Perhaps it is easier to identify “not peace” than to nail down the meaning of “peace.” War is not peace; anxiety is not peace; holding grudges is not peace. The list could […] English | En Español
By CACKIE UPCHURCH, Director, Little Rock Scripture StudyWhat is happening at Mass?
As many Catholics know, the Second Vatican Council famously referred to the liturgy as the “source and summit of the Christian life.” And following the prompts of the great figures of the liturgical movement in the first half of the 20th century, the Council fathers called for a fuller, more conscious and more active participation […] English
By BISHOP ROBERT BARRON, CommentaryPublished: November 2, 2017
A word to those being confirmed
One of the greatest privileges I have as a bishop is the opportunity to preside at the sacrament of confirmation. A drawback, however, is that I am obligated to conduct over 40 confirmations in roughly a two-month period—which means that I become tired, rather quickly, of my own homily! As a result, I’m frequently shifting […] English
By BISHOP ROBERT BARRON, CommentaryPublished: October 19, 2017
Blessed are the clean of heart
This is the seventh column in a 10-part series. “Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.” Mt 5:8 Cleanness, or purity, of heart speaks of our motivation, our desires that move us to act and seek a place and purpose in the world. The 19th century Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard famously […] English | En Español
By CLIFFORD YEARY, Associate Director, Little Rock Scripture StudyBlessed are the merciful
This is the sixth column in a 10-part series “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Mt 5:7 Twice in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus chides the leaders among the Pharisees to “go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’” In both instances, Jesus uses a quote from […] English | En Español
By CACKIE UPCHURCH, Director, Little Rock Scripture StudyBlessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness
This is the fifth column in a 10-part series “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.” Mt 5:6 Jesus knows what it means to hunger. After his baptism by John, he undertook a 40-day fast in the wilderness, where, it can be safely said, water would also have […] English | En Español
By CLIFFORD YEARY, Associate Director, Little Rock Scripture StudyBlessed are the meek
This is the fourth column in a 10-part series If you browse the internet for the word “meek” you will likely find countless links to indicate that meekness is not the same as weakness. The very fact that this occurs so often in an internet search tells us that in our day and time the […] English | En Español
By CACKIE UPCHURCH, Director, Little Rock Scripture StudyBlessed are those who mourn
This is the third column in a 10-part series “Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Mt 5:4 The beatitudes are blessings directed toward followers of Christ, first of all, and to the crowds as potential followers. The crowds would probably be puzzled by many of the blessings. Being poor in spirit […] English | En Español
By CLIFFORD YEARY, Associate Director, Little Rock Scripture StudyA reflection on Haiti: What can be done?
In the early 1980s I went to Haiti to see for myself. I wanted to observe the living church in the poorest of all disadvantaged countries. I was stunned by what I saw—schoolchildren huddled in shelters made from banana leaves being instructed without books or writing materials and overflow groups sitting under shade trees for […] English
By FATHER JOHN C. KIERAN, CommentaryPublished: June 1, 2017
Blessed are the poor in spirit
This is the second column in a 10-part series Repeatedly, we who consider ourselves disciples of Jesus, are called to examine our lives. What motivates us? What shapes our sense of right and wrong? How are we progressing on this path that we call faith? Where do we find our deepest joy? What causes us […] English | En Español
By CACKIE UPCHURCH, Director, Little Rock Scripture StudyJesus challenges us to be blessed in life
This is the first column in a 10-part series. One of my first encounters with Southern manners and hospitality occurred in the Louis Armstrong airport in New Orleans after flying there from my Idaho home. I had just tugged my rather large suitcase off the carousel when a skycap asked me if I would like […] English | En Español
By CLIFFORD YEARY, Associate director, Little Rock Scripture Study