Our Neighbor Galaxies Suggest a Creator’s Mind
When Edwin Hubble revealed the vastness of our universe nearly a century ago, he forever changed how we view the cosmos — and our place within it. From his discovery of distant galaxies to the awe-inspiring images from modern telescopes like Hubble and Webb, our expanding understanding of the universe reveals intricate order, fine-tuning and an origin point. Could such vast complexity arise by chance, or does it suggest the hand of a Creator?
David Brooks’ Journey To Faith
David Brooks’ spiritual journey, as detailed in his essay “The Shock of Faith: It’s Nothing Like I Thought It Would Be,” is a tender portrait of longing and discovery. The New York Times columnist describes moving from agnosticism to a faith fueled not by arguments or certainty but by awe-filled moments — a mountain vista, a cathedral, a subway car — where the divine broke through the mundane. It’s a story of yearning, wonder and the profound beauty of being drawn toward something greater.
Miracles, God, Faith, Ecumenism And Other Cosmic Oddities
The universe buzzes with mysteries we can’t fully grasp, but one truth stands firm: God’s love is real and reaches everyone. Miracles, those inexplicable interruptions of the ordinary, remind us that God cares deeply — even when the answers we long for don’t come. Faith doesn’t demand certainty, but it invites us to trust in a divine love that holds us steady through every moment.
What’s It Like Inside a Trappist Monastery?
What does life inside a Trappist monastery offer to those of us on the outside? In “A Matter of the Heart,” Brother Paul Quenon shares over 50 years of journal entries from his quiet life of prayer and contemplation. With a poet’s touch, he reflects on life’s mysteries and a spiritual calling shaped by solitude, stillness and the pursuit of inner peace — insights that resonate well beyond the cloister.
'Surprised By Joy': Understanding The Void
C.S. Lewis once dismissed myths as beautiful but meaningless until a conversation with J.R.R. Tolkien shifted his perspective. What Lewis discovered is something we’ve lost in modern Western Christianity — a sense of the mythological background that brings spiritual depth to our understanding of life. Without it, we live in a void, disconnected from the wonder that once permeated our world. Rediscovering that lost perspective could change everything.
What We Wonder in the Stillness
What if I wrote you a letter–in this place of here and not here?
I might begin by saying that the house is quiet. No cars are on the road. It is dark outside my window and within this room. All lights are off, and I listen with all my senses.
My ears are just one way to hear, after all.
As a child, with my bedroom window facing the almond orchards, I listened early to the mourning doves’ calls. They perched on the creaking windmill a quarter mile from our house. What do I hear now, forty years later? I know my heart beats, but I don’t hear it–just the click of fingers on the keyboard, though I can block out that noise from my hearing, too.
Wake Up to Wonder
Wake up to wonder. Breathe in the beauty of creation as St. Francis did, and let nature’s simple marvels lead you to rediscover God’s presence in your life. From the majesty of a thunderstorm to the quiet grace of Communion, creation speaks of the Creator’s glory. Step outside, stand in the rain and let God’s handiwork take your breath away.