“To go on pilgrimage is not simply to visit a place to admire its treasures of nature, art or history. To go on pilgrimage really means to step out of ourselves in order to encounter God where he has revealed himself, where his grace has shone with particular splendor and produced rich fruits of […]
Blog
Hope is the Virtue of a Pilgrim
We are all on a pilgrimage. Knowing we are on a journey, knowing we are made for something greater, knowing there is a destination – this is the root of hope. Walking the Camino de Santiago last summer brought light to the words of a talk I recently heard: hope is the virtue of a […]
Laudato si’: The Catholic approach to climate change
Laudato si’ and climate change Climate change is, not surprisingly, the most controversial and politically charged issue in Laudato si’. It has been a source of heated debate and confusion especially in the American context. In this essay I will outline everything the encyclical Laudato si’ says on climate change and then compare and […]
“Laudato Si”, Defense of human dignity and reconciliation by Thomas R. Collingwood Ph.D
The release of the encyclical Laudato Si by Pope Francis has stirred much political debate, news clips and sound bites making all kinds of claims about what it does and does not say or what the Pope does and does not support. Yet, most of the comments seem to be disconnected from what he actually […]
What I Learned Walking 220 Miles
While walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain, I met other pilgrims who were walking the way for their second, fifth, or even eighth time. While I was amazed and in awe as I struggled through my first Camino, I also understand now why some people get “hooked on” the Camino. More than any pain, […]
Rev. Casimiro Roca
Fr. Roca, who has impacted the lives of countless pilgrims who journeyed to Chimayó, NM, died on August 4th. Fr. Roca “has come to symbolize, more than any living person, the heart and soul of El Santuario de Chimayó.” (El Santuario website) Many who have completed the pilgrimage to Chimayó, NM have had the great […]
How to read Laudato Si: intention, structure, form and content
Catholics who do not embrace the spirit of Evangelii gaudium will likely be confused by Laudato Si In my previous article I already pointed out the 3 salient aspects of Laudato Si: its prophetic style, invitation to conversion and Trinitarian theology. I was going to technically discuss climate change in Laudato si’ vis-à-vis the […]
Laudato Si – Pope Francis’ encyclical for all people…
“Laudato Si” , Praised Be the Lord… for this much awaited encyclical. Creatio has been working for over a decade now to promote a truly Catholic environmental vision and practice. It is a message we have been trying to live and expecting to hear… Laudato si… Thank you Pope Francis. Read the full encyclical here. I will follow […]
Book review: “Energy, Justice and Peace”
Energy, Justice and Peace Energy is perhaps one of the most overlooked global issues of our times. One of the reasons for our obliviousness is that we tend to take energy for granted. The alarm clock that woke us up this morning, the water that flowed from the tap, the food (energy!) we ate for […]
Why Are We Ecologists? by Pablo Martinez de Anguita
The last two posts addressed the problem of “nature deficit disorder” and how participation in outdoor education and nature activities can facilitate an interest and appreciation for God’s creation. A next step from that appreciation is to develop a stewards contemplation for action often called being an “ecologist”. Here is where our faith can provide […]