St. Augustine wrote that there were two kinds of love in the world: amor sui ad contemptum Dei et amor Dei ad contemptum sui — “love of self to the contempt of God and love of God to the contempt of ...

Sunday, Dec. 25, is the Nativity of the Lord. Mass readings: Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Matthew 1:1-25 or Matthew 1:18-25. The Newborn Christ is not found where ...

ROCHESTER, Minn. — I stood in line with my husband at the pharmacy in the subway level of Mayo Clinic. It was Tuesday, which means we survived a week of worry and wondering if our insurance was going ...

“The chances are good you won’t last here your entire life.” These words were the first ones spoken to us eight novices by the archabbot on our first day inside the cloister. “And even if you do make ...

As Rosh Hashanah — the Jewish New Year — approaches, Jewish people around the world will prepare to observe this significant occasion with prayers, repentance and gatherings. One of the most profound ...

Last weekend, I visited Nashville to serve on a panel for the Southern Festival of Books. I appeared with Brandon Byrd, a history professor at Vanderbilt University, and the Northeastern University ...

It is just about time for my yearly lesson in humility, and I am beginning to get nervous. Each academic year, at some point, I am forced to confront either my own humanity, or that of one of my ...

This was originally featured in the Houston Chronicle's HouWeAre newsletter about race, culture and identity. You can sign up here. This past week has not only been a lesson in humility for me, but a ...

This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today. Listen 0:00 A few years ago, I took a ...