It seems strange to be talking about 2010 when already so much has happened in 2011! With less than one month under our belts, 2011 has already become a memorable year. This morning, for example, we all learned that our late, beloved John Paul II will be beatified in May, 2011 (on Divine Mercy Sunday, ...read more

The tortoise and the hare. You know the story: a hare and a tortoise race.  The cocky hare feels the tortoise is an easy challenge, so he runs some of the race, then decides to play in a field, gets bored with that, and so he takes a nap.  Of course, while the hare is ...read more

Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Pope Benedict sent his prayers and spiritual closeness to the Haitian people on the anniversary, a message that was delivered by his envoy, Cardinal Robert Sarah. The president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum traveled to the country on Sunday and among his ...read more

“Good morning Jenna,” a friendly male voice chimed. “It appears that you have drawn the short straw!” These were the warm words I heard as I picked up the first phone call of the day on the morning after one of the best days of my life. The voice belonged to Mr. Jerry Adler at ...read more

If you’re like me, you’re done with New Year’s resolutions. Still, I’d like to spend more time in prayer and dedicate more time to fitness – I am not that young anymore! But sometimes I feel I have to choose. If I have half an hour a day, should I spend it in prayer, or should I spend it working out? Do I split the time? Do I try to combine them? Sometimes, when I swim, I’ll say a decade of the Rosary, one Hail Mary per lap… I know a lot of people do this while jogging. I am curious to know what your strategy is to integrate prayer and fitness. ...read more

Unofficially, it’s called the “state of the world” address. Officially, it’s Pope Benedict XVI’s annual talk to the diplomatic corps. And representatives from the 178 states that have diplomatic ties to the Holy See gathered this morning at the Vatican for the address. Religious freedom was the key issue that the Holy Father discussed. He ...read more

2010 was a monumental year for the Catholic Church and for its Shepherd. We saw Pope Benedict’s five International voyages, one “insider” exclusive papal Q & A released in book form, painful abuse scandal exposés, the first Canadian male saint, an Irish apostolic visitation and martyrdoms in the Middle East. All of these are just ...read more

When I was little, my mom’s side of the family would gather for a reunion almost every summer. At the time, it felt like a whirlwind of confusing introductions of second-cousins and great-aunts and uncles (many with the same, passed-down names) and my memories were made up of watered-down orange juice, group pictures, and spilling ...read more

Today is January 6th, and I am thinking of the three wise men. And the three wise men make me think of distances. I was always intrigued about distances in Israel. When I read that Mary and Joseph walked from Nazareth to Bethlehem, or that Mary rode on a donkey, it’s hard to appreciate how ...read more

The Papal intentions reported on the Tuesday, January 4th edition of Perspectives were the incorrect intentions for this month.  Please see the correct intentions for January 2011 below: Every January we celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  The week begins on January 18th, and extends to January 25th, the feast of the conversion ...read more