Grace Notes columns

Column by Sister Anne Marie Walsh, SOLT The “heart” speaks to the deepest core of the person, the place where we think, choose, desire, remember and love. It is the place where the state of our relationship with God is revealed. Sins of the heart, therefore, are more about interior thoughts, desires, intentions and attitudes that turn us away from God, even if we have not acted on those desires, etc., yet.

Stories of apparitions, healings, and other extraordinary events have always stirred the imagination of believers and non-believers alike. Many people feel both drawn to these accounts and unsure how to respond. Why does the church seem so careful — sometimes even skeptical — about such things, if she truly believes in miracles? The church’s caution is not a denial of God’s power. It stems from a conviction that faith is grounded in Jesus Christ and the revelation already given, not in a constant stream of spectacular signs. Miracles have a real place in Catholic life, but it is limited and specific.

Column from Sister Anne Marie Walsh, SOLT Every so often in the Gospel, Jesus asks an unsettling question. Perhaps one of the most unsettling questions he asks is whether he will find faith upon the earth when he returns again. It’s a disturbing question because we have a hard time imagining a world where no one believes in God any longer. What could possibly happen to create such a scenario?

Grace Notes column by Sister Anne Marie Walsh, SOLT The greatest anxiety of our age often hides beneath more obvious fears about money, health, politics or family. Many people can name what keeps them awake at night—but underneath, there is a quieter, deeper question: Does my life actually matter, and what is all this for?