SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2026 $7.99
Meditation: Faith, Hope, Resolve PAGE 42
CATHOLIC. PASTORAL. TRUSTED.
In “Blessed” Company
Gi ve the Gi ft of Catholic Reading SEE PAGE 29
My Visits with
Fulton J. Sheen
Forgiving Family and Others Without Limit The Boundless Mercy We Receive in Christ Is Meant to Be Shared
Vietnamese Catholics in the US The Bubble Is Bursting
THE BEST OF
BISHOP FULTON J. SHEEN ◆ ARCHBISHOP FULTON SHEEN: A MAN FOR ALL MEDIA
A beautiful coffee-table book filled with over 125 striking photos of the great archbishop from the Sheen archives, edited by Gregory Ladd. Combined with many inspiring Sheen quotes from his popular books, the photos and quotes capture the joy, apostolic zeal, and dramatic flair that helped him be such a powerful communicator and missionary to all souls from every walk of life. FSMAMP . . . 9 x 11, Illustrated, Sewn Softcover, $19.95
◆ GO TO HEAVEN
Sheen breathes new meaning into truths about heaven and hell, faith and suffering, life and death. And shows us how to get to heaven! GTHP . . . Sewn Softcover, $18.95
◆ LIFE IS WORTH LIVING ◆ THE POWER OF LOVE
Sheen discusses the radical transformation that love can bring to individuals with a series of exquisite meditations on love’s nature, power and relevance for modern man. He draws on theological and psychological insights to show how divine and human love provide true happiness. PLP . . . Sewn Softcover, $17.95
◆ ARCHBISHOP FULTON SHEEN: Convert Maker—Cheryl Hughes presents Sheen
as one of the greatest spiritual leaders, and media pioneers, in America’s history, and a tremendous convert maker, telling the inspiring stories of many of his famous converts. AFSP . . . Sewn Softcover, $19.95
◆ THE WORLD’S FIRST LOVE
A moving portrayal of the Blessed Virgin Mary that combines deep spirituality with history, philosophy and theology. Sheen’s personal favorite book of all his works. WFL2P . . . Sewn Softcover, $18.95
The full-length scripts of 44 of the most popular episodes of Sheen’s hit television series of the same name on a wide variety of important topics for living well. LWLP . . . Sewn Softcover, $19.95
◆ THROUGH THE YEAR WITH FULTON SHEEN
Sheen offers inspirational words of encouragement, counsel, and practical advice for each day of the year! TYFSP . . . Sewn Softcover, $17.95
◆ THE PRIEST IS NOT HIS OWN
Sheen presents a deeply spiritual look at the meaning of the priesthood and relationship of the priest with Christ as an “alter Christus”. A book every priest should read! PNHOP . . . Sewn Softcover, $18.95
◆ SERVANT OF ALL: Film Archbishop Fulton Sheen
Special double DVD set includes the acclaimed new film Servant of All, plus 5 episodes of his famous Life is Worth Living television series, presenting the beloved Sheen to a new generation. SOAM . . .
2 discs, 200 mins., $17.95
(800) 651-1531
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Liguorian • Vol. 114, No. 5 A REDEMPTORIST PASTOR AL PUBLICATION
September-October 2026 In “Blessed” Company: My Visits with Fulton J. Sheen A kindred spirit recounts prayer and publishing with a saint-in-the-making
MEDITATION
PATRICIA A. KOSSMANN
ANNE FORCELLA SKALITZA
CATHOLICS IN AMERICA
THE CATHOLIC OBSERVER
Health Care and Social Work Part five of a six-part series: Catholics, especially women religious, led the way in establishing medical care in our nation
Your independent source of news and views on the Catholic Church
FR. MATTHEW O’TOOLE
Colored Docks A hand reached into the water triggers a memory submerged in the mind
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CELEBRATING CATHOLIC CULTURAL HERITAGE IN AMERICA
Vietnamese Catholics in the US: The Bubble Is Bursting Part three of a three-part series: A look at the thriving Vietnamese Catholic community in the United States
Faith, Hope, Resolve A widow finds consolation in her profound grief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
ON THE COVER: FULTON J. SHEEN PHOTO COURTESY OF THE FULTON J. SHEEN FOUNDATION. USED WITH PERMISSION.
GARY GATELY
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FICTION
ALLISON RAMIREZ
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EUCHARISTIC POETRY
Columns A WORD FROM THE PUBLISHER Moments for Reflection FR. THOMAS M. SANTA, CSsR
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PLAIN TALK Religious Life as a Family
The Breaking of the Bread JEANETTE MARTINO LAND
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ANDREW TRAN-CHUNG, CSsR
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29
Angels in My Way Seeing the spiritual in the mundane and the sacred in the profane
FR. PETER D. HILL, CSsR
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REDEMPTIVE LIVING Learning the Faith VINITA HAMPTON WRIGHT
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PADRE MIGRANTE Crisis and Challenge
WILLIAM KEVIN STOOS
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FR. MIKE McANDREW, CSsR
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PRAYING WITH THE MYSTICS
Saint Catherine of Siena Dwelling in God’s goodness
FACE TO FACE One Day at a Time
LIGUORI PUBLICATIONS STAFF
SCOTT CZARNOPYS
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Forgiving Family and Others Without Limit The boundless mercy we receive in Christ is meant to be shared TERRY N. HURSH
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SPECIAL SECTION
Gi ve the Gi ft
of Catholic Reading
KITCHEN TABLE GOSPEL The “Holy Antivenom” TIM AND JULIE SMITH
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SEE PAGE 29
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September-October Columnists
Readers Respond
Around the Table
Bible Quiz
Catholic Crossword
The Lighter Side
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7
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52
53
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September-October Columnists Scott Czarnopys (“Face to Face”) brings sixteen years of Catholic education leadership to his role as education ministry director at Saint Patrick Parish in Parnell, Michigan. He is married to his beautiful wife, Arley, and has two children, Haven and Daxton. His columns are drawn from the everyday moments of faith, fatherhood, and community that shape his life. Fr. Peter D. Hill, CSsR (“Plain Talk”), is a Redemptorist missionary who has served as parish priest of Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church, Santa Cruz, Trinidad and Tobago; director of Holy Redeemer Retreat House, Dominica; and formation co-director at North American Redemptorist Formation House in San Antonio, Texas. Fr. Michael McAndrew, CSsR (“Padre Migrante”), has served for thirty-plus years in Redemptorist Hispanic ministry initiatives, youth ministry, bilingual parish missions, and farmworker ministry. He works with the Catholic Migrant Farmworker Network, has directed a Campesino ministry, and recently published a book with Liguori Publications: Walk With My People: A Life in Migration Ministry (828720).
Since 1913
Fr. Sandeep Menezes, CSsR (“Social Media Perspectives”), is a Redemptorist priest of the Bangalore Province, India. He currently serves as the assistant director of the Redemptorist Media Center under the Holy Redeemer Foundation and as chief editor of Redemptorist Publications in India. Widely recognized as a dynamic youth minister and missionary, he engages in ministry that extends beyond traditional preaching into the digital space, where he is an active social influencer, using media as a powerful tool for evangelization. Br. Raymond Pierce, CSsR (“The Lighter Side”), is a native of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. His ministry is storytelling via email. Every week, he sends “Morning Smiles” emails of humor and personal stories to nearly 1,000 senior citizens.
We have an inherent God-given goodness, yet…we need, always, God’s grace.
Fr. Thomas M. Santa, CSsR (“A Word from the Publisher”), was named president and publisher of Liguori Publications in January 2024, his second assignment as the company’s leader. Professed as a Redemptorist in 1973, his ministries have included retreat work and writing reflections for the Scrupulous Anonymous newsletter. Tim and Julie Smith (“Kitchen Table Gospel”) have been professional music ministers in the Phoenix area for more than thirtyfive years. They have written and recorded dozens of music collections, including liturgical music, theater music, children’s music, and bilingual music, and their songs have been published in multiple hymnals. Vinita Hampton Wright (“Redemptive Living”) worked in religious book publishing for more than three decades. She is retired and continues to write, edit, and present retreats and workshops on creativity, writing, and prayer. She works as a spiritual director in Northwest Arkansas.
TIM AND JULIE SMITH
Catholic. Pastoral. Trusted.
Publisher Fr. Thomas M. Santa, CSsR Director of Digital and Creative Services Wendy Barnes Associate Editors Fr. Byron Miller, CSsR Andrew Tran-Chung, CSsR Manuscript Editor Amy Deputato Director of Media Fr. Charles Kumar, CSsR Journalist Gary Michael Gately Design, Production, and Post-Production Kate Brown John Gantz Kathy Lane Director of Sales and Marketing, Liguorian Ad Sales Chuck Healy Circulation Emily Drury Sales and Customer Service Coordinator Donna Hurley Contracts, Rights, and Permissions Jeffrey Morrison Editor-In-Chief, India Fr. Sandeep Menezes, CSsR
4 September-October 2026 // Liguorian.org
Editorial Offices United States 200 Liguori Drive, Liguori, MO 63057 India Thomas Town Post, Bengaluru, India, 560084 © 2026 Liguori Publications, a ministry of the Redemptorists. All rights reserved. 636-464-2500. Liguori.org. Unless noted, Scripture quotations are from The New American Bible, Revised Edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC. Used with permission. Subscription Questions? Visit Liguorian.org. Call: 800-325-9521 Email: Liguorian@Liguori.org Write: Customer Service, 200 Liguori Drive, Liguori, MO 63057 Print + Digital Subscription One year: $38; Outside US: $53 (US funds only). If you prefer that your name and address not be available to select organizations, please mail your address label to: Mail Preference Service, Liguorian, 200 Liguori Drive, Liguori, MO 63057 Liguorian is available on CD from Xavier Society for the Blind, 154 E. 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010, or call 800-637-9193 for materials for the blind only.
Advertise in Liguorian Call Oremus Advertising at 781-822-0680 or email evelyn@oremusadvertising.com. Publication Mail Agreement #40112731. Canadian Return Mail Request: PO Box 122, Niagara Falls, Ontario L2E 6S8 Canada ISSN 0024-3450 Printed in the US at Kingery Printing. Support Our Ministry Please help us continue Liguorian and other Liguori Publications ministries by making a tax-deductible donation or remembering us in your will. Our legal title is Redemptorist Fathers dba Liguori Publications, Federal ID 43-0653409. Liguorian is named after our founder and patron saint, St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696–1787), Doctor of the Church, bishop, patron of confessors, moral theologian, prolific writer, pastoral theologian par excellence, and founder of the Redemptorist Congregation. It is in his spirit and inspired by the charism he shared with us, “With him there is plentiful redemption for all,” that this magazine and all pastoral educational products of Liguori Publications proudly claim we always strive to be Catholic, Pastoral, Trusted. To learn more about the Redemptorists,visit Redemptorists.com
A Word From the Publisher
Moments for Reflection
FR. THOMAS M. SANTA, CSsR
O
ne of the great gifts of religious life, particularly as a member of a congregation such as the Redemptorists, is the time set aside each day for prayer and reflection. This time is also both a privilege and a responsibility. It is a gift because many people, burdened by other responsibilities, rarely have private moments to themselves. It is a privilege because it is made possible by the men and women who support our ministries through their prayers and donations. And it is a responsibility because this time is not given to be wasted; it is meant to be used well—not only for my personal benefit but also for the benefit of those we are called to serve. As a priest, much of my time in prayer and reflection is directed toward preparing daily and Sunday homilies. For Scripture to nourish others, its sacred words must be carefully unpacked and connected to daily life. The first idea that comes to mind is rarely enough. More often, the message requires deeper reflection on my own experience of grace and on how that grace is made manifest to the people of God. What is true of the preached word is also true of the written word. The articles and reflections in each issue of Liguorian are meant to nourish the spiritual lives of readers. As publisher, I want every issue to make a meaningful difference. Sometimes that means explaining a topic clearly and making it accessible. At other times, it means introducing an idea that may be overlooked, underreported, or ignored, which may also be a subject that invites readers to grow, develop, or open their hearts to a perspective or direction they had not previously considered. As I look back on the publishing year drawing to a close in 2026, I do so with a sense of pride, recognizing that we have often met the expectations we set for ourselves. Looking ahead to the publishing year we are planning for 2027, I see even greater opportunities to sharpen our focus, remain faithful to the truths of our faith, and address difficult subjects with pastoral responsibility. We are going to present some difficult subjects that require careful discernment, and we also have some new ideas that we want to try out in these pages. I am looking forward to the challenge and to the responsibility. In this issue of Liguorian, we are blessed to feature an article celebrating the life of Blessed Fulton Sheen, written by someone who played a meaningful role in his life. Patricia Kossmann, a former editor at Liguori as well as at Doubleday and America magazine, serves as the literary executor of the blessed bishop’s estate. She shares with our readers some of her personal experiences with him. We also include a reflection from one of our Redemptorist students on the contributions of the Vietnamese people to our Church family. Our “Catholics in America” series continues as well, along with other thoughtful reflections that complete this issue. This is the third issue that former Our Sunday Visitor readers have received since we welcomed you into the Liguorian family. I hope you are enjoying each issue and, when the
As a priest, much of my time in prayer and reflection is directed toward preparing daily and Sunday homilies.
NOEMÍ MÁRQUEZ / CATHOPIC
September-October 2026 // 866-848-2492 5
time comes, you will choose to renew your subscription. We deeply appreciate your support. We also invite longtime Liguorian readers to renew their subscriptions and to share the magazine with friends and family. Together, each of us plays a part in sustaining the vitality of Catholic publishing. The printed word still has a meaningful place in the digital world; it is not obsolete, but vibrant and full of life. Finally, some of our readers may remember being invited to subscribe to Liguorian by a visiting priest in their home parish. For many years, this was the primary way that Liguorian was distributed. This traditional parish preaching model is no longer sustainable—at least not in the way it was first envisioned and implemented—but we are introducing a new parish preaching model. This new model, the Catholic Reading Program, encourages parish pastoral staff to invite parishioners to consider the importance of Catholic reading. In support of this invitation, we at Liguori Publications provide printed material for distribution to those who attend the Sunday liturgy. If you think this effort might be welcomed in your home parish, please do not hesitate to call us, and we can help you make it happen. We would be honored to be asked, and we think your parish family will benefit from the effort. A
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Help your parish grow in faith through meaningful Catholic reading. Contact Liguori Publications at 800-325-9521 or Liguori@Liguori.org to learn about the Catholic Reading Program.
Readers Respond *
Send Us Your Feedback! Write: Liguorian Editor, 200 Liguori Drive, Liguori, MO 63057 E-mail: Liguorianeditor@Liguori.org The opinions expressed don't necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors. Letters must be signed and include the writer’s full address and daytime phone number. Names will be withheld from publication upon request. The editors reserve the right to edit letters for length, clarity, and style.
I want to pay tribute to Adam Tran-Chung, departing columnist for “Social Media Perspectives.” He has done an incredibly awesome job for over a year in skillfully shining light on the pitfalls of social media and offering realistic, doable solutions. We pray for God to bless Adam with joy and success in his ministry to become a priest as he prepares to leave for his first year of Redemptorist seminary formation in the Philippines, where he has to learn a new language and culture. J.W. (via email)
Redemptorist Fans
Baseball Fans
Many thanks for the articles “Redemptorist Charism” and “Praying with the Mystics: Saint Alphonsus Liguori, CSsR” (May-June 2026). Saint Alphonsus and the Redemptorists present a compassionate image of Christ and the Church. At first, Saint Alphonsus as a doctor of the Church may seem unapproachable and beyond the grasp of us “ordinary” Christians, but that is not the case. Alphonsus writes with a pastor’s heart. I would encourage anyone to read his classics, The Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ and Visits to the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin Mary. The latter is especially helpful during Eucharistic adoration as a springboard to deeper prayer and reflection. Blessings on the Redemptorists’ outreach to the poor and marginalized among us, a charism received from Alphonsus himself. Together may we praise our God, for “with the Lord is mercy, with him is plenteous redemption” (Psalm 130:7). In Christ the Redeemer, Ron B. (via email)
Dear Liguorian Editor, I found the article on the legendary Major League Baseball player Roberto Clemente (“¿Santo Roberto?” July-August 2026) most inspiring. Clemente’s quote, “The Lord put me on earth to help people,” shows how deeply he was defined by his Catholic faith. His story is a needed reminder to me that it doesn’t matter whether I win or lose, but it’s how I play the game of life that ultimately counts. Xavier D. (via email)
Dear Editor, Please tell “Padre Migrante” how much I enjoy his columns. The story of Casa San Alfonso (“Evangelized by the Poor,” May-June 2026) was inspiring, and places like this are needed in every city, town, and village. More than ever before, young people need connection and structure. Thank you, Fr. Mike. Phil S. (via email)
Dear Editor, While the current news is reporting the tragedies from the horrific earthquakes in Venezuela in June 2026, I’m reading about Roberto Clemente’s final charitable act of helping the victims of an earthquake in Nicaragua in 1972 (“¿Santo Roberto?” July-August 2026). I hope Clemente’s good example will live on in the professional athletes of today. Eric R. (via email)
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Essential Works on the Future of Humanity & the Church
♦ MAGNIFICA HUMANITAS In this deluxe, keepsake hardcover edition of Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, he speaks directly to one of the most urgent questions of our time: What does it mean to remain fully human in the age of artificial intelligence? With moral clarity and pastoral depth, the first American pope offers a compelling Christian response to the rise of digital technocracy and power, showing how faith, reason, and the rich tradition of Catholic social teaching can guide society through rapid technological change. Drawing on Scripture, Church history, and the social teaching of the modern papacy, Leo XIV explores how AI is reshaping work, education, family life, politics, warfare, and public truth. While acknowledging the remarkable potential of AI, he warns against systems that reduce people to data points, labor units, or instruments of control, and offers a hopeful vision rooted in dignity, solidarity, justice, and the common good. Magnifica Humanitas is an essential book for anyone concerned about the human future. MHH . . . Deluxe Keepsake Hardcover, $17.95
♦ 2050: PROSPECTS FOR
THE CHURCH
Cardinal Robert Sarah presents a must-read rumination on his hopes, fears, and realistic predictions for the Catholic Church in the coming decades, with a special view to his home continent of Africa and the pontificate of Leo XIV. What does the Church need from us now, and what do we need from her? What does the world—in all its confusion and darkness—need from Catholics? With characteristic directness, intensity, and depth, Cardinal Sarah addresses the liturgy, mission work, the priesthood, contemplative life, tradition, faith, atheism, papacy, ecclesial unity, neo-paganism, relativism, and the family. There is no voice today more credible and resonant than Cardinal Sarah. He is a prophet not of doom, but of renewal. TFPCP . . . Sewn Softcover, $18.95 Let us heed him. “Cardinal Sarah reminds us that all authentic Catholic renewal is focused on Christ and making Christ known to the world for its sanctification. Read his eloquent call to missionary discipleship and be encouraged.” — George Weigel, Author, The Fragility of Order
♦ THE PROMISES OF CHRIST Milton Walsh shows that in today’s world where many struggle with sorrow, despair and hopelessness that there is a very powerful antidote in the remarkable promises made to us by Jesus Christ in the Gospels. This insightful work invites readers to “take Jesus at his word” and draw strength from what he promises, both in our current circumstances and for what awaits us in the life to come. It offers moving reflections on the promises great and small by Christ and shows how they can speak to our hearts to offer a path through the challenges of this life, and to eternal life. PROCP . . . Sewn Softcover, $16.95 “Walsh takes us on a deep dive into ten of Our Lord’s great promises that do more than uplift us. The nuggets mined from these carefully selected words not only enrich us, but they demonstrate the heart of God and the depth of his love and bounteous care.” —Stephen Ray, Author, Upon This Rock
www.ignatius.com P.O. Box 1339, Ft. Collins, CO 80522
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Religious Life as a Family
Plain Talk FR. PETER D. HILL, CSsR
R
eligious life is often described as a vocation, but another way to understand it is as a family. Men and women who enter religious life gain a new family united not by blood, but by faith, vows, shared values, and a firm commitment to follow Christ. Like every family, religious communities experience both great joys and challenges. As a Redemptorist, one of the joys of religious life is the experience of belonging. As a community, we share a common purpose and mission. We pray together, work together, celebrate together, and support one another through life’s successes and struggles. This shared life creates deep bonds that frequently last a lifetime. In a society where loneliness and isolation are increasingly common, religious communities offer a powerful witness to the value of living and working together. Another joy is growing and maturing in the faith. Celebrating daily Eucharist, communal prayer, and reflections, along with shared meals, provides strength and inspiration. Together as a community, we call each other to continuous conversion to grow in holiness, love, generosity, and service. Yet religious life, like family life, is not exempt from challenges. Living closely with others can reveal differences in personalities, cultures, habits, and expectations. Religious are brought together by God and called to love one another despite their differences, which can be difficult at times. Patience, humility, and forgiveness are necessary virtues for maintaining healthy community living. An additional challenge is balancing the individual’s needs with the needs of the community. Every person One of the joys of religious life is the has unique gifts and talents, but religious life requires experience of belonging. a willingness to place the common good above personal interests. Learning to listen, be flexible, and collaborate can be demanding yet profoundly transformative. Religious communities may also experience challenges related to aging membership, changing ministries, or financial concerns. These realities can create uncertainty and require communities to change while remaining faithful to their mission and charism. Regardless of these challenges, religious life remains a strong witness to the gospel. It demonstrates that people from different backgrounds can live and work together in unity for the sake of the gospel. Like every family, religious communities contain imperfect people. There are moments of disappointment, pain, and struggle—and there are also profound moments of grace and love. Ultimately, the strength of religious life as a family does not come from the perfection of its members but from the members’ mutual commitment to Christ. When religious men and women support one another, forgive one another, and journey together in faith, they VIDAR NORDLI MATHISEN / UNSPLASH become a living sign of God’s love in the world. A
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Beatification: September 24, 2026 St. Louis, MO
10 September-October 2026 // Liguorian.org
A KINDRED SPIRIT RECOUNTS PRAYER AND PUBLISHING WITH A SAINT-IN-THE-MAKING
In “Blessed” Company My Visits with
Fulton J. Sheen PATRICIA A. KOSSMANN
T
he dreaded phone call came on Sunday night, December 9, 1979, as I was going to bed. “Bishop Sheen passed away this evening,” announced Edythe, his personal assistant. He was eighty-four years old. I had been a disciple of sorts—in some ways, a kindred spirit—and a yearslong devotee (although still in my thirties at the time). The next morning, I rushed from my office over to St. Patrick’s Cathedral to attend an early Mass for Bishop Sheen. My grief was tempered with joyful relief when, a few days later, I was invited to the upcoming evening funeral liturgy at the cathedral and seated in a special section. Sheen’s body was interred in a crypt beneath the high altar. I visited his resting place on occasion over the following years—until a lengthy dispute ended with the return of his remains to his home diocese of Peoria, Illinois. I come from a strong and devout Catholic family. My parents introduced their four children (of whom I am youngest) to Fulton J. Sheen’s weekly television program, Life Is Worth Living, back in the 1950s. Every Tuesday evening! So powerful was his impact from my youth, I prayed that one day I might meet him in person: the electric, spellbinding preacher with piercing, soulful eyes. Though I did not always understand his talks (thank heaven for my father’s “translations”), I was nonetheless transfixed by Sheen’s booming voice, his flowing cape, and the invisible angel who “erased” the preacher’s notes from his large blackboard.
LEFT: SHEEN AT HIS FAMOUS BLACKBOARD ON NATIONAL TELEVISION, 1952. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE AUTHOR.
September-October 2026 // 866-848-2492 11
After college graduation, I pursued a career in book publishing and landed an editorial position in the Catholic books department of Doubleday & Co. in midtown Manhattan. I soon became acquainted with their catalog of successful and distinguished authors, which included Bishop Fulton J. Sheen. “Wow!” was all I could muster. And then, “Connected again!” Working in Midtown afforded me many opportunities for daily Mass as well as seasonal devotions. Among the latter were Lenten talks offered by Bishop Sheen each year at various venues, including St. Agnes Catholic Church on East Forty-third Street and St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church on Park Avenue, where Sheen preached frequently. It was during one such talk at St. Bartholomew’s when I experienced firsthand the spiritual energy I had remembered from television. On that day, in the early 1970s, my pursuit of his life story took deep root. After a couple years of corresponding, he agreed to a formal meeting at my office. He was most gracious as I greeted him and escorted him from the reception area. My initial impression was that he was slighter in build in person than he appeared on television. And one thing I learned quickly: This Irishman did not care for tea! But those eyes, looking directly at me, were as piercing as ever. 12 September-October 2026 // Liguorian.org
The Archbishop had been in declining health then, which may have influenced his decision to write his life story. In retrospect, I believe he felt it important to meet with me first and “check me out” (Was I capable? T r u s t wor t hy ?) before making a formal commitment. He apparently thought I was, and I became the editor of Treasure in Clay: The Autobiography of Fulton J. Sheen, published by Doubleday. All future visits between us took place in his Manhattan apartment on East Seventy-seventh Street. Each date and time was pre-arranged. Upon my arrival, his doorman would notify Sheen. Each time I exited the elevator, I could see a shaft of light from his open door. He always greeted me personally.
I treasure the memory of those times we spent before the Lord in silence. His apartment was spacious, to say the least. One wall supported numerous fully stocked bookcases that seemed to reach the ceiling. I marveled as he offered me a “tour of the tomes,” sharing their brilliant and detailed histories, while always staying on point— talk about a lucid and photographic memory! He was about eighty-one at the time. On one of my early visits to Bishop Sheen, I noticed he had a “roommate.” It was a small bird. When I approached its cage and asked its name, Sheen
didn’t answer. I guessed it had been a well-intentioned gift of companionship. Then I asked its gender, but again did not get a reply. So, having had several birds in my life, I looked above its beak for the color of its nasal area, which revealed it was a female. All the while, Sheen paid close attention to my brief demonstration and commentary; he seemed quite interested. But, alas, as to a name for his feathered roommate? No luck—just “Bird.” The highlight of the apartment tour was Sheen’s private chapel. On occasion, we visited there together, spending time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. True peace and reflective stillness is the only way to describe it! Perhaps it was because of the space I was sharing—and with whom. I treasure the memory of those times we spent before the Lord in silence. Apart from Sheen’s deep devotion to Mary, he described his daily visits to the Blessed Sacrament as “The Hour That Makes My Day”—the title of a section in his autobiography. Bishop Sheen required open heart surgery, a nd when he returned to his apartment after his hospital stay, the apartment was equipped with a hospital bed in the entry area. It was especially then, during a mandated period of “rest and recovery,” that Sheen recorded (and later had transcribed) all the chapters of his book. And on each visit during this time, Sheen would “read” to me the newest chapters he had finished. Only now he had no blackboard, and I was his only audience. It wasn’t until the visit when Sheen shared the chapter recounting the
“lighter side” of his life that I experienced his real sense of humor. Yes, Bishop Sheen enjoyed a good laugh on many occasions, and I laughed with him—even when he was the butt of a joke. For example, on one occasion, a mother with an unruly, crying toddler left her seat to exit the crowded venue where Sheen was proclaiming with his strong voice. Sheen tried to assure the mother that he was not upset by the child’s cries, only to be told by the mother that it was the preacher who had upset the child! Among Sheen’s TV contemporaries was the award-winning comedian Milton Berle, whose program also aired on Tuesdays. I like to think that “Uncle Miltie” may have had more than a little influence on “Uncle Fultie.” Regardless, I was overjoyed to experience Sheen’s lighter side—up close and personal! I had gotten in the habit of gifting Sheen on occasion with a new book that I knew he would love. On one visit, I presented a copy (hot off the press) of He Was One of Us, an oversized coffee table book illustrated by renowned Dutch artist Rien Poortvliet. By design, this type of book has a “lay-flat” binding to allow an optimal view of the artwork. A painting of Christ crucified grabbed hold of Sheen instantly! So captivated was he that he envisioned a huge reproduction to serve as a backdrop for his next Good Friday service at St. Agnes Church. Regrettably, that would have posed a logistical nightmare. When I broke this news to Sheen, though he was disappointed, he did understand. But he wasn’t silenced! In fact, he told many audiences about the book and this painting. During the year after his death, part of East Forty-third Street, the area of the Church of St. Agnes, was named Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Place. I was happy to attend the dedication along with many neighbors, parishioners, and New York City’s beloved Mayor Ed Koch. The location is just half a block away from the iconic Grand Central
Station. How fitting and appropriate a location for New York’s iconic televangelist! As noted earlier, Sheen had a deep devotion to Mary—clearly evidenced in his book’s chapter “The Woman I Love.” The maxim “to Jesus through Mary” was a vital component of Sheen’s preaching. When I received the call about his passing on December 9, my first thought was that he had missed the feast of the Immaculate Conception by only one day. But the official announcement of his cause moving ahead to beatification was published on March 25, 2026—the feast of the Annunciation. I called the Society for the Propagation of the Faith offices after Sheen’s death, as I wished to return his leather
briefcase that I had been holding. Aside from a few pages of notes about the book, it contained some small silver crucifixes and a shoehorn. Sheen often brought home crosses and other items obtained from his many world travels on behalf of the missions. And I did receive a few crucifixes from him once. I was tempted to ask for his shoehorn—perhaps as a “relic” should he one day become a saint—before returning the briefcase. For a while, I regretted not asking. Today, I have no regrets at all. I am grateful to God for the gift of Fulton J. Sheen in my personal life. Our spiritual time together and my cache of rich memories are more satisfying than any shoehorn. They are the true relics! A
PHOTOS OF FULTON SHEEN THIS SPREAD ARE COURTESY OF THE ARCHBISHOP FULTON SHEEN FOUNDATION. USED WITH PERMISSION.
Patricia A. Kossmann is the literary representative for the estate of Fulton J. Sheen and editor of From the Angel’s Blackboard: The Best of Fulton J. Sheen. She spent fortyfive years in publishing, holding senior editorial positions at Doubleday and Liguori Publications. She was also the literary editor of America magazine until her retirement in 2012. Patricia is an active lay minister at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Glendale, New York.
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Catholics IN America
In part ve of this six-part series, we commemorate America’s 250th anniversary by celebrating Catholicism in the United States.
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HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL WORK CATHOLICS, ESPECIALLY WOMEN RELIGIOUS, LED THE WAY IN ESTABLISHING MEDICAL CARE IN OUR NATION FR. MATTHEW O’TOOLE
14 September-October 2026 // Liguorian.org MIKHAIL NILOV/ PEXELS
NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE / UNSPLASH
Dr. Roger J. Berry presents “Effects of Ionizing Radiation Upon Tumors” at a 1962 conference.
PHOTOS THIS PAGE: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Dr. William Worrall Mayo and Mother Alfred Moes worked together to care for the seriously injured. Their collaboration led to the now internationally acclaimed Mayo Clinic.
NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE / UNSPLASH
The corporal works of mercy are at the York City hairdresser and a celebrated Catholic philanthropist. He used his heart of the Christian’s mission in the wealth to support the poor, and he noworld. Jesus’ promise that “whatever tably risked his own health by staying you did for one of these least brothin the city to care for the sick during ers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew outbreaks of yellow fever. 25:40) has been the inspiration for the Relief to those suffering physicalfaithful to minister practical aid and ly came traditionally from religious assistance, particularly to those in groups. Among the great pioneers of troubled circumstances. Catholics in American expansion America have led the way in the nineteenth cenin establishing medical tury are the many relicare for those who are gious orders of Catholic hurting, but their legacy women who ventured to of mercy often came in the frontiers and hintermodest and unassuming lands, establishing not ways. Not long after the only houses of prayer but founding of our country, also ministries of practione of the first shining cal assistance. Some arrived with proficiencies examples of charitable Venerable Pierre Toussaint cared for the sick with yellow in helping the deaf, the assistance to the sick fever, risking his life. blind, or those aicted came from Venerable with certain diseases, Pierre Toussaint (1766– 1853). Born in Haiti and once enslaved, like cancer. Using the best knowledge Toussaint became a renowned New they could acquire in their time, these
s isters opened facilities where the needy could find comfort. The medical and nursing reputations of nuns in America grew quickly. During the Civil War, women religious in both the North and the South came to the aid of soldiers injured in battle. President Abraham Lincoln publicly commended the sisters who nursed the wounded and wrote in his diary, “More lovely than anything I have ever seen in art, so long devoted to the illustration of love, mercy, and charity, are the pictures that remain of those modest sisters going on their errands of mercy among the suffering and dying. Gentle… yet with the courage of soldiers leading a forlorn hope, to sustain them in contact with such horrors.” Lincoln signed incorporations for Catholic hospitals and aided them with supply issues. The public witness of these women helped melt away generations of bigotry that Americans harbored toward Catholics. September-October 2026 // 866-848-2492 15
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ When a tornado struck Rochester, M i n ne s ot a, i n 1883, Dr. William Worrall Mayo turned to Mother Alfred Moes of the Sisters of Saint Francis to assist him with the Mother Alfred’s seriously injured. resources enabled the building of St. Mary’s Their collaboraHospital. tion led to the now internationally acclaimed Mayo Clinic, as Mother Alfred’s resources made it possible to build St. Mary’s Hospital, the foundation of today’s Mayo Clinic. Her sisters served as nurses, while the innovations of Dr. Mayo and his sons drew other brilliant physicians from across the country and around the world to the institution. Their partnership established a legacy where “the needs of the patient come first”—a core value that is still part of the Mayo Clinic’s mission. The Mayo Clinic’s example of Catholic and secular leadership working together in the medical arts expanded the founding of many Catholic colleges and universities, along with their schools of medicine and nursing, in the US. Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850–1917), the first US citizen to be canonized, was a tireless advo c ate for i m m i g r a nt s. In addition to schools and orphanages, she founded a network of hospitals intended pr i m a r i ly to St. Frances Xavier Cabrini serve the poor helped those living in underserved w h o e x p e r ineighborhoods. enced discrimi n at i o n. H e r initiatives, operating largely in urban centers like New York City and Chicago, provided a crucial support system for 16 September-October 2026 // Liguorian.org
the civilian population. Mother Cabrini worked directly in poor and tenement neighborhoods, offering families the kind of recuperative aid that would be labeled as “social services” today. From these and countless other stories of women religious, one can appreciate how they made a great impact on the development of the American health system. They advanced the role of nursing and scientifically based medical care in the nation. Their record as founders, builders, financiers, and managers of hospitals is unmatched by any other group between 1850 and 1950. Moreover, this was accomplished at a time when women had no similar leadership or institutional roles elsewhere in society.
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Catholic healthcare in America has always endeavored to reach those too often overlooked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Catholics made strides in combatting illnesses that not only plague the body but also the soul, such as addiction to substances like alcohol. One of the most successful abstinencebased recovery approaches is that of the peer-led Alcoholics Anonymous program. Although it is a secular organization today, AA, as it is more commonly known, had its beginnings in Catholic influences. Founding member Bill Wilson confronted his alcoholism when he was counseled by Jesuit Father Edward Dowling. AA’s signature Twelve Step approach was inspired by and even paralleled Ignatian spirituality by stressing humility, confession or
admission of sin, and a reliance on God. AA co-founder Dr. Bob Smith collaborated with Sister Ignatia Gavin, who pioneered hospital-based treatment of alcoholism in Ohio. She recognized the necessity o f t r e at i n g the addiction with both medicine and spirituality. Sister Ignatia is of ten credited with beginning the Jesuit Fr. Edward Dowling p r a c t ic e o f provided spiritual guidance giving out AA to Bill Wilson, one of AA’s founders. tokens to mark time periods of sobriety, as she originally gave Sacred Heart of Jesus medals to patients. The pursuit of “universal healthcare” truly has its origins in the Catholic ministry of hospitals. These institutions were established to provide care for the sick bodies and souls of all persons—including the poor and the marginalized, regardless of their religion or ability to pay. Paragraph 11 of Pope St. John XXIII’s 1963 encyclical Pacem in Terris identifies medical care and the means necessary to secure a healthy development of life as fundamental rights. Catholic healthcare in America has always endeavored to fulfill these goals and to reach those who are too often overlooked. Today, more than a third of all US Catholic hospitals are situated in rural or underserved areas. Guided by the Ethical and Religious Directives established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic hospitals carry on the history of a faith-based mission and, in many places, serve as advocates for our suffering brothers and sisters. A PHOTOS THIS PAGE: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Rev. Matthew O’Toole is a priest of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, a pastor, and a past instructor of modern European history.
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Learning the Faith
Redemptive Living VINITA HAMPTON WRIGHT
I
f children grow up in a belief system—in this case, Catholicism—and are accustomed to liturgy and ritual, that’s a great benefit. However—and I base this on conversations with many cradle Catholics—at some point in a young person’s development, she or he must grapple with faith almost as if encountering it for the first time. Sooner or later, Jesus the Christ will require from that youngster a more direct and personal conversation. Liturgy and worship and catechism make a way for this, but those things can become so familiar that their meaning grows dim. Also, many youngsters brought up Catholic leave the faith, at least for a while. This is not the tragedy we often think it is, but rather a natural phase of spiritual development as a young person becomes an adult and chooses this faith in a fresh and intentional way. If parents want their Catholicism to be alive and well in their children, then they must stop expecting teachers, catechists, and clergy to do all the heavy lifting. Our leaders can provide structure, teaching, worship, and a community presence, but our kids need to learn about who God is by what they experience at home. They need to encounter Jesus in their parents. What does that look like? Patience. Calm. Kindness. Forgiveness—including a parent asking forgiveness of the child when that’s in order. A sense of hope, because God created us wonderfully. A sense of liberation, because Jesus broke the lasting power of sin and now sees us not as sinners, but as brothers and sisters and co-heirs of God’s kingdom. Is punishment the main device for keeping order in the The Church calls family life the “domestic home? If so, then children will see God as the one always church” for a reason. looking for a reason to punish them. Are children given room to make mistakes, to have a bad day, to be angry? God certainly extends that to us. Is the home a safe place in which a child can grow through ups and downs, struggles, and doubts? Are the children nurtured with a sense of dignity and the right to have an opinion or to disagree? Do the children feel free to be themselves while learning how to become ever more like Jesus? Also, do they see their parents operating out of joy and hope—or out of fear and shame? The best thing we can do for our children is to work with God on our own healing so we can be healthy and whole and demonstrate what freedom in Christ really looks like. Our Church leaders have an important place in the faith development of our children. But the Church calls family life the “domestic church” for a reason. Ninety percent of what our children learn about God and faith and the saving Christ, they’ll get at home. God waits TIM MIROSHNICHENKO / PEXELS eagerly to work with the family in that precious task. A
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Celebrating Catholic Cultural Heritage in America In part three of this three-part series, we look at various cultural groups and the thriving Catholic communities they’ve established in the United States.
Redemptorist Fr. Luong Uong at a Lunar New Year celebration.
Vietnamese Catholics in the US The Bubble Is Bursting
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE AUTHOR RDNE STOCK PROJECT / PEXELS PHOTO COURTESY OF THE AUTHOR
18 September-October 2026 // Liguorian.org
ANDREW TRAN-CHUNG, CSsR
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE AUTHOR
Above: Vietnamese parishioners gather for fireworks at a Lunar New Year celebration.
Left: Seminarians gather in cultural dress at a Lunar New Year celebration.
When the French Jesuit Alexandre de Rhodes first went to Central Vietnam in the seventeenth century, he effectively adapted and preserved existing cultural customs into Catholic practices. While adaptations like wearing his hair down or enjoying local foods like nuoc mam (fish sauce) might not seem innovative, it was his spirit of establishing a distinctively Vietnamese Catholicity that remains foundational in our multicultural Church today. For example, he encouraged women to attend Mass, transformed ancestral worship into prayers for the souls in purgatory, and wrote Vietnamese formulas for the sacraments that made them more relatable to the Vietnamese while maintaining the integrity of the faith.
The National Parish Dynamic
MAXIM STUDIO/ SHUTTERSTOCK
National parishes initially function as immigrant havens in an unknown land and, over time, allow new immigrants to rediscover their identity and integrate into American society. Around the 1780s, ethnic diversity among European immigrants led to the formation of national parishes in the US. However, by the 1920s, national parishes began disappearing or “integrating” to form multicultural parishes, due to the second-generation immigrants’ need to speak English and adopt more “American” customs. Im-
Left: Vietnamese parishioners serve food at a Lunar New Year celebration.
Preserving Faith and Identity in a Foreign Land
migrant groups with a higher ratio of English-speaking members tend to integrate more easily into existing multicultural parishes. A decline in national parishes also occurs when the children of immigrants abandon their ancestral religion because they identify the Catholic faith with the practices of the national parish community. Another factor for the decline is when the third generation of immigrants move away from national parish boundaries. Of the more than two million Vietnamese who live in the US today, 700,000 are Catholic. Vietnamese Catholic communities were initially established in existing American parishes, but they grew large enough to form their own national parishes around the country, with names like Vietnamese Martyrs and Our Lady of La Vang. However, Vietnamese national parishes are an anomaly in today’s Church landscape. The experience of going to church for many immigrants across the US is through multicultural parishes with two or more language groups sharing the same facilities.
For almost fifty years, thousands of Vietnamese immigrants— Catholics and non-Catholics alike— across the US have flocked to the small town of Carthage, Missouri, every August for Marian Days: a festival, pilgrimage, campout, food market, and concert combined into one weeklong event. Hosted by the Congregation of the Mother of the Redeemer, Marian Days originated for the growing number of Vietnamese arriving in the United States who felt lost in an unknown land. And while it carries the central theme of honoring Mary with processions, conferences, confession, and Eucharist, it serves as the cultural center for Vietnamese, swelling the small town’s population of 15,000 to more than 100,000 people. What makes Marian Days so unique among many other festivals is its role as a meeting place—reuniting those separated by the Vietnam War. Stories abound of neighbors in Vietnam who immigrated to different cities and then encountered one another in Carthage. In fact, lodging for such a big event is sparse, so many visitors set up camps on the property reminiscent September-October 2026 // 866-848-2492 19
community recite prayers, such as the rosary, before Mass. After Mass, most people head to their parish halls, where Vietnamese food is prepared and sold. Stepping into a Vietnamese parish provides a full experience of Attendees at Marian Days in Carthage, Missouri what it means to of refugee camps from the war—conbe Vietnamese—from ao dai (Vietgregating around their tents, cooknamese dress) to banh canh (udon ing meals, and sharing time together. soup). Marian Days is truly a homing beacon In many of the Vietnamese parishthat brings people from around the es I have observed—in Philadelphia, US—and the world—to celebrate not Houston, San Antonio, and Orange only our Blessed Mother but also VietCounty, California—this experience of namese culture, helping young and old being Vietnamese is for parishioners of all ages to help form or preserve alike revel in being Vietnamese. their Vietnamese heritage. A group The Vietnamese Bubble in a such as the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement (VEYM), along with Cultural Melting Pot catechism and Vietnamese language There are often two Masses on a Sunclasses, help the second generation day at any Vietnamese parish or even learn what it means to be Vietnamese for a Vietnamese community in a muland Catholic. However, these groups ticultural parish: one in Vietnamese for and presentations on cultural tradiadults, and another thiếu nhi (youth) tions and preservation are reminisMass for the younger crowd (with cent of a Vietnam the immigrants left parts in English, especially the Liturgy behind—one before 1975. of the Word). Usually, elders of the
The second-generation immigrants growing up in these parishes are Vietnamese American—leaning more heavily into that American identity. Yet every Sunday, they go to Mass and Giáo Lý-Việt Ngữ (catechism and Vietnamese class) and see a version of Vietnam that surely does not exist online or outside the parish itself. Beyond this bubble is a whole world that many first-generation immigrants possibly ignore, perhaps because it’s too American, too Western, or too unfamiliar, even after fifty years. Moreover, younger Vietnamese American Catholics are going to Việt Ngữ with a different mindset—one that reflects the American culture where they were raised. Often, this may affect their relationships with authority figures and elders, leading to more direct confrontation, for example. This mindset also leads many Vietnamese Catholics—especially those born in the United States—to ask themselves, What does it mean to be Vietnamese and Catholic? How do I preserve my heritage while discovering my identity?
Gen Z on Being Vietnamese American and Catholic
There is so much identity involved
Carthage, Missouri’s population of 15,000 swells to more than 100,000 during Marian Days.
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
20 September-October 2026 // Liguorian.org
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
decline, the next generation of Vietin discovering what it means to be to the “church of their parents” that namese American Catholics are not begins a disconnect between faith and Generation Z (born between 1997 and looking to worship in a bubble. In realidentity. 2012), Vietnamese American, and ity, the Vietnamese bubble has burst. When I spoke with Emily, I saw Catholic. The experience of Vietnamese As the third and fourth generations of something quite remarkable. Emily American Catholics varies across the Vietnamese immigrants in the US grow lives in a majority Hispanic area, atUS and depends on families too. For up, they seek spaces that reflect the tends an English-speaking school, and some, their experience of the faith is an multicultural reality they live in. speaks Vietnamese at home. For some“American” or Anglo experience of goone already living such a multicultural What the history of other immiing to church, while others lean more life, it is quite easy to see why she didn’t grant groups, such as Puerto Ricans toward a Vietnamese popular piety feel at home in a national parish like in New York, shows is that national experience. When I asked three college Our Lady of La Vang. She never saw her parishes are key to helping people students, Trieu, Matthew, and Emily, to “community” reflected in the church. discover and sustain their heritage speak about their cultural identity and Her parents then moved to another and cultural identity, but ultimately their Catholic faith experience, they it sets them up to move shared three distinct from a place of insecuexperiences. Trieu goes to a lority and uncertainty to cal community college one of stepping outside the bubble and embracwhile living at home ing their new home. Alwith his parents. He though the anxieties of lives in a majority Vietnamese area and spends those who are uncertain his free time going out about sharing space with other cultures is not unto eat and hanging out founded, in a multiculwith his friends. Most importantly, he attends tural parish, the notion Mass on Sundays with of being Catholic comes Parishioners work together in the kitchen at Vietnamese Martyrs Church. his family at Our Lady of to life. La Vang Church. Trieu and his parents parish community that ministers in The next generation of Vietnamese are very active members of the parmultiple languages, including VietAmerican Catholics are already setting ish: his dad helps with security in the namese, English, and Spanish. She volthe scene for this dialogue by helping parking lot; his mom helps cook food to unteers not only with VEYM and helps merge the US culture of religion and sell after Mass; and he volunteers in the younger students, but she also actively secularism with the incredibly devoVEYM. Trieu feels quite at home at Our participates in the parish’s young adult tional expressions of faith coming from Lady of La Vang and feels strongly congroup and even occasionally sings with Southeast Asia. While the Vietnamese nected with his Vietnamese identity. the choir at the Spanish Mass. “bubble” of isolation is popping, we When I spoke with Matthew, there Trieu, Matthew, and Emily live very can be sure that the second, third, and was a noticeable difference. Matthew different experiences of integrating fourth generations of Vietnamese imlives in a majority English-speaking their Vietnamese heritage and Cathomigrants living in the US are playing an lic identity. Emily’s witness illustrates area and also attends Mass at Our important role in bringing their elders Lady of La Vang. Raised in a different something the Church in America has to the multicultural reality that is the environment, his parents drop him off historically sought to achieve through Catholic Church in America. on Sundays for VEYM and Vietnammulticultural parishes. PHOTOS THIS SPREAD COURTESY OF THE AUTHOR ese classes, but they go off to work. Being Incarnate in a Matthew’s experience of church on Andrew Tran-Chung, CSsR, originally from Houston, is Multicultural Reality Sundays is simply one of isolated ena professed Redemptorist When De Rhodes first went to Vietnam gagement, attending classes and a and contributing editor of to share the faith, he integrated local Mass that does not meld into the world Liguorian, currently working on his MDiv degree at Oblate School of customs and adapted to the cultural he knows and experiences beyond the Theology in San Antonio, Texas. Outside reality he encountered. As the number walls of Our Lady of La Vang. For him, his academic and pastoral work, Andrew of parishioners in Vietnamese national and many other second-generation imenjoys photographing the perfect moment parishes and communities begin to or landscape, capturing it in time. migrants, it is this experience of going September-October 2026 // 866-848-2492 21
Angels in My Way SEEING THE SPIRITUAL IN THE MUNDANE AND THE SACRED IN THE PROFANE WILLIAM KEVIN STOOS 22 September-October 2026 // Liguorian.org
“For he commands his angels with regard to you, to guard you wherever you go.”
I
Psalm 91:11
’ve read about angels, seen them depicted in classical paintings, and watched the Hollywood version of them in movies. That they exist, I accept. But I have a lot of questions. Can people be angels? Or, put another way, can angels still appear to us in human form as they did in biblical times? Does the Holy Spirit use people as messengers? Are angels messengers from God who are sometimes sent here for our protection and guidance? I ’ ve b e en t h in k ing about these questions a lot lately. Increasingly, I sense t he pres-
ence of the divine in the everyday existence of my life. It seems, anyhow, that God is intervening in my life— not because I am holy or special, but because I routinely ask him to. As an accomplished sinner trying to do better, I readily admit that I need all the help I can get. And when I am down, worried, looking for guidance, or uncertain about the future, it seems that people—messengers—cross my path at the most opportune times. They guide me, reassure me, or redirect me in some way. Their timing is curious, unexpected, and sometimes downright unsettling. Were I not such a believer in the Holy Spirit and not such a sober person, I would think I was losing my mind. However, the inescapable truth is that God keeps putting angels in my way.
My Friend Jack
It all started with “Jack,” a disabled man I befriended years ago. Life had not been good to Jack. Physically and mentally impaired from a terrible accident, he dragged himself around on two metal crutches. He spoke haltingly due to a tremor that aicted his whole face. He was unkempt and unshaven, and he wore dirty clothes. He made people uncomfortable. People crossed the street to avoid him. Mostly, though, people just ignored Jack. It was easier not to look at him, for he made others feel guilty that they had it so good. I w a s s t r a n ge l y drawn to Jack for reasons I couldn’t comprehend. I met him at a time in my life when I doubted my faith and was uncharacteristically
apathetic. I would greet him occasionally at my favorite burger joint downtown. He hung out there at noon so he could smoke cigarettes and watch people come and go. Our conversations were short, as Jack could barely speak. Even a brief, casual conversation was a chore for him. He had a habit of walking around in the frigid Iowa winter dressed in nothing but a T-shirt and dirty jeans, and this bothered me. So, I brought him a heavy winter coat and made him wear it. He got mad, but he put it on and hobbled away. I didn’t see him again for months. One day, Jack reappeared, sitting at his old table in an uptown grill, smoking and watching people. As I walked by, he grabbed my arm suddenly. In his squeaky, halting voice, he asked, “Are… you… a… minister?”
He was not asking me if I was a minister; he was challenging me to be one. This took me aback. “No,” I replied feebly, “I’m not.” I was anything but a minister. The question, coming from this man who could barely talk, threw me off stride, but it made me start thinking more about God, the Church, my faith, and my self-indulgence. I’ve learned to see the face of Jesus in every Jack I meet. Jack’s words have haunted me ever since that day. As suddenly as he came into my life, he left again. I have not seen him since. I don’t know what became of this poor soul. He diverted me from my apathetic and comfortable path. In time, I realized that he was not asking me if I was a minister; he was challenging me to be one. Serendipitous and eerie, yet oddly inspiring, it was an experience I will never forget. Jack, the first angel in my way, altered my course undoubtedly. I cannot help but think that if Jesus wanted to September-October 2026 // 866-848-2492 23
send a messenger to test how we treat our neighbor, he would send someone like Jack.
“Stick-With-the-Plan Man”
Months later, I indulged myself in a period of worry about my job and finances. A business associate was making my life miserable. I planned a career change and worried about how this would affect my family. I had great misgivings about the direction of my life. The only things I could count on were my faith and my family. All else was uncertain. Whether this was the proverbial midlife crisis or a spiritual malaise, I did not know. I asked God daily to make known his plan for me. Am I meant to change jobs as I had planned? I asked God to intervene, take control of my life, and use it for a higher and better purpose. One morning, I waited on the second-floor skywalk of my office building, awaiting the elevator to my third-floor office. The elevator was un24 September-October 2026 // Liguorian.org
usually slow that morning. I was about to meet Bob, a close friend from church. A deeply spiritual man, Bob always seemed to come by the office unannounced just when I needed a word of advice or an inspirational Scripture passage. As I waited for the elevator, I asked God my daily question: What do you want me to do this day? Did he want me to change jobs or remain where I was? J u s t t h e n, a disheveled ma n ambled down the s k y w a l k , m u mbling as he walked, occasionally raising his voice and shouting. He was animated in his speech. I say with respect that this man was walking to the beat of a different drummer. I envisioned John the Baptist, who wandered dressed in animal skins, shouting and admonishing people, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” I am sure the people of Johns’s time thought him odd as well. No sooner had I asked God silently for guidance than this mumbling stranger stopped very close to me, looked at me, and blurted out something that chilled my blood: “Stick with the plan. He already knows what you need before you ask!” To say I was startled does not remotely approach how I felt. I was shocked and amazed! My spine tingled as I watched the stranger walk away. I could call it pure coincidence that this man had answered my silent question, spoken only to God at that precise moment, or I could call it a remarkably quick answer to my prayer. Whichever it was, it was surreal. I could not wait to tell Bob. He, being
more spiritual than I, was not shocked. “God is telling you something,” Bob said, matter of factly, when I told him about the encounter. This was the strangest thing that had ever happened to me. I took it as a sign that I was to stay with my plan. Many times, I have based my decisions on hunches, gut feelings, or chance happenings. So why not rely on such a messenger to help me make this decision? I believe that God intervenes in people’s lives—directly and indirectly. I did “stick with the plan” and changed jobs—just as the mumbling man had suggested. And it was the best career decision I have ever made. I simply considered his words as guidance from another angel in my way.
“Soda-Can Man”
One day, I was deep in thought about finances, what the next year would bring, and whether I might make a few thousand dollars less than I had the previous year. I was perhaps too immersed in worry and doubt. Sometimes, God has a way of reminding us that we should be grateful for what we have rather than worry about things that have not happened. After all, we are cautioned in the Scriptures not to worry or be anxious. I often struggle with that admonition. Though I am a chronic worrier, God has always blessed me with health, a wonderful family, a good career, and some measure of financial security. I do not need to worry about these things, and I try hard not to. Yet, now and again, I spend time worrying when I should be thanking God for all he has done. This day, I stood on the ramp in the parking garage, waiting on yet another elevator. There were 55-gallon drums at each end of the ramp for people to toss their trash into as they drove through. My attention was drawn to an unkempt man in his late forties wearing a dirty baseball cap, tufts of long hair sticking out from both sides. He
These folks may be exactly what they appear to be. Or they’re angels placed in my path. Perhaps they are both. dragged along a half-full 30-gallon plastic sack as he rummaged through the waste can. He carefully extracted soda cans from the paper, food scraps, and other trash. In a way, I admired him. He didn’t care what people thought of him, had no false pride, and was totally unpretentious. He performed his job methodically—oblivious to cars and people. As I watched him, I felt ashamed of my self-pity and was reminded of how good I had it, by any measure.
After he searched inside the barrel on the ramp, he walked directly to the wastebasket on the wall next to me. I passed up my elevator so I could talk to him for a moment. He picked through the trash, retrieved three soda cans, and threw them in his sack. “How’s it going?” I asked casually. He looked me in the eye. I saw myself. He was my age and my height, and he sported a worn ball cap, as I often did at home. But for the grace of God, he could have been me. “Not a good day,” he said. “Haven’t found too many.” “Here,” I said. “Can you use this?” I did not want to insult him, but neither did I want to walk by him when I had a few bucks—the equivalent of forty soda cans—in my pocket that I could donate to the cause. I was sorry that I didn’t have more and apologized to him.
“Thanks,” he said, and walked off. This man measured a good day by how many aluminum cans he found in trash barrels. I did not really know what a bad day was. Sometimes angels remind you to be thankful more and to worry less.
✤ Jack, “Stick-with-the-Plan Man,” “Soda-Can Man,” and others too numerous to mention have appeared and keep appearing, and at the oddest—yet the most appropriate—times. Perhaps I am reading too much into all of this, yet I cannot help but see the spiritual in the mundane and the sacred in the profane everyday life I lead. These folks may be exactly what they appear to be—hardluck cases, living in the same world as I am, whom I meet purely by chance. Or they’re angels placed in my path by the Holy Spirit to lead me, inspire me, and divert me when necessary. Perhaps they are both. Whoever they are, they can variously make me feel guilty or remind me how thankful I am for all God has given me. They are inconvenient, sometimes challenging, and sometimes unsettling. Subtly and not so subtly, they confront me and cause me to change. They intrude into my self-indulgent, selfish lifestyle, make me think of others, and remind me how fortunate I am. Whatever the plan, whatever God has in store for me, I do not know. But, curiously, expectantly, I look forward to the next encounter—eagerly awaiting the next angel in my way. A William Kevin Stoos is a writer and retired trial lawyer whose articles have appeared in Liguorian, the Catholic Medical Association’s ethics journal, Nature Conservancy Magazine, Social Justice Review, Wall Street Journal online, and other publications. He was educated at the University of Iowa and served in the United States Army. William and his wife, Jean, live in Wynstone, South Dakota. They have two adult children and are proud new grandparents to William Victor Stoos. September-October 2026 // 866-848-2492 25
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Crisis and Challenge
Padre Migrante FR. MIKE McANDREW, CSsR
A
friend said, “My grandson brought his girlfriend home from school, and they announced their engagement. She was immediately accepted and loved by the entire family. She is a legal immigrant, and there appeared to be no problems ahead in changing her immigration status as they filed all the necessary documents and prepared for their marriage. They did everything they were told to do and paid all the fees. Then, two months before the wedding, they received notice of irregularities in her immigration process. Several thousand dollars later, a flurry of activity trying to straighten out her immigration status had transpired. Immigration was not my problem until it was. It should not be so difficult for people who never did anything wrong.” Until it affects a member of the family or a hired worker, many people do not recognize the broken, inconsistent, unjust, and racist system of immigration in the United States. It has always been a difficult process to acquire legal protections and status for asylum seekers and refugees, but now it has become more difficult and costly to regularize the status of students, spouses, religious workers, and many people essential to the US economy. Today, migrants, refugees, immigrants, permanent residents, and naturalized citizens are terrified by government actions. A broken system of immigration has been militarized, flagrantly ignoring the human rights of migrants and refugees. Children are separated from parents, and people who have committed no crimes are detained, incarcerated, deported, and even sent to nations where “Immigration was not my problem, until it was.” they do not belong. Security forces of the United States, armed and wearing masks, have entered neighborhoods, businesses, schools, and places of worship to intimidate, threaten, and terrorize. People are denied human and constitutional rights simply on account of ethnicity, language, or color of skin. Because of concerns about ICE enforcement, many people fear going to school, church, work, and gathering spots for people of color. Rather than addressing various ills of society—poverty, gang violence, addictions, and a struggling economy—many people of means and power blame the poor for the hard times. In his message for the 2019 World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Pope Francis said, “Our response to the challenges posed by contemporary migration can be summed up in four verbs: welcome, protect, promote, and integrate. Yet these verbs do not apply only to migrants and refugees. They describe the Church’s mission to all those living in the existential peripheries, who need to be welcomed, protected, promoted, and integrated.” The immigration crisis in the United States is not limited to migrants who have entered recently or to times when there were surges of people seeking asylum. Every immigrant and child of immigrant parents in this country are threatened, especially the poor. The challenge to welcome, protect, promote, and integrate the migrant is a mandate for every person, every diocese, and every parish in the Church. The United States bishops stated in a special message on immigration issued on November 12, 2025, “To our immigrant brothers MITCHEL LENSINK / UNSPLASH and sisters, we stand with you in your suffering, since when one member suffers, all suffer.” A
September-October 2026 // 866-848-2492 27
NG I Y A PR
W
MY E H T H IT
S T IC S “When we recognize that we are not, we… see that our being comes from God.”
Saint Catherine of Siena
b. March 25, 1347, Siena; d. April 29, 1380, Rome; canonized in 1461; proclaimed a doctor of the Church in 1970; feast day April 29
Introduction After Catherine had a vision of Christ in glory around the age of six, she spent most of her time in prayer and meditation. At age sixteen, she joined the Third Order of St. Dominic, where she became a nurse, caring for patients with leprosy and cancer that other nurses disliked treating. She acquired a reputation for being a person of insight and sound judgment. People from all walks of life sought her spiritual advice, both in person and by letter. She persuaded many priests living in luxury to give away their goods and live simply. In her day, the popes—despite being the official bishop of Rome—had been living in Avignon, France, for about seventy years, where they were under the political control of the French king. In 1376, Catherine visited Pope Gregory XI in Avignon and tried to convince him to return to Rome. He did so the following year. She then acted as his ambassador to Florence and reconciled a quarrel between the Pope and the leaders of that city. She wrote The Dialogue, an account of her visions and other spiritual experiences with advice on cultivating a life of prayer. Catherine is known as a contemplative mystic who devoted herself to prayer and as a humanitarian who alleviated the suffering of the poor and the sick. She was also an activist who took a strong stand on social issues and Church renewal in her day and never hesitated to speak truth to power.
In Her Own Words If we were to ask our...merciful Father [how to discover his will], he would respond by saying something like, “Dearest children, if you want to find my will, to develop a felt sense for it, then always dwell in the cell of your soul.” This cell is a well filled with both water and soil. In the soil we can recognize our poverty, that we are not; for when we recognize that we are not, we are able to see that our being comes from God.
28 September-October 2026 // Liguorian.org
SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA WIKIPEDIA
Dwelling in God’s Goodness
And so, let us go into the depth of this well, where we will become compellingly convinced that dwelling there we will come to know ourselves and the goodness of God. With repentance and humility, we will learn that we are not, and then we will enter into the burning, consuming, open heart [of God], which is an open window that never closes. Focusing on the free will God has given us, we come to know and see that his will is focused on our sanctification and nothing else (Letter 41).
Prayers Starters/Focus In The Dialogue, Catherine presents four petitions to God and God’s response to her requests. • For her own spiritual growth: “One for yourself, which I have satisfied, illuminating you with my Truth...explaining to you how you might come to the knowledge of it through the knowledge of yourself and me, through the light of faith.” • For the world: “The second request you made of me was that I should do mercy to the world.” • For Church reform: “In the third, you prayed for the mystical body of the holy Church, that I would remove darkness and persecutions from it.” • For divine providence: “I have explained my providence to you, in general and in particular, showing you how everything is made by divine providence, from the first beginning of the world until the end.”
Closing Prayer You, O eternal Trinity, are a deep sea, into which the more I enter the more I find, and the more I find the more I seek. The soul cannot be satiated in your abyss, for she continually hungers after you, the eternal Trinity, desiring to see you with the light of your light. As the heart desires the springs of living water, so my soul desires to leave the prison of this dark body to see you in truth. Amen.
Give the Gift
OF
Catholic Reading
As the holiday season approaches, memories of family traditions begin to resurface. Maybe you remember making Christmas cookies in early Advent. Maybe you left your shoes out for St. Nicholas to fill on his feast day. Maybe your family went Christmas caroling. Maybe you spent your Advent evenings reading Christmas stories about talking elves and neon-nosed reindeer. These Christmas traditions build up to one thing — the birth of Christ the King, the Word of God. Storytelling is a tradition that goes back to the dawn of time. Families and communities passed down tales, including stories of God and His people. For centuries, books were rare and expensive. Things are quite a bit different in the modern world. Books and other forms of media are readily available. We read constantly. We read for fun. We read to learn. We read to our children at bedtime. And we read to deepen our faith.
Amid this abundance, it can be hard to know where to turn for trusted, quality content about our faith. This is where the guidance of the Church and the value of trusted Catholic publishers comes into play. Reliable sources like Liguori Publications are the backbone of the distribution of Truth in the modern era, serving Christ’s faithful through the written word. Pope Leo XIV has recently said, “For us Christians, the book is an opportunity to proclaim Christ… At the school of Mary and the Saints, let us nourish ourselves with the Word of God, so that it may shape our way of thinking and acting.” This Christmas, give the timeless gift of the printed word. Our carefully chosen collection of books will help your loved ones deepen their relationship with Jesus while keeping the season centered on his birth. From bedtime stories and the wisdom of the saints to family recipes and cherished traditions, these books inspire faith and create memories that families will treasure for generations.
WALKING
Toward Virtue A Journey With Dante
Journal
Christopher M. Bellitto
Sacred
Pathways
Journal
THE
Desert Walk
A Journey Through Lent With Jesus Leslie Albizzatti
Ordinary Miracles An Invitation to Wonder PHILIP ST. ROMAIN 828928 | $19.99
Christmas is a season rooted in the little things, from Christmas lights to quiet moments of Advent meditation. Give your loved one a gift that will help them carry this sense of wonder in God’s creation into the New Year. Ordinary Miracles: An Invitation to Wonder takes readers on a journey through everyday life, reawakening a sense of wonder as they stop to recognize and appreciate the surprising beauty to be found in ordinary living.
Sense Ability Spiritual Renewal Through Your Five Senses FR. BYRON MILLER, CSSR $19.99 | 828911
Spiritual journaling is a centuries-old practice embraced by saints such as St. Augustine, St. Thérèse, and St. Alphonsus Liguori. Like these saints, your loved ones can deepen their relationship with God through these journals. The Sacred Pathways series makes a beautiful gift, whether given as a complete set or as individual books. Each journal invites readers to reflect on the ways the Lord draws them closer to himself through the liturgical seasons, their personal callings, and the presence of God in everyday life. With soft covers adorned with beautiful, peaceful artwork, these journals are designed to welcome your loved ones into a space of intimacy with God as they write their answers to the journal prompts and reflections. Learn More About Sacred Pathways
One of the beautiful things about the Catholic faith is that we know to use all five of our senses to engage with God. Throughout the Mass, we use our senses of sight (to observe), sound (to hear singing or bells), taste (when we receive Christ in the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist), smell (incense), and touch (our bodily presence in the church) to worship our Lord. Our relationship with God is expressed through tangible rites and rituals, signs and symbols, sacraments and sacramentals that fully involve our sense of sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing. Send your loved one on a journey through a series of reflections that connect your senses to moments in the life of Christ, writings of the saints, and more!
Walking Toward Virtue A Journey with Dante CHRISTOPHER M. BELLITTO $19.99 | 828874
Walking Toward Virtue: A Journey with Dante will make a fantastic gift for the classical literature enthusiast in your life! It takes the reader on a journey using quotes from the poet Dante and his Divine Comedy. Your loved one will learn about the value of virtue, how virtue cures vice, and how to grow in virtue and faith, all while learning about the classic work, The Divine Comedy.
The Desert Walk A Journey Through Lent With Jesus LESLIE ALBIZZATTI $19.99 | 828836
With Lent following closely on the heels of Christmas this year, The Desert Walk makes a fantastic gift to help your loved one stay focused on Christ throughout the next few months of the liturgical calendar. By stepping into the silence of the desert, readers experience a much-needed respite from the clamor and chaos of the world. Spending a few quiet moments with Jesus can bring healing and restoration, soothe concerns, and quiet any discontent that lies within.
Give the Gift OF Catholic Reading
The Advent and Christmas seasons are full of widely celebrated feast days, from setting out our shoes on St. Nicholas’ Day, to enjoying braided buns on the feast of St. Lucy, to celebrating the visit from the wise men on Epiphany. The beautiful volumes of The Church Triumphant and Catholic Novenas will help your loved ones bring prayer with the saints in the Body of Christ into these little moments during the celebration of Christmas and throughout the year.
Catholic Novenas A Classic Collection
The Church Triumphant Praying with the Saints
A REDEMPTORIST PASTORAL PUBLICATION
A REDEMPTORIST PASTORAL PUBLICATION
$27.99 | 828942
$28.99 | 828959
A novena is a nine-part prayer, typically done over nine days, that brings us closer to Christ through time. Novenas in honor of saints are moments of shared friendship with the court of heaven. We ask the saints to join their prayers with ours and, as we do, our friendship with them and with God grows. Catholic Novenas gives readers more than twenty novenas, including devotions to the Holy Spirit, the Body and Blood of Christ, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and saints with special patronage. This beautiful book is complete with a flexible leatherette cover and a ribbon marker, making it a book that will elevate your loved one’s home and soul.
As Catholics, we know to appreciate the sanctity of time. The changing of the liturgical seasons and the Liturgy of the Hours are two shining examples of how God, through the Church, consecrates even the passing of the hours. The Church Triumphant will guide readers to be deliberate about creating a holy hour through a variety of one-hour devotions to be prayed with the saints that will bring the reader closer to God. This beautiful book has a flexible leatherette cover with a ribbon marker, making it a great gift as a stand-alone item or as a pair with Catholic Novenas.
Liguori Publications has revived The Queen’s Work imprint to support the needs of the people of God who desire a life of greater piety and devotion, and to encourage the positive spiritual energy that is present in the Church today.
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Give the Gift OF Catholic Reading
Blessed Fu lton J. Sheen As we enter the holiday season, Blessed Fulton J. Sheen captures the heart of the Church once again. Gifting his writings is a beautiful way to enrich your loved ones’ Advent season, strengthen their faith, and introduce them to his remarkable life and teachings.
Advent and Christmas with Fulton J. Sheen $14.99 | 807497
Celebrate Advent and Christmas with Fulton Sheen this year! Sheen, soon to be beatified, will lead you in reflections that will help you to slow down and focus on Christ this holiday season. Those looking to grow in their prayer life and become more attuned to the joy of Advent and Christmas will find a wonderful guide in this spiritual companion.
Fulton J. Sheen Trilogy
From the Angel’s Blackboard The Best of Fulton J. Sheen
$32.99 | A00084
This collection includes three works by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen: The Cross and the Beatitudes, Characters of the Passion, and Seven Words of Jesus and Mary. With each of these works, Sheen brings the reader deep into Christ’s passion. In his usual down-to-earth style, Sheen brings to life Jesus’ first miracle at Cana, his act of bearing his cross, his Sermon on the Mount, and his last words on the hill of Calvary, as well as those who played important roles in the Passion drama. The books are available separately.
To Order Call 800-325-9521
$22.99 | 439256
From the Angel’s Blackboard offers the very best of the writings of Archbishop Fulton Sheen. Timeless truths and spiritual wisdom from the bishop who touched the lives of millions are presented in three sections: Mind, Heart, and Spirit. These special writings are a testament to Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen’s own tenacity, which won him a loyal worldwide following.
Shop 24/7 @ Liguori.org
Give the Gift OF Catholic Reading
Christ says, “Let the litt le children com e to me.” Introducing Children to the Sacraments A Parent’s Guide A REDEMPTORIST PASTORAL PUBLICATION $24.99 | 828935
Through prayerful parenting and the early sacraments, parents and guardians lead their children to a life of Christ. Introducing Children to the Sacraments will help parents guide their young ones to enter into life with God. This beautiful book is a gift that will stay with your loved ones throughout their years of parenting. It contains prayers, education materials, and guidance for parents throughout every stage of their child’s life, from conception to confirmation.
To Order Call 800-325-9521
Shop 24/7 @ Liguori.org
Th e Cathol ic Adve ntures Bringing warmth into the foundation of a child’s faith is an important part of introducing them to God’s love. One beautiful way to do this is to read aloud a delightful book to your child and show them stories of how we love God and God loves us. Memories like these will build a foundation that will help your child to love reading and to love God. The Catholic Adventures is a bright, clever series that will excite the children in your life to engage with the faith! The stories follow Father Nate, a real priest from Indiana, as he goes about his life as a Catholic priest. Father Nate finds God’s gifts everywhere and enjoys many things, including exercising outdoors, playing musical instruments like the tuba, and cooking healthy foods.
The Advent Adventures with Father Nate BY MIA TOSCHI, MADALYN ALLENDER, SARAIDEE REYES-VILLA ILLUSTRATED BY AMANDA JOZAITIS $19.99 | 829024
Advent is a time of preparation and penance. The Advent Adventures with Father Nate will help the children in your life understand the Advent season more deeply. This book truly is the perfect early Christmas gift or gift for the feast of St. Nicholas. In this book, children will learn about the joy of giving as well as be introduced to saints celebrated throughout Advent. The entire family will be invited into the spirit of a prayerful Advent.
The Lenten Adventures with Father Nate
The Sunday Mass Adventures with Father Nate
BY MIA TOSCHI AND MADALYN ALLENDER ILLUSTRATED BY AMANDA JOZAITIS
BY MIA TOSCHI AND MADALYN ALLENDER ILLUSTRATED BY TED SCHLUENDERFRITZ
$19.99 | 829031
$24.99 | 829048
The Lenten Adventures with Father Nate is a great gift choice to prepare the children in your life for the next season of penance in the liturgical year. Children are guided through the traditions and events of the Lenten season. In this book, Father Nate explores concepts surrounding prayer, reflection, and fasting. He also introduces some saints that are celebrated during the Lenten season, including St. Patrick and St. Joseph.
The Sunday Mass Adventures with Father Nate guides children through the traditions and rituals of the Mass. Father Nate explores concepts surrounding prayer, liturgical traditions, and sacramentals. He explains to children about the symbolism and spirituality of the Mass, from the colors of the vestments to sitting and standing. This book introduces children to the depth of Sunday Mass and the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
Little Lamb Finds Christmas WRITTEN BY CATHY GILMORE; ILLUSTRATED BY KIM WILSON
$20.99 | 824890
This charming, full-color children’s book tells the Nativity story through the eyes of Lemi, a little lamb. One winter night, Lemi gets lost just outside Bethlehem. His shepherd finds the lost sheep, and then receives heavenly messengers and amazing news. Children learn about the true Prince of Peace as a peaceful kingdom comes alive on that holy night in the Bethlehem stable.
Give the Gift OF Catholic Reading
Books for Cooking Beyond celebrating the birth of Christ, Advent and Christmas are seasons of good food, shared traditions, and cherished memories. Whether baking cookies or preparing Christmas dinner, time spent in the kitchen brings families together in joy as they “till and keep” their kitchens. Discover new recipes and create faith-filled traditions with these inspiring cookbooks.
Saintly Bites for Children Mixing Faith, Fun, and Family Time in the Kitchen SHELBY SIEGFRIED; ILLUSTRATED BY TED SCHLUENDERFRITZ $29.99 | 828744
Saintly Bites for Children blends engaging narratives of saints with easyto-follow recipes that are crafted with young chefs in mind. The result is a collection of dishes that not only nourish the body but feed the soul, making every meal a journey of faith with flavor. With over 65 recipes and stories of saints from around the world, there is sure to be something for every family.
Twelve Months of Monastery Soups International Favorites BROTHER VICTOR-ANTOINE D’AVILAL ATOURRETTE $30.99 | 439317
What better way to get cozy for the winter than with a batch of soup rooted in the history of the Church? Twelve Months of Monastery Soups is a go-to resource for your loved ones during the cold months. This collection of recipes follows the orderly cycle of the twelve months of the year, features seasonally fresh produce, and includes basic recipes for stocks and sauces.
From a Monastery Kitchen The Classic Natural Foods Cookbook
From Saint Hildegard’s Kitchen Foods of Health, Foods of Joy
BROTHER VICTOR-ANTOINE D’AVILAL ATOURRETTE
JANY FOURNIER-ROSSET
Monastic cookery, as it has been practiced through the centuries, is cherished for its emphasis on simplicity, wholesome frugality, basic good taste, and the seasonal rhythms of ingredients used. Healthy eaters, practical cooks, cookbook collectors, and recipe readers will treasure this edition of this classic cookbook containing more than 125 recipes, arranged seasonally.
To Order Call 800-325-9521
$20.99 | 819513
From Saint Hildegard’s Kitchen is the ideal gift for the Catholic health enthusiast in your life. This book includes recipes for everything from salads to entrees to desserts. It also includes a measurement conversion table, cooking terms, special breadmaking instructions, lists of ingredients with definitions, and sources for rare ingredients used in the recipes.
Shop 24/7 @ Liguori.org
One-of-a-Kind Paintings for One-of-a-Kind Gifts Classic and memorable.
Collect folk art from Linda Schäpper Own an original painting by folk artist Linda Schäpper, known for her unique and imaginative interpretations of biblical, Christian, SANKO
and non-religious subjects.
One Day at a Time
Face to Face SCOTT CZARNOPYS
T
here is a room full of rectangular tables I’ve begun to know well. Folding chairs in a circle, the old cigarette smell from years ago, a pot of coffee that is never fresh, and people walking in with more weight on their shoulders than any human could carry alone. From the outside, it looks like an uninhabited building. But inside that room, God is named out loud more often than I sometimes hear him named from a pew. The program that meets there is not Catholic. It’s not even denominational. However, it places God at its very core, and you cannot sit through a meeting without hearing his name. This is intentional. Alcohol is a profoundly selfish habit. It turns a person inward and can take everything going on in the world, or in that person’s life, and minimize it down to a single craving. The only way out is to believe in something greater than oneself. For us, that is God. There is a lesson in the program that runs deeper. To stay sober, we have to help others. We can’t keep sobriety to ourselves for any sustainable period unless we also give it to others. The first time I heard this, it stopped me, because I understand it to be central to our Catholic faith. We are made to be with each other. When we help another person out of the dark, we are then pulled even further into the light. The benefits are always mutual—if we set out to help ourselves, we end up helping others; if we set out to help others, we end up helping ourselves. It’s an amazing reciprocal gift. Sobriety is never a clean and easy road; relapse is part of sobriety, and mistakes happen. The journey cost me We are made to be with each other. nearly every single “friend” from my drinking days, and, if I’m honest with myself, I now know that I was completely underinvested in friendships for a long stretch after my daughter was born and my own road to sobriety began. The men and women I’ve met in that room, and the friends I have found in my parish, are some of the most faithful and loyal people I know. They too have fought with their inner demons and have chosen the good path. God is not hidden from them. He continues to live in their hearts and offer encouragement. The program will never be a substitute for the Church. But there is something holy about sharing and speaking the truth with those who carry the same burdens and reaching out to others for help. One declaration from the program resonates with me, and I share it with people when they ask if I’ll ever drink again: I do not know if I will ever drink again, but I know I am not drinking today. It is just another way of saying “one day at a time,” yet it strikes a much deeper chord with me. Today is the day I have been given, and today is the day I give up to God. I show gratitude by staying on the path. LUKE HODDE / UNSPLASH I’ll pray for you. Please pray for me! A
September-October 2026 // 866-848-2492 37
Forgiving Family and Others Without Limit THE BOUNDLESS MERCY WE RECEIVE IN CHRIST IS MEANT TO BE SHARED TERRY N. HURSH
WWW.KABOOMPICS.COM / PEXELS
38 September-October 2026 // Liguorian.org
A heart that has truly been forgiven must become a heart that forgives.
PUWADON SANG NGERN / PEXELS
F
WWW.KABOOMPICS.COM / PEXELS
amily misunderstandings are often the hardest to forgive because they touch the deepest parts of who we are. With family, we expect understanding, loyalty, and safety. When a misunderstanding happens, it can feel like a betrayal of those expectations, not just a simple mistake. Forgiveness in families often takes longer—not because people don’t care, but because they care so much. Taking time to process emotions, setting boundaries, and feeling genuinely understood often matter more than rushing to “move on.” If you are dealing with conflict in your family or among friends, you may ask, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who wrongs me?” What would you expect him to say? Saint Peter poses that very question, offering what he thought was a generous number: “As many as seven times?” (See Matthew 18:21–35.) Jesus, however, surprises him: “Not seven times but seventy-seven times.” In Jesus’ teaching, these words aren’t an invitation to do math; they’re an invitation into a
way of life shaped by mercy. We often come to Scripture seeking clear rules and limits, thinking spiritual life will be easier if we know just what we are supposed to do. But here, Jesus gently redirects our hearts. He isn’t giving Peter a quota to hit; he’s showing that the Christian life can’t be lived with a ledger in one hand and a list in the other. Mercy isn’t measured—it’s lived. To strengthen this teaching, Jesus offers the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant about a king whose servant who owes him an astronomical debt. The debt is so large that the man could never repay it in a lifetime. It’s a picture of how much we owe God: more than we could ever pay back on our own. The king calls the servant to settle accounts, and when the servant pleads for mercy, the king is moved with compassion and forgives everything. This should be where the story ends, with relief and gratitude. But it doesn’t. After receiving such extravagant mercy, the servant goes out and finds a fellow servant who owes him a much
smaller amount, and, without a second thought, the first servant demands payment. When his fellow servant begs for patience and mercy—mercy of the same kind the first servant just received—he refuses. Then, in a dramatic turn, the king hears of this and rebukes the unforgiving man, calling him “wicked,” and hands him over to be disciplined. This parable can feel unsettling. Why would Jesus include such a harsh ending? Because he wants to make a point that strikes at the core of who we are: A heart that has truly been forgiven must become a heart that forgives. God’s mercy is not a private relic we admire. It is a fire to be shared. The harshness of the king in this parable is not arbitrary cruelty. It’s a narrative device Jesus uses to show us how serious it is to receive mercy and then refuse it to others. The king’s reversal—withdrawing his earlier forgiveness when the servant proved unmerciful—underscores that grace is meant to be transformative and reflected in the way we treat others. If September-October 2026 // 866-848-2492 39
it’s not, then the very thing we claim to have received remains unowned in our hearts.
Forgiveness: A Conscious Choice
We all know what it feels like to be hurt. We know the sting of betrayal, the burn of gossip, the weight of unkind
words. When someone wrongs us, our first instinct is to protect ourselves, to balance the scales, to get even—in short, to say, “They owe me.” Jesus’ teaching calls us to something radically different. Forgiveness is not about excusing the wrong or pretending it didn’t matter. Rather, it is a conscious choice to release the debt in our heart
Jesus teaches us how to bear wounds without turning them into weapons.
so that resentment and bitterness do not take root. In Jesus’ own life, we see the power and cost of this kind of forgiveness. On the cross, he forgave those who nailed him there. He forgave Peter—even after Peter’s denial. He forgives us every time we turn to him in repentance. That boundless mercy we receive in Christ is the pattern we are invited to share with others. But let’s be honest: Forgiveness is hard. Really hard. It doesn’t always feel good. It doesn’t mean forgetting the hurt. It doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences for bad behavior. Jesus isn’t telling us to be doormats or to overlook injustice. He is teaching us how to bear wounds without turning them into weapons. Forgiveness means we refuse to let another person’s sin become a part of our permanent spiritual baggage. Forgiveness liberates us from the prison of our own resentment, which, if left unchecked, can become the very jailer of our souls. In the Catholic tradition, this teaching flows naturally from the life of the Church. In the sacrament of reconciliation, we experience again and again the mercy of God—a mercy that calls us
PAVEL DANILYUK / PEXELS
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not only to receive forgiveness but also to extend it to others. The Church reminds us that divine mercy is unlimited and that our willingness to forgive is tied to our openness to receiving God’s mercy. When we pray, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us,” we are reminded that receiving and giving forgiveness are inseparable. Sometimes our resistance to forgive others is really a resistance to believe that we can be forgiven. We carry guilt and shame long after God has pardoned us. We replay our mistakes in our minds, beating ourselves up for what we’ve done or failed to do. But if God forgives us completely and does not count our offenses against us— then what right do we have to hold another’s mistakes over his or her head?
Forgiveness: Received and Shared
Jesus’ parable exposes the lie that forgiveness is earned or deserved. It isn’t. It is received and then shared. Imagine how different our families,
workplaces, parishes, and communities would be if we took this gospel to heart: not keeping score, not holding grudges, not waiting for the “right” apology. Imagine forgiving the person who doesn’t deserve it—not because they have earned it, but because God has forgiven you far more than you can imagine. This kind of forgiveness doesn’t mean weakness. It means strength rooted in divine mercy. It means opening our hands when we would rather clench our fists. It means laying down our demands for justice long enough to offer compassion. It means stepping out of the prison of bitterness and into the freedom Christ won for us. So, when Jesus says seventy-seven times, he is calling us not to a countable task but to a lifelong posture of mercy. He is inviting us to live with open hearts, free from the compulsion to tally up our wrongs and quick to extend grace. Because in God’s kingdom, mercy begets mercy—and forgiveness isn’t a burden. Rather, it’s the path to deep peace and reconciliation.
A Prayer for Forgiveness Dear Lord, You know what it is to be wounded by people close to you. You were misunderstood, betrayed, and rejected. Please sit with me in this pain. Right now, I choose— not because it’s easy, but because I trust you— to begin forgiving [name the person or people silently or aloud]. I confess that I cannot do this on my own. Please give me your strength where mine runs out. When forgiveness feels impossible, remind me that your grace is enough. Mary, Mother of Mercy, who stood faithfully at the foot of the cross, pray for me as I learn to forgive with humility and trust. Help me keep my heart close to your Son.
AUGUST DE RICHELIEU / PEXELS
Amen.
Forgiveness isn’t earned or deserved. It is received and then shared.
Terry Hursh, MDiv, JD, was a Lutheran pastor for thirtytwo years, serving parishes in both Canada and the United States. He reverted to the Catholicism of his youth after retiring. He is also a practicing attorney and current student of canon law. He resides in Fort Wayne, Indiana. September-October 2026 // 866-848-2492 41
Meditation
Faith, Hope, Resolve A WIDOW FINDS CONSOLATION IN HER PROFOUND GRIEF
A
ILLUSTRATION BY GULLENDA / SHUTTERSTOCK
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ANNE FORCELLA SKALITZA
s my husband, Joe, took his last breaths, I held his hand, silently pleading, Don’t leave me, please don’t leave me. Please don’t! The priest who had been summoned out of a warm bed to administer the anointing of the sick motioned for me to move a bit so he could pray over my husband. I stumbled over the well-known prayers, choking down the knot in my throat. Father said some words to me, touched my shoulder, and left. And I went back to my vigil, clutching Joe’s hand, not wanting to let go. The machines beeped in chaotic time, then blared a steady tone. A death knell. An icicle drew down my back, and I collapsed at my husband’s side. I think I screamed. I don’t know; I don’t remember. I heard the swishing of someone entering the room. Switches clicked off. The cacophony of noise abruptly stopped. It was too quiet in that sterile otherworldly hospital room. My tears ran onto his stillwarm fingers as I held on tight, the way I did during both of our sons’ births. Joe had never said a word back then. Strange how life is. He had held on to me so tightly, and now I was doing the same. My tears wet his cheek as I kissed my husband goodbye for the last time. I removed his thick gold wedding band and as I placed it in my pocket, my own ring, firmly in place on my left hand, clinked against his. As I slowly made my way down the long corridors in the deep quiet of the hospital, I shook my head and thought, Why? Is this all real? The first thing I noticed after I entered my darkened house was the silence, the emptiness. But then my two sons appeared stock-still on the stairway landing. They knew. I made my way up to them and we collapsed on the floor, sobbing. I whispered, “Your dad is now safe and happy with God. But I am here, and we’re a team.” Five hours later, my quiet house was raucous with an unplanned party. Food abounded, the doorbell constantly rang, and people hugged me tight. OK, we’re having a party, I inanely thought. But why were people holding on tightly to their significant others as if they were clinging to life preservers? And where was my husband in this crowd? Joe? Joe! Evening came too fast, and it was time to make “the arrangements,” as the funeral director solemnly said. He bowed
a smidgen and offered me something to drink. I paused. I was tempted to request “Wine—merlot if you have it.” I might have, even. I don’t remember. Before he ran off to fetch chamomile tea, he wrote something down, probably “The deceased is survived by his wife, who seemingly can’t think straight.” Actually, it was my version of magical thinking. Funeral homes should offer more than tea; perhaps a tray of petit fours while perusing the album of remembrance cards. Coffee will not do. The bereaved don’t wish to be jostled into reality. Thankfully, my husband and I had discussed what we wanted when we died. We had agreed on simplicity. Joe wanted a memorial Mass and private burial. As a testament to his deep love of the Catholic Church and volunteering with the Knights of Columbus, the Mass was standing room only. The repast was just as crowded, redolent of our wedding reception. But I had no Joe to hold me close and whisper, “I love you, my Annie.” That was packed away among my memories. In the dog-eared book of life, this was a new chapter. But like a child struggling with reading comprehension, the story I found that the so-called last stage of seemed—to me—jumbled. grief, known as acceptance, is not true. One morning, several weeks later, I woke up and felt my There is no acceptance; that’s too nal. wedding band pinching my finger. The words “Until death do us part” that we had said thirty-eight years ago had come true. Back then, at such a young age, death meant nothing to us. It was only for the old. But I wasn’t old! A sob leaped from my throat and I hushed it, scared that I’d never stop crying. I slowly pulled the worn gold ring from my finger and cushioned it next to Joe’s thick gold band in the little hidden compartment of my jewelry box. Several months later, I took a deep breath and started rummaging through my late husband’s clothes and baseball caps and assorted memorabilia, inhaling his scent. My heart dropped. I dropped to the floor. A black trash bag sat by my side, yawning open, ready to grab anything I tossed its way, accusing me of throwing away my husband’s memory. I pulled a large plastic bin closer to me, shoving the trash bag aside. “There. Happy now?” I said to no one. As I packed my husband’s worn sweatshirts and faded caps (“Fish, Eat, Sleep” was his favorite) into the bin, and it quickly overflowed, I wondered, How does one pack a lifetime of life into one container? I had trouble closing the lid, mostly because I just wouldn’t do it. I found grief to be like wandering into a dark cave, heart pounding, no light ahead, just rough walls to feel my way forward as it drew me farther and farther into its maw. My toes reached open air, and I steadied myself, leaning backward. I wondered, Do I turn back to the comfort of knowing there is a way out but stay stuck in time? Do I wait here for help? Do I try to jump over the crevice to the other side—the unknown? I prayed, Please, God, help me. Finally, one day, I chose to jump. My feet landed on solid ground. My heart ached Anne Forcella Skalitza attended from the exertion, but it gradually slowed down to a steady beat. I found that the soCatholic schools called last stage of grief, known as acceptance, is not true. There is no acceptance; from kindergarten that’s too final. Grief continues on, but it’s different. I call it “acknowledgment.” through college And then I realized that a bit of hope rose from that small but meaningful action of and taught second grade for nine years at St. Catharine’s removing my wedding ring those months ago. My Joe isn’t physically with me, yet he School in Spring Lake, NJ. Her is with me—in spirit. He is the cardinal on the flowering branch of the dogwood. husband, Joe, was a Knight of He is in certain mannerisms that our sons exhibit. He stands in church with me as I Columbus before his sudden passing. Anne still helps the sing “On Eagle’s Wings.” He is here. I will see him again, in God’s time, for as in Knights with youth events, and 1 Thessalonians 4:13: “We do not want you to be unaware...about those who have fallen the organization has been a asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.” blessing to her and her two sons, Matthew and Michael. And with God by my side, I walk on. September-October 2026 // 866-848-2492 43
The Catholic Observer
YOUR INDEPENDENT SOURCE OF NEWS AND VIEWS ON THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
In Lebanon, Pilgrims Walk Through the World’s Largest Rosary
The Rosary of Lebanon, Deir al-Ahmar, Lebanon PHOTO COURTESY OF ROSARY OF LEBANON/INSTAGRAM
It’s a rosary unlike any other, with its fifty-nine concrete beads, each nearly 16 feet long by 11 feet wide, stretching across 2,000 feet of the hills of Deir al-Ahmar in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. The world’s largest rosary—the Rosaire du Liban, or Rosary of Lebanon—beckons pilgrims to walk through the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries and to contemplate representations of the Stations of the Cross, icons from the the gospels, and the Acts of the Apostles. The fifty-three Hail Mary beads double as miniature shrines dedicated to different saints, with information about their lives, while the six Our Father beads are being converted into confessionals, soon to be completed. A pathway winding through the beads leads to the massive Cross of the Resurrection, which houses a small educational center teaching visitors how to pray the rosary and a subterranean room where the faithful contemplate the Blessed Sacrament. Gary Gately is the founder and editor of The Catholic Observer, a subscription-based newsletter. Gately, a lifelong Catholic, is an award-winning journalist who has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, the National Catholic Reporter, America: The Jesuit Review, Newsweek, The Baltimore Sun, The Boston Globe, the Center for Public Integrity, CNBC.com and United Press International. Please email news tips or suggestions to Garymichaelgately@gmail.com.
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The pilgrimage site complex, open twenty-four hours a day, also includes a monastery where monks live and a church where Masses are celebrated regularly. Masses will also be celebrated at a large outdoor amphitheater, still under construction. When the giant rosary is completed, the beads will be illuminated so they can be seen from the sky and from miles around—a beacon of hope, faith and God’s love. The project traces its roots to 2006, when a young Lebanese man experienced a “spiritual encounter” when he visited Medjugorje, where the Virgin Mary appeared to six children in a small mountain village in 1981 and identified herself as the Queen of Peace. The man, who prefers to remain anonymous and did not provide details, said the experience at Medjugorje inspired him to create the pilgrimage site dedicated to the Blessed Mother, linking the Christian villages of Deir el-Ahmar and Bechwat. The Bekaa Valley has long been known for its devotion to the Virgin Mary, and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Bechwat draws hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, with many pilgrims attributing miracles to her intercession. Construction of the Rosary of Lebanon began in 2008, backed by the Lebanese Maronite Order and a private association, but the team that created the Rosary of Lebanon has also chosen to remain anonymous. A representative confirmed details of the project in an email to The Catholic Observer. Christians in the Bekaa region have long endured the ravages of war, persecution, political instability, and economic crisis. The Rosary of Lebanon, then, represents a prayer—a plea for the Virgin Mary’s intercession for her protection and peace in the region.
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The Catholic Observer
YOUR INDEPENDENT SOURCE OF NEWS AND VIEWS ON THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
“The Biggest and Heaviest Season”: The Chosen Unveils Trailer for Season 6 The first teaser trailer has been released for the longawaited Season 6 of The Chosen, portraying the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus. The season’s first three episodes will debut on Sunday, November 15, with weekly episodes to follow through December 6. The season finale will be released as a standalone theatrical debut on March 12, 2027. The show’s production company, 5&2 Studios, said that Season 6 “captures the historic events of Jesus’ final day through the lives of those who love him—and those who condemn him. Pharisees call it justice. Romans call it peace. Followers call it murder. But in the face of loneliness and death, Jesus stands resolute in a plan that has always led to one place: the cross.” The 90-second trailer opens with Jesus (Jonathan Roumie) wearing a crown of thorns and a robe over his shoulders as a tearful Mary (Vanessa Benavente) tells her son, “My boy, my heart. I’m here.” The trailer then shows scenes including Roman soldiers weaving a crown of thorns, Jesus being led from the Garden of Gethsemane, Pontius Pilate (Andrew James Allen) speaking to a large crowd as Mary Magdalene (Elizabeth Tabish) looks on, and Jesus praying before his scourging. The trailer closes with Jesus saying from the cross: “Father, forgive them!” Jenkins called the upcoming season “the most important and biggest and heaviest season we’ve ever done,” but added, “There’s also moments of pure joy and meaning as well, which you wouldn’t expect in a season
about the crucifixion. But I really want you to lean into this.” He also announced that a new album of music inspired by the show will be released this fall. The first single, “All I Need Is You,” by country star Tyler Hubbard, will be released August 7. “My wife, my three kids and I have a nightly ritual of watching The Chosen,” Hubbard said in a statement. “We really got into it! It’s a show that I love and am connected to, so I was really excited to personally be a part of the show and part of the music.”
Recent headlines from The Catholic Observer * A Look Back at Pope Leo’s Epic Journey to Spain * Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Challenge to Ban On Anti-Abortion Flyers At High School * Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Calls for Abolishing State’s Death Penalty * Pope Leo: “Conicts Are Fed More Readily Than People Are Nourished” * California Court Takes Up Challenge to State’s Bid to Make Abortion Reversal Illegal * Pope Leo Delivers Last-Ditch Plea to Traditionalist Group to Back Off on “Schismatic” Ordination of Bishops * On Eve of America’s 250th Birthday, Pope Leo Extols America’s Heritage of Protecting God-Given Human Dignity, Welcoming Immigrants * On America’s Independence Day, Pope Leo Honors Migrants Who Died Crossing the Mediterranean * Cause for Canonization for Nobel Prize–Winning Scandinavian Novelist Sigrid Undset to Open This Fall * Vatican Denies Reports of Ex-Jesuit Father Marko Rupnik’s Acquittal * Nun Speaks Out About ICE Agents Arresting Her as She Walked to Mass in Texas
Jonathan Roumie as Jesus carries the cross in Season 6 of The Chosen. PHOTO COURTESY OF 5&2 STUDIOS
* Pope Leo Offers Message of Hope for Elderly Who Feel Forgotten, Abandoned
September-October 2026 // 866-848-2492 45
AROUND THE TABLE
Bacon Breakfast Bites
Venerable Fulton Sheen The Television Priest
1895–1979 * Feast day: December 9 Patron of media and evangelization Born in 1895 in a small town in Illinois, Fulton Sheen grew up with a strong faith and a love for learning. Even as a child, he knew he wanted to be a priest. After many years of studying, he finally became a priest in 1919. But Fulton Sheen wasn’t just any priest—he had a special talent for speaking, and he loved sharing the teachings of Jesus with as many people as possible. He became famous for his radio and television shows, where he talked about faith in a way that was easy to understand and full of hope. His TV show, Life Is Worth Living, was watched by millions of people each week, making him one of the most well-known and beloved Catholic figures of his time. Fulton Sheen was great at delivering short, powerful messages that stuck with people long after they heard them. He knew how to explain even the most difficult ideas in simple ways that everyone could understand. His words were like little bites of wisdom that fed people’s souls and helped them feel closer to God. Even though he became famous, Venerable Fulton Sheen stayed humble and always wanted to serve others. He traveled around the world, giving talks and writing books that still inspire people today. His life shows us how important it is to have faith and share God’s love with everyone we meet. To remember Venerable Fulton Sheen and his bitesized wisdom, enjoy these Bacon Breakfast Bites. Just as his simple yet thoughtful words brought hope and joy to many people, these hearty bites will give you a nourishing way to start your day. Venerable Fulton Sheen, pray for us!
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Ingredients (Makes 12)
Tools Checklist
6 slices bacon, cut in half
Knife
12 eggs
12-cup muffin pan
Salt and pepper, to taste
Measuring cups
½ cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Oven mitts
Instructions 1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. 2. Place one slice of bacon in each cup of a 12-cup muffin pan, arranging the bacon in a circle around the sides of the cup. 3. Bake the bacon for 10 minutes. Remove the muffin pan from the oven. 4. Crack 1 egg into each of the cups, then sprinkle with salt, pepper, and cheddar cheese. 5. Bake for another 10 minutes or until the egg yolks reach your desired consistency. 6. Run a knife around the edge of each cup to loosen and remove, then serve. From Saintly Bites for Children: Mixing Faith, Fun & Family Time in the Kitchen ©2025, Shelby Siegfried; illustrated by Ted Schluenderfritz (828744, Liguori Publications). To order, visit Liguori.org or call 800325-9521.
Fulton Sheen’s beatification is scheduled for September 24, 2026
The “Holy Antivenom”
Kitchen Table Gospel TIM AND JULIE SMITH
I
n 2009, I (Tim) had the unique experience of being bitten by a rattlesnake. The Western Diamondback was hibernating in a ski boot bag, and when I reached in, the snake stuck its fangs into my finger, right above my wedding ring. The first course of action in the emergency room was to inject an antivenom into my bloodstream to counteract the poison. This experience, while not pleasant for Julie and the rest of the family, served as an instructive metaphor for us and provided at least three important lessons for the journey of family life: Immediately after the bite, I wanted to go back to the bag and kill the snake, but my family wisely convinced me to seek medical help right away. As my wife (Julie), my sister (Cecilia), and my son (Jeremiah) were taking me to the ER, we received simple advice: breathe, stay calm, elevate the wound above the heart, and do not overreact. We did not slash the wound, suck out the poison, or put a tourniquet on. We took simple, practical, healthy steps that slowed—rather than accelerated—the toxin. My family took care of me and, ultimately, saved my life. Lesson 1: Never underestimate the wisdom of simply breathing and staying calm. The first step they took in the ER was to cut off my wedding ring. The doctor informed us that the swelling could cause the loss of the finger. However, the doctor also said that the wedding ring initially had provided a beneficial effect that prevented the poison from circulating through the rest of my body. Amazing how, out of ten fingers, the In healthy families, we learn how to share, how one with the wedding ring (which symbolizes the start of to sacrifice, and how to be interdependent. Catholic family life) was the one the serpent bit. Lesson 2: Tolkien may have written about the power of “the ring,” but never underestimate the power of the wedding ring! A starting point for the spiritual life is the acceptance that we are both favored and flawed. We have an inherent God-given goodness, yet we fall short. We need, always, God’s grace. Each of us is “infected” with the venom (sin) of selfishness. We need an “antivenom.” Certainly, as Catholics, we are drawn to the sacraments (Eucharist, reconciliation, anointing of the sick) to heal and strengthen us. But authentic family life serves as a powerful antivenom to counteract our selfishness. In healthy families, we learn how to share, how to sacrifice, and how to be interdependent. We learn that we are not the center of the universe. My family has called me out of my own little world and coerced both generosity and self-sacrifice from me in ways unimaginable during my single, pre-family life. I am tearfully inspired by my son, Jeremiah, who witnessed the whole snake-bite experience. He is now a family man with a beautiful wife and daughter. He sacrificially demonstrates his love for his family in daily interactions that we witness regularly. Lesson 3: Never underestimate how family life (spouse, children) can bring out the best in us. So, in words often attributed to St. Teresa of Calcutta in her 1979 Nobel Prize acceptance speech: “The way you help heal the world is you start with your own family.” A ALEX GREEN/ PEXELS
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Fiction
Colored Docks
A HAND REACHED INTO THE WATER TRIGGERS A MEMORY SUBMERGED IN THE MIND ALLISON RAMIREZ
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A
n elderly woman rocked in a wooden chair at the end of a dock. The dock belonged to an equally elderly man with blue overalls who was standing at the edge of his green lawn, watching her. It was one of the coldest days of fall, and the blades of grass at his feet struggled to sway in the wind, given the bits of frost on their tips. The man was standing several yards from the woman, but he was close enough to hear her whisper, to no one in particular, “This dock meant something to me once.” The man furrowed his brow, stepping closer. His boots made a careful crunch, flattening the frosty grass as he strained to make out her words. The woman didn’t seem to notice, saying, “If only I could recall what it was.” She closed her eyes, letting scattered images coalesce and glide into bold colors within her mind’s eye. The old woman fiddled with a gold ring, a blue blanket draped across her knees, as she frowned. “That’s not the right memory.” She squinted through the wind that whipped through her white hair. “My dear, you can remember,” the man in the blue overalls whispered, moving toward her over the grass, his green eyes focused on her back. She furrowed her brow as she shifted to ease the ache in her hips, completely oblivious to the man’s interest in her. As she reached a hand toward the water, her mind sinking into memory, the man took another step closer.
❁ “Francis!” Margaret’s feet pounded beneath her as she sprinted across the dirt road. Up ahead, a shirtless boy with curly blond hair laughed and sang. “Francis, wait up!” Her face burned beneath the hot sun. Her water shoes slapped the pavement like pancakes being flipped as she chased after him. “We have to wait for Chelsey and Miles!” she shouted.
Though he wasn’t overly tall, Francis was faster than Margaret. Fittingly named after St. Francis of Assisi, her Francis also adored the outdoors, spending every waking moment of summer racing barefoot across the sand, traipsing through forests, or swimming in the lake, singing his namesake’s “Canticle of the Sun” until the words repeated in her mind like a soundtrack, even in her sleep. Their parents had first rented neighboring lakeside cabins five summers ago, so they had spent every summer together since then. Now they were fifteen. Francis turned around as he neared the top of the hill. The sun glinted off his pale cheeks, making him look outlandishly like a bright star. “All praise be yours, my Lord, through sister water, so useful, lowly, precious, and pure,” he sang, waving at her and pointing to the lake waters below. Margaret huffed up the hill, then punched his arm when she reached his side, gasping for breath. “Why…didn’t… you…wait for me?”
“This dock meant something to me once.” “I felt like r unning.” Francis shrugged. The smile he gave melted her frustrations away. Margaret adjusted the shoulder straps of her one-piece suit, wishing she had remembered to bring a towel. “Did you at least remember to bring the rings?” “Course I did!” Francis reached into the soggy pocket of his swim trunks. “See?” He held out four rings, large enough to fit around a person’s neck. Margaret smiled at the colors: one purple, one red, one green, one blue. As they rounded the corner of the stretch of road beneath them, Chelsey and Miles came walking into sight, laughing together.
Margaret crossed her arms and popped a hip. “Hurry up!” she called, waving an arm. When Chelsey and Miles had ascended the small slope and were standing in front of them, Francis pointed to the lake at the bottom of the hill. “Today, we go fishing for rings!” “Whoa, man, why rings?” Miles leaned in closer. “The ring is a symbol of unbroken bonds, just like our friendship.” “That’s intense, man.” “We can each give one to someone in the group as a sign of our unbreakable bond.” Margaret noticed that he looked directly at her as he said the words. “So, who wants which color?” Francis asked. After they had all chosen, Francis peered at the ring remaining in his hand. “That leaves just the blue one, Margaret,” Miles said, stating the obvious. “Guess you’ll be getting that one from Francis.” He jabbed his friend in the side. “First one to the lake gets to toss theirs in first!” Francis exclaimed, taking off in a dead sprint. Margaret rubbed her skin, in no hurry to race after him. She was content just to watch his form fade into the distance, his crazy, curly hair bouncing across the top of his head. He really wasn’t that remarkable of a boy, and yet… When they had all gotten to the dock at the edge of the lake, the evening sun was beginning to set around them. The air was cool, but Margaret smiled, removed her shoes, and set them on the edge of the dock. “Hurry up already! Throw it in!” Miles shouted. Margaret waited for Francis to act. He opened his mouth, looked as if he were about to say something, then closed it. Miles pushed him. “Go on already!” Francis looked once more at Margaret before turning away. He pulled back his arm and threw the blue ring September-October 2026 // 866-848-2492 49
into the water. Then he leaned over so quickly that Margaret barely had time to gasp as he whispered, so that only she could hear, “I’m sorry I didn’t wait for you, and I’m getting you that ring.” Before she could respond, he was barreling down the dock to dive into the water. Miles laughed. “Can’t wait to see the look on his face when he comes up with nothing. No way is he gonna get that ring—not when he threw it clear out to the middle of the lake.” The minutes elapsed in an instant, like a million little lights piercing the air at once. Margaret watched the water. She took a step forward. “Where is he?” Miles didn’t respond. The water was completely still. From somewhere far off, a bird called, piercing the silence. “Where is he?” she asked again, more abruptly this time. Miles furrowed his brow. Chelsey sighed, looking up from her nails as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Yeah, Miles, where is he?” “I…don’t know,” he said softly. Margaret looked at him, a sudden
50 September-October 2026 // Liguorian.org
wave of nausea rolling over her stomach. Her voice exploded. “Miles! It’s been way too long. Do something!” Miles’ face was stone white. “I… I…” “Saint Francis, help! Please God, no!” Margaret raced down the dock and dove into the deep, slicing her arms through the water as fast as she could as she propelled herself out to the center of the lake. She swam down, forced her eyes open, and shuddered as the liquid hit her pupils. The lake was murky, filled with so much greenery and dirt that she couldn’t see anything.
“The ring is a symbol of unbroken bonds, just like our friendship.” She came up for breath and could hear Miles and Chelsey calling out from the dock. She went down again, forcing herself to go deeper and deeper until she felt as if her lungs were about to burst. Her vision got cloudy; her thoughts went fuzzy. The world around her slowed to nothing. She felt her chest flutter, and she gurgled for air that wasn’t coming. She closed her eyes. A hand touched her shoulder. She felt fingers, cool and soft, at her back. She shifted, her eyes still closed. “Margaret!” The voice called to her from somewhere above. She turned in the darkness. “Margaret!” Margaret looked up, searching for a face above the water. She peered through the haze. “Francis?” she asked. “Margaret,” the voice repeated gently. “Margaret, dear.”
She reached out her hand, clawing away the muck and weeds, searching for his hand—searching for the boy she loved—in the water that went down forever. The old woman opened her eyes. “Margaret?” She peered into the face of an old man standing above her. The sun was blinding, and she squinted to make out his stark white hair and his blue overalls. His eyes were so green, just like Francis’. “Margaret,” he said again. His hand was resting on her shoulder. His eyes looked at her so deeply that she didn’t have the words to speak, so she looked away, gripping the arms of her chair as she noticed, for the first time, the green dock directly across the lake. She gazed to her left and noticed a purple dock, and then she saw a red dock to her right. She looked down at the colored boards beneath her feet. They were blue. “I’ll be,” she breathed, sliding slippered feet across the knobby slats, suddenly desiring to stand. The man with the blue overalls watched her with interest. “This is a blue dock,” she said. “I… I love blue.” She stared into the eyes of the man above her. “There was this… young boy I once knew.” The man nodded. “Yes, dear, do you remember?” The old woman sighed, tilting her head as the man reached into the pocket of his overalls. “He was my best friend, you see.” Her eyes were a million miles away. “I was going to tell him I loved him.” The man nodded. Tears pricked the edges of his eyes. “And you know what he said?” she asked. He shook his head. She leaned forward in her chair. “He whispered in my ear so quickly I almost missed it—and I’ll never forget—he said he was going to get the ring for me, and then he added, ‘Margaret, I’m
gonna love you forever.’” She sighed. “And these lovely docks! There are so many colors.” The man nodded. “Yes, Margaret. I painted them for you. To help you remember.” He pointed one by one to the four docks on the north, south, east, and west sides of the lake. “You see: red, purple, green, and blue docks.” He peered tentatively into her eyes, looking desperately for a spark. The old woman furrowed her brow. “And why would you do a thing like that?” “For you, Chelsey, Miles, and me.” The old woman pursed her lips, folding her hands. “I…” She squeezed her eyes shut. “I thought he drowned that day in a lake just like this.” She spun the gold ring on her finger round and round, flustered. She frowned up at him. “Why am I here at this lake, anyway?” Margaret wrapped her blanket around herself, murmuring softly. “Margaret,” the man said as he placed his hand on her chair, kneeling so that he was at eye level with her. “I have something to give you.”
“All praise be yours, my Lord, through sister water, so useful, lowly, precious, and pure.” —Saint Francis “All right.” Margaret’s heart beat against her frail chest as he pulled his hand from his pocket and held out four colored rings. “Oh, they’re so beautiful,” she whispered. He nodded, leaning into her ear and whispering something only the two of them could hear. When he set the blue ring in her hand, Margaret felt the heavy, dark cloud within her dissipating. “Francis.” Margaret whispered the name so delicately, as if she were afraid if she spoke his name aloud, it would break into a thousand pieces around her, taking the memory of him with it.
Bible Quiz answers from page 52
He smiled and nodded, drawing her small hands up within his large ones. “I thought…” Margaret touched his ringlet curls. Francis rested his forehead against hers. “You found me that day,” he whispered. “You came to me in the water, and you pulled me up.” Margaret stopped twisting the gold band—set with bright blue stones—on her finger. “I made it, my dear.” He followed her eyes down to the ring on her finger and added, “We made it.” And then he began to sing. “Blessed are those who endure in peace, for by you, Most High, they shall be crowned.” Margaret held onto him. Held onto that memory. Held onto that moment. A
Allison Ramirez is the owner of Trinity Tree Publishing (trinitytreepublishing.com), a small business dedicated to helping Christian authors write, edit, and self-publish their books. She has authored seven books: The Divided Kingdom and The Rosary Invitations series. She has a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in theology.
Catholic Crossword answers from page 53
1
E (Nm 13:17, 30)
14
G (Jgs 4:4–5)
2
L (Acts 8:26)
15
H (Gn 7:13)
3
D (Ps 137:1)
16
W (2 Kgs 11:2–3)
4 I (1 Kgs 19:19)
17
V (Ru 1:3–4)
5
Y (Mt 4:21)
18
C (Gal 1:17)
6
B (2 Sm 3:2)
19
P (Acts 28:1–3)
7
R (Jn 3:1–2)
20 J (Lk 1:28–37)
8
A (Gn 13:2)
21
9
O (Lk 5:27–32, Mk 2:13–17)
22 K (Gn 2:10)
10
T (Mt 8:14–15)
11
Q (Mk 6:1–2)
24 F (Mt 4:13)
12
M (Mt 3:13–17)
13
N (Jn 7:1–10)
U (Jn 19:22)
23 X (Jn 6:1) 25 S (Tb 1:2–10)
D A V I D T R E E D I E S A L O N E H O L Y E R I E M A I D S R A K E B O N E E N D E A R E D G D A N S K B L U E S L U R E S T E E W H A C K I N G P O P E S C O A S T M I A U S E D M A R K S L A C E C I A S U L L Y D A C H A E N R I C H E D M I N C E S A A B S T A G A S W A R M Z I G G U R A T S A R I M E A L R A I S E I L I A A N N A A G A T E S E T H D E E S M E L O N www.wordgamesforcatholics.com
September-October 2026 // 866-848-2492 51
Bible Quiz
Rate yourself on your knowledge of Scripture. Match the first column with the second. Answers are on page 51.
1. Advised Moses to seize the land of Canaan ________
A. Abram
2. An angel told Philip to take the road that leads here ________
B. Amnon
3. Captives sat by this river and wept for Zion ________
C. Arabia
4. Elijah found him plowing with 12 yoke of oxen ________
D. Babylon
5. Father of James and John ________
E. Caleb
6. First-born of David ________
F. Capernaum
7. He came to Jesus at night ________
G. Deborah
8. He was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold ________
H. Eight
9. Jesus called him in the Gospels of Mark and Luke ________
I. Elisha
10. Jesus cured his mother-in-law ________
J. Elizabeth
11. Jesus taught in the synagogue here ________
K. Four
12. Jesus was baptized here ________
L. Gaza
13. Jesus went here secretly for the Feast of the Tabernacles ________
M. Jordan
14. Judge who had the habit of sitting under a palm tree ________
N. Judea
15. Number of people on the ark ________
O. Levi
16. Number of years Joash was hidden in the Temple ________
P. Malta
17. Orpah’s sister-in-law ________
Q. Nazareth
18. Paul went here before he went to see the Apostles ________
R. Nicodemus
19. Place where a viper bit Paul ________
S. Nineveh
20. Relative of Mary ________
T. Peter
21. Said, “What I have written, I have written.” ________
U. Pilate
22. The river in Eden divided into this many branches ________
V. Ruth
23. Sea also known as Galilee ________
W. Six
24. It’s near the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali ________
X. Tiberias
25. Tobit was a captive here ________
Y. Zebedee
Quiz Ratings 11–15 Correct = Novice «
16–20 Correct = Good «««
52 September-October 2026 // Liguorian.org
21–25 Correct = Outstanding «««««
“Catholic Crossword” and “Bible Quiz” are produced by Gabriel Publications. Liguori Publications is not responsible for their content. Please direct questions or comments to Gabriel Publications at info@wordgamesforcatholics.com.
ACROSS
1
1 6
Greatest king of Israel Plant in the story of the fall 10 “None of us lives to himself, and none of us ___ to himself.” (Rom 14:7) 14 “One does not live by bread ___” (Mt 4:4) 15 One of the marks of the Church 16 Iroquois foe 17 “And pretty ____ all in a row” 18 Yard implement 19 “…____ of my bones and flesh of my …” (Gen 2:23) 20 Made beloved 22 Danzig 24 The ___ Army of Mary 25 Insult 26 First name in cosmetics 28 Striking 32 John, Paul and John Paul 33 Seashore 34 Ms. Farrow 35 Applied 36 The four ___ of the Church 37 Ornamental fabric 38 Agency headed by uncle of Cardinal Dulles 39 Tarnish 40 Russian country house 41 Fortified 43 Chop into small pieces 44 Car maker 45 Male deer 46 Teeming 49 What the Tower of Babel probably was 53 Indian garb 54 The Mass is both a sacrifice and a ___ 56 “I will ___ up a righteous branch for David” (Jer 23:5) 57 Hip bones 58 Prophet in Luke (Lk 2:36)
2
3
4
Catholic Crossword
5
6
7
9
10
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
24 26
27 33
35 39
30
31
51
52
40
42
47
29
37
43
44 46
13
34
36
41
12
23
28
38
11
25
32
45
48
49
50
53
54
57
58
59
60
61
62
59 Playing marble 60 Son of Adam 61 Barely passing grades 62 Watery fruit
DOWN 1
8
Second word in the name of a French basilica 2 Shepard in space 3 Empty 4 Beholden 5 Francis ___, Patron Saint of Journalists 6 Number of days Jonah spent in the belly of a large fish (Jon 1:17) 7 ___ to Emmaus 8 North American deer 9 Monocle 10 Get off the ship
55
56
www.wordgamesforcatholics.com
11 False prophet Zedekiah made himself two horns out of this (I Kings 22:11) 12 Ones in Berlin 13 Search 21 Regret 23 Conduit 25 Uncertain 26 Reddish dye 27 Weapon 28 “…___ without end. Amen” 29 OT historical book 30 Recess in a wall 31 Greek goddess of the earth 32 Brownish purple 33 A scout for Moses 36 Founder of Islam 37 The whole earth had one before the Tower of Babel
39 Lasting mark 40 Schematic 42 One of the prophets 43 Appt. calendar note
45 Paul’s companion on his missionary travels 46 Bargain words 47 Place to find a good buy 48 Sealed document 49 Author Grey 50 Monetary unit of Iran 51 Concerning 52 Mall denizen 55 Wind direction
Answers are on page 51. Catholic Word Games by Mary Bartlett is available from Liguori Publications (814303). To order, call 800-325-9521 or visit liguori.org.
September-October 2026 // 866-848-2492 53
The Lighter Side
J
Bytes & Chuckles • The biggest joke on humanity is that computers have begun asking humans to prove they aren’t robots. • Just once, I want a username and password prompt to say, “Close enough!” • Last night, the internet stopped working, so I spent a few hours with my family. They seem like nice people. • Respect your elders. They graduated from school without the internet. • My teenager didn’t order anything from Amazon yesterday, so the delivery guy knocked on our door to make sure we were OK. • For those of you that don’t want Alexa or Siri listening in on your conversations, they are making a male version—it doesn’t listen to anything.
Course Correction • Question: You have $400. Your daughter texts you that she needs $200, and your son texts you that he needs $150. How much money do you have now? Answer: $400 and two unread messages!
More Child Wisdom Well-known proverbs completed by third-graders. • A penny saved is…not much. • Two’s company, three’s…the Musketeers. • Don’t put off ‘til tomorrow what you…put on to go to bed. • Laugh and the whole world laughs with you; cry and…you have to blow your nose.
During World War II, a large warship was cruising the North Atlantic on a dark, foggy night. As it plowed through the waves, the watch spotted a steady light ahead, directly in the ship’s path. The captain ordered a signal sent: “Unknown vessel, alter your course 15 degrees to port to avoid collision.” Back came the reply: “Negative. Kindly alter your course 15 degrees to starboard.” Irritated, the captain seized the signal lamp himself: “This is a fleet flagship, displacing thousands of tons and carrying a crew of 5,000. Alter your course 15 degrees to port at once.” After a brief pause, the answer flashed back: “Understood, sir. This is a lighthouse. I’m afraid the next move is yours.”
• You can’t have your cake…unless it’s your birthday. If you have jokes or amusing stories you’d like to share, please email them for consideration to Liguorianeditor@Liguori.org, or mail them to Liguorian Editor,200 Liguori Drive, Liguori, MO 63057.
Br. Raymond Pierce, CSsR, supplies the humor for “The Lighter Side.” To receive his complimentary weekly emails, “Morning Smiles,” email him at raymondcssr@gmail.com. SANKO
PRAYING FOR FISH
54 September-October 2026 // Liguorian.org
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Eucharistic Poetry
The Breaking of the Bread I gaze with longing and love at the host Bread broken… Bread of life… Fruit of love… Your life in me Your love in me. Break me, Lord, of stubbornness, of unforgiveness, of anything that is not of you. Fashion me into yourself so I can be bread for others, loving your people with your love. Jeanette Martino Land is a freelance writer and a member of St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church in Singer Island, Florida. As a Passionist Associate, she presents Days of Prayer, and she and her husband, Jack, have made two missionary trips to Haiti. Jeanette has two sons and one granddaughter.
EUCHARISTIC GRACES Poems for Pondering God’s Presence Jeanette Martino Land
Eucharistic Graces: Poems for Pondering God’s Presence JEANETTE MARTINO L AND
This collection invites readers into quiet contemplation of the Eucharist—the Sacrament of Love that nourishes, sustains, and unites us to Christ and to one another. Through more than 100 haiku and reflective poems, these verses awaken faith, delight the senses, and open the heart to Christ’s presence in every moment of life. Ideal for personal prayer, meditation, and spiritual direction, they serve as springboards for deeper contemplation of the Real Presence. 439157 | $22.99
Order today. Visit Liguori.org or call 800-325-9521. Liguori Publications Catholic. Pastoral. Trusted.