Education – Page 5 – Joseph Stoutzenberger

Sacramental Seeing: Are There Limits?

A particularly touching religious site for me was the little chapel of St. Francis in the grand basilica in Assisi, erected in his honor. I discovered, however, that the most moving and heart-wrenching place I visited was the remains of the concentration camp at Dachau.

The Woman Wearing a Hat

I do know that I left bothered by what I had done or, in this case, not done. Wasn’t the message of Jesus that we are supposed to be bothered by people around us in need? Didn’t he tell us that no one is to be left out? And I gave voice to that message when I called out “hospitality” as being a sign of God at work within the human community.

Woke Catholicism

I realized that I could not write about “Catholicism” without recognizing the reality of sexual abuse that has taken place in the church in the recent past and today. I looked at other books that described themselves as offering an introduction to or an overview of Catholicism. None that I found addressed this dark side of Catholicism.

What about Angels?

Angels are messengers from God who serve as protectors and heralds of good news. In the Old Testament, they tend to appear as human beings, often unexpectedly.

Aidan’s Grandpas

All of a sudden, that person in front of us is not just an isolated individual separate from us but is someone who wishes us peace, as we wish them peace as well. In some more progressive settings, people actually move out of their pew and wander around, offering peace to as many people as they can reach. The symbolism is clear: We are family.

Vatican Council II: Evolution or Revolution?

Vatican II ended in 1965 and ushered in not only external changes but also changes in attitude and ambiance as well. I noticed the transformation that took place over the next decade and presumed that this was unanticipated and unprecedented for Catholicism, not just a renovation but a revolution.

Compassion vs. Dispassion

which way this way that way right way wrong way text on wooden signpost outdoors by the beach at sunset

I saw a value to general principles providing guidance for moral decision making, but I also feared that this top-down approach could miss the rich variety that exists among individual persons and the complexity of situations in which they find themselves.

The Holiness of the Ordinary

It struck me that what my friend was doing was reminding people that holiness wasn’t just present with the birth of Jesus two thousand years ago but that the holy exists in our world today, and in very ordinary circumstances.