When I was a young priest, not even ordained a year, my pastor gave me a week’s winter vacation. At that time, I was very interested in what was called Catholic Action — the involvement of Catholic laity in various apostolates. The summer before I was ordained a priest, I had taken a six-week course in Catholic social action at The Catholic University of America in Washington.
A few years ago, some friends told me about a new series on television that they thought was something very special. In several conversations over a period of months, they indicated that the series was one of the best they had ever seen.
A few weeks ago, I received an email from someone in Southern California. The sender wrote that she and her friends have been watching my series of lectures on the Catholic novel on YouTube. From viewing the series, they have decided to start a discussion group on the Catholic novel. When I read this, if I had been wearing a but-toned-down vest, the buttons would have popped off.
I think the first time I heard the name of the Japanese novelist Shūsaku Endō, I heard him described as the “Japanese Graham Greene.” Probably, I thought that he was being described that way because he was a Catholic, and he wrote some novels that I would consider “Catholic Novels.”
A few weeks ago I became very upset about some events that were happening in our country. Apparently, I was not the only one who was upset. From the news on television I learned that town hall meetings were taking place across our country, at times drawing large crowds. Many citizens thought that by making their thoughts known, this might help to improve our society.
Mark Joseph Williams’ book “Torrent of Grace” (Orbis, 2024) is something special — very special!
Recently, I have been strolling down memory lane and reflecting on attitudes I had while in grammar school, in high school, and even as a young priest.
From the time that he became pope, I have found Francis’ statements and writing very inspiring. I was also inspired by St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict, but Pope Francis, for me, has been special. I have enjoyed that special relationship throughout his pontificate.
I do not know how I missed the news that Pope Francis issued an encyclical at the end of the Synod. I try to keep up to date on what is happening in the Church, but somehow, I missed the news about the encyclical, which has the wonderful title “He Loved Us” (“Dilexit Nos”). As soon as I discovered that the encyclical had been published, I obtained a copy.
Anyone who reads this column regularly knows that I think we live in a very secular culture. This presents problems to anyone who professes religious faith.
