Living Courageously in Apocalyptic Times: Advent 1968/2018
Fifty years ago, on December 10, 1968, Catholic monk and spiritual writer Thomas Merton died in Asia, the victim of an accidental …
Christianity and Totalitarianism: A Marginal Monk Goes Mainstream
Last week an extraordinary thing happened. An excerpt from a 1960 essay by Thomas Merton, a marginal monk from an obscure Trappist …
A National Reckoning: The Interment of Matthew Shepard
“There are three things I’d say to Matt: ‘Gently rest in this place. You are safe now. And Matt, welcome home.’ Amen.” …
Artist, Prophet, Priest
“William Hart McNichols has often lived in two worlds — priest and artist, tender of flocks and solitary soul, openly gay man …
Poetry and Grace Down Under
My wife Lauri and I just returned from two weeks in Australia. I was invited by Marist Brother Mark O’Connor to give …
Darkness, Fire and Light: The Wonders of Easter Remembrance
One of my earliest memories as a child involves standing outside the church entrance in the darkness of night during the Easter …
Vision on the Brink of Death: MLK and the Birthing of Prophetic Communities
Author’s Note: This post is adapted from material in a forthcoming book, copyright 2018, Christopher Pramuk. Please do not reproduce without permission …
Swords into Plowshares: Daring to Speak the Impossible
Hope must be told, in image, in figure, in poem, in vision. It must be told sideways, told as one who dwells …
The Song of Faith: Hearing Music Again with Thomas Merton
Author’s Note: This article was first published in America magazine in the April 8, 2002 issue. Some 15 years later, I’m not …
The Weary World Rejoices: Rekindling the Spirit of the Nativity
This essay was first published in the December 19, 2011 issue of America magazine. When I was a child, the stories of …
