Today we received a copy of the elegant booklet that includes the programs complete with prayers and readings for the pope s prayer services liturgies and Masses during his American visit There is an especially beautiful prayer for his visit to Ground Zero Also Latinists will be happy that

There are few people who are more excited about the pope s visit than Stephen Colbert who actually has tickets to the Mass at Yankee Stadium as he explains in this clip Mr Colbert as many of our viewers readers know is in fact Catholic James Martin SJ

I recently made a Holy Week retreat at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale Arizona known locally as the Casa which is short for La Casa de Paz y Bien The title is descriptive Since this was the first retreat I have made in a very long time I regret to say I was not sure whether to

The culture of campaign consultants and the layer of control it places between the people and their elected officials has changed and diminished our democracy in important ways But democracy is only as good as the voters want to make it If we the electorate put up with air-brushed answers to

Besides our special coverage on our blog and later in the pages of the magazine some of America editors will be assisting with the media coverage of Pope Benedict s visit to the United States James Keane S J will be working with Fox News Radio during the Papal Mass at Yankee Stadium Ji

Even if you re not watching HBO s excellent John Adams miniseries be sure to read Matt Malone s weekly commentary Matt s essays go beyond the ordinary thumbs up thumbs down criticism to explore what the series says about our nation s founding ideals and our own political moment In