Russia grants Edward Snowden a nbsp one-year asylum Bishop of Saltillo Mgr Raul Vera Lopez condemns local Mexican prison for its abhorrent conditions In Chile the Cathedral of Santiago re-opens after violent raid last week We posted a story about the possible kidnapping of a Jesuit priest in Syria

A chance remark led me back to Walden I was urging revolution on a harassed friend and rummaged in my memory for Thoreau rsquo s remark about living boldly The line was on the tip of my tongue but would not leave it I picked up my copy of Walden and began browsing the many passages I had underlin

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ On this Feast of Saint Ignatius of Loyola founder of the Society of Jesus we give thanks for the many gifts that God has bestowed on the Society of Jesus and our colleagues and friends throughout the world Here at America we offer a special prayer of thanksgivin

Someone arrived on my doorstep last week A new novel by Alice McDermott winner of the National Book Award and three-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize is always an event for literature enthusiasts in general and for Catholic book lovers in particular McDermott rsquo s novels transport her read

Today Pope Francis celebrated Mass at the Church of the Gesu the Mother Church of the Society of Jesus in Rome at 8 a m nbsp Concelebrating with the Holy Father were the Superior General of the Society of Jesus Adolfo Nicolas SJ Archbishop Luis Ladaria SJ Secretary of the Congregation for t

Sociologist Robert Bellah coiner of the phrase quot civil religion quot nbsp has passed away he is remembered here nbsp and here Happy Feast of St Ignatius Day Pope Francis celebrates Mass nbsp at the Vatican marking the feast day of St Ignatius the founder of the Jesuits Check the Jesui