Today is the 150th anniversary of the birth of Narendra Nath Datta, better known as Swami Vivekananda (January 12, 1863-July 4, 1902). The Swami was one of the original disciples of the Hindu saint and mystic Ramakrishna (1836-1886).

Fasting brings me to the edge mdash physically psychologically and spiritually There are moments when I hate it despise it and wonder why I ever entered into it But I must admit fasting always transforms me in beautiful and unexpected ways nbsp Today January 11 marks the beginning of the 12

nbsp In an article entitled ldquo Dear Editor rdquo in a prominent Catholic magazine a 40-year-old diocesan priest Patrick Sanford writes on what he considers the five major problems among the priests he knows Sanford has just had a long talk with his editor friend prompted by the departure

nbsp Here is one of those strange confluences in the spiritual life nbsp Last night I read that Jeanne Manford the founder of PFLAG Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays died at the age of 92 In 1972 after her son was beaten at a gay demonstration and the police failed to intervene she

nbsp We asked Daniel P Horan OFM a Franciscan author to respond to Joan Acocella 39 s long and substantive article in this week 39 s New Yorker on St Francis of Assisi nbsp Ms Acocella a superb writer looked at several books on Il Poverello and offered a reflection on his life nbsp Fa

Here is an important article on the value of Catholic education in the United States written by two people who know what they rsquo re talking about nbsp Today 39 s New York Times includes an op-ed entitled ldquo Catholic Education In Need of Salvation rdquo written by Patrick J McCloskey