For hundreds of thousands who follow his music and his newsletter, The Red Hand Files, Nick Cave has become a pastor of sorts.

For people who live in New York City, Times Square is a nightmare place, a hellish whirlpool of bodies, noise and capitalism. But this weekend I discovered something new and not awful there.

The greatest evangelization we can offer is a joyful church.

It is faith that makes us ready for heaven. And what is faith? Stubbornly seeing purpose in this life—stubbornly because sometimes it does take a great effort—that others cannot see.

The reader can see God in all areas of Toni Morrison’s characters’ circumstances—in the “magic,” in the pain and suffering, and in the call to healing and wholeness that leads to life.

Obituaries for Drew Christiansen, S.J., mentioned his extensive writings on foreign policy issues and the Middle East, but he was also a talented and lyrical nature writer.