‘Arise to Blessedness’: The power of a squeezed-in retreat

The author builds each day’s chapter around a “traveling companion” saint whose life bore witness to the beatitudes. The “merciful” are represented by St. Maria Goretti, who forgave her murderer; “the meek” by St. Maximilian Kolbe; “the peacemakers” by St. Óscar Romero; the “clean of heart” by St. Charbel Makhlouf.

Moral ambiguity and the heyday of Catholic novels

Noting the 60th anniversary of J.F. Power’s classic, “Morte d’Urban” Russell Shaw recalls a time when moral ambiguity and the mysteries of the human heart inspired complex, intriguing Catholic novels that were plentiful, well-read and widely recognized with prestigious awards.