When something bad happens in our life or in the life of a loved one, we often respond with “God forbid!” But, as Sara Perla writes in her latest essay, Christians should refrain from this phrase. She writes: “The desire to say
God promises healing from generation to generation, but to those who are suffering from the effects of family abuse and dysfunction, the hope of such healing can be so hard to believe. As Erin McCole Cupp writes in an essay for Our
In this week’s Opening the Word for the solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Father Joshua Whitfield writes about the opportunity whispered to us. “Injustice and violence abound, suffering too,” he writes. “But how do we respond to
Columnist Kathryn Jean Lopez shares the story of her friend Deirdre McQuade, who is in her last days battling cancer: “And every moment, excruciating as it can be with pain and the sure knowledge that life is at its end for family
In his latest column, OSV contributing editor Russell Shaw looks ahead to Holy Week, writing that this year, the people of Ukraine are sharing in the suffering of Christ. Shaw writes: “Holy Week this year is a time for solidarity with those
Kathryn Jean Lopez introduces us to Michael Kniffen, almost 10-years-old at his death on December 31. Michael was diagnosed with lissencephaly, a severe congenital neurological condition known as “smooth brain.” Kathryn writes, “If your faith permits, we invite you to ask our
Renée Roden shares a reflection on the grief of Job, COVID-19 and All Souls Day. Relating to the story of Job, Roden asks, “How does a believer reconcile a God who is good with the experience of suffering?” She writes that in
Reflecting on the thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Timothy O’Malley writes that like Bartimaeus, we too must call out in faith to Jesus to heal our sufferings, addictions and woundedness. Bartimaeus’ faith has saved him. Immediately, he sees. And he becomes a
“I know that God is the owner of life, but God doesn’t want to see me suffer.” Those are the words of Martha Sepúlveda, a 51-year-old Catholic from Colombia with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis who, if she had her wishes, would be dead
Cancer — or any other major illness — might be a challenge to our faith. Or it can help our faith grow deeper than it has ever been before. The choice is up to us. Susan Erschen knows this first hand. In