Thirty years ago, when Cheryl and Dave Kremer received the diagnosis that their son Teddy had Down Syndrome, they were told he’d never have more than a 40 IQ and possibly might never walk or talk. That was just the beginning of the story, though, and it took a much more positive turn than anyone would have guessed. Teddy Kremer’s life has grown to have such a wide impact that he was recently profiled on the ESPN E:60 series. Their... Read more
“For God judged it better to bring good out of evil than not to permit any evil to exist.” While searching for inspiration for her first indie album, Audrey Assad came across that quote by St. Augustine. Those words struck a chord inside her, maybe because she had spent the previous few years trying to bring good out of the challenges she faced, including her parents’ divorce and her husband’s bout with cancer. Regardless of the reason, she spent the... Read more
In this week’s video message from Father Jonathan Morris, he shares his thoughts on optimism versus pessimism. Specifically, he explains that optimism isn’t looking at life through rose-colored glasses and believing nothing will ever go wrong or that we’ll never experience pain. Instead, optimism is rooted in our faith in God and the Biblical promise that He will guide us in the right direction. Read more
Much is being written and said about Pope Francis’s comments during an interview published yesterday in several Jesuit magazines, including “America.” Of course, everyone’s interpretation is filtered through their own beliefs and biases, so unless you read what the Pope said in context and in its entirety (much like the way you’re supposed to read the Bible), you won’t be getting the full story. For instance, if mainstream media reports are giving you the impression that the Pope will soon... Read more
One of the reasons I’ve been a fan of Joss Whedon’s work on TV shows like “Buffy,” “Angel” and “Firefly – and movies like “The Avengers” – is that his stories convey a sense of hope. That hope is often hard-won because it involves enduring struggle, suffering and sacrifice for the sake of loving another person or a higher good. But as a viewer, that just makes me more invested in the story. And despite the fact that Whedon is... Read more
“I asked you for the light. You gave me a long dark night.” Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Sarah Hart penned those lyrics to God during the anger phase of a “downward spiral through grief” that began with the death of her beloved grandfather. Though Sarah was and remains Catholic, that alone didn’t lessen the pain she was enduring. During an interview on “Christopher Closeup” about her most personal and moving album to date, “Above Earth’s Lamentation,” she revealed, “I’m not ashamed... Read more
Time magazine recently published a controversial article entitled “The Childfree Life,” highlighting couples who say they’ve found fulfillment in their choice not to have children. The choice has allowed them to do more things that they want to do instead of making sacrifices required when raising kids. Though it had no relation to that article, a much different point-of-view was presented during a recent interview Arsenio Hall did on “Access Hollywood” promoting his new talk show. Hall – joined by... Read more
Today we’re happy to welcome Father Jonathan Morris to the Christopher team on a special assignment basis – and to introduce a regular feature in which he shares a mini-homily of sorts on video. Many of you probably know Father Jonathan from his many TV and radio appearances, and as the author of the best-selling books “The Promise: God’s Purpose and Plan For When Life Hurts” and “God Wants You Happy: From Self-Help to God’s Help.” In addition to writing... Read more
Audrey Assad posted a video of her cover of one of the best songs ever written: the Simon and Garfunkel classic “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” She’s got the ideal voice for this kind of heartfelt song, so take five minutes to add a little peace and tranquility to your day. (And stay tuned for my new interview with Audrey about her new album “Fortunate Fall,” which will be posted here in the near future). Read more
The major earthquake that shook San Francisco on April 18, 1906, was also felt in nearby Oakland where eight-year-old Dorothy Day had recently moved with her parents and siblings. When the ground finally stopped shaking, a frightened Day emerged from her home to see examples of both chaos and community: buildings swayed, small fires burned, and adults calmed down scared children. In her autobiography “The Long Loneliness,” Day—who would go on to found The Catholic Worker movement—admits she felt comforted... Read more
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