“Christ my hope is arisen!” John Paul II was a living witness to Easter joy and the Divine Mercy message, all of which we celebrate at his beatification this weekend.

I never went to World Youth Day, but John Paul’s writing was a focus of a marriage and family class I took in college, and his teaching was prominent at my college Newman Center (St. John’s Catholic Newman Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), in my life and the lives of all of my young adult Catholic friends who are participating in all sorts of ways in the New Evangelization: as journalists, Catholic teachers (including my sister), Focus (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) missionaries,...READ MORE

I admit it: I like snail mail.

Plenty of people have been musing on its pros and cons in light of the recent news that the U.S. Postal Service will be closing a couple thousand of its post offices. I am a fan.

I love cute stationery (preferably with daisies), thank-you notes and sending Christmas cards.

There’s something about mailing something that brings a smile to my face because I know receiving it will bring a smile to someone else’s. The surprise of a card (or gift or even a magazine) in the mail is one of life’s simple blessings. That birthday greeting means more when it’s via mail, in my opinion.

Staying in touch with people can be a challenge nowadays. (Most Register employees...READ MORE

God gave us the best — and original — love letter (the Bible), as well as instructions (Ten Commandments) and companion manual (Catechism). He knows love because he is love.

As St. Paul wrote in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The Little Flower wrote of how loving God helps us love others: “I can see with joy that in loving him the heart expands and can give to those who are dear to it incomparably more tenderness than if it had concentrated upon...READ MORE

Wishing you a blessed feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Enjoy the trailer of Navis Pictures’ St. Bernadette of Lourdes, which we highlighted in an article last spring.

My old favorite is always The Song of Bernadette. The poster art was done by Norman Rockwell. Some clips are featured in this Rome Reports video about the Lourdes apparitions.

Our Lady, pray for us.

And as St. Bernadette said, “Oh my Mother, to you I sacrifice all other attachments so that my heart may belong entirely to you and to my Jesus.”

“Glory be to God for dappled things.”

That’s from “Pied Beauty” by Victorian poet and Jesuit Gerard Manley Hopkins —  and the inspiration for the name of the Catholic literary magazine Dappled Things, which just turned five.

The magazine redesigned its website and has a special (free) commemorative edition online for its anniversary.

Ivy League Catholic students founded the magazine as an online-only publication. They wanted to renew the literary tradition that brought about the work of Catholic authors like J.R.R. Tolkien and Flannery O’Connor. The first print edition was published in June 2007.

“The editors hope the new site will make a significant contribution to the future of...READ MORE

It is a sad day in American history. So many lives lost.

But I see hope in the scores of Americans who visibly oppose Roe v. Wade and work to make America pro-life.

Like the 12-year-old from Colorado we featured.

And the countless others we profile regularly in the pages of the Register and online here.

Many people are marching and participating in other pro-life events this weekend, including online, to show their support for life.

See our coverage here.

And stay tuned on Monday as we report from D.C.’s March for Life.

I am reminded of some of the bold voices who speak for the voiceless:

“The right of the child is equal to the right of the mother’s life. The doctor can’t decide;...READ MORE

As this new year begins, there is so much talk of making resolutions.

I resolve to take the advice of the saints to heart more fully in 2011, including:

“If we only had more faith, more love, what great works might we not do for Christ!” ~St. Pierre Henri Dorie

“The only way to make rapid progress along the path of divine love is to remain very little and put all our trust in almighty God. ~St. Thérèse

“It is not for us to be wise and calculating in the world’s fashion; we should be guileless, lowly and pure. ~St. Francis

“We can never love our neighbor too much. There is nothing small in the service of God.” ~St. Francis de Sales

“Be not anxious about what you have, but about what...READ MORE

The secular world is over Christmas now. The shopping is over; the presents are unwrapped. The focus is now on New Year’s celebrations.

But we Christians get to really celebrate — for days! (The Christmas season in the Church includes Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord.)

Our User’s Guide to Sunday has some good suggestions.

I am focusing on prayer, spending time with family — and more Christmas music (like Matt Maher’s “Silent Night” and Audrey Assad’s “O Come All Ye Faithful”).

Be sure to head to Danielle Bean’s recent posts about Christmas songs. Upcoming: “O Holy Night” (my favorite).

How are you celebrating?

Happy birthday, Jesus! And merry Christmas!...READ MORE