Forget about terrestrial matters for a moment and think outside the blue planet. Our American Spirit is stuck--and I'm not talking about that intangible dimension of our national identity that keeps us upbeat and confident in these "tough economic times." I mean that little multi-wheeled, remote-control land rover that's been combing the sands of Mars since 2004 in search of signs of life.

Books have a special way of opening our imaginations to moments of grace in life. Catholics are a sacramental people. We see signs of the presence of God around us in every moment of our lives.

Packing up our prized possessions and giving them away doesn’t just de-clutter our lives, it fulfills our baptismal call.I love my Christmas dinnerware. For the past 20 years I’ve served many wonderful feasts on it. Family and friends have gathered around my festive green and red table year after year to pray, eat, celebrate, and share stories.

Our Lady of Guadalupe is for all Catholics.  To understand Our Lady of Guadalupe--the powerful story of the 16th-century apparition of Mary to the Indian Juan Diego outside what is now Mexico City--Jeanette Rodriguez says we must first enter into the experience of near-annihilation that the indigenous people faced at the hands of the Spanish invaders.