For some Catholics, feminism is the other f-word. It is seen as an ideology that is antithetical to the core values of the Catholic faith. Certainly among those who are more traditional, there are a myriad of reasons for this aversion, including a commitment to traditional gender roles and a general skepticism toward egalitarianism. But even among progressives, there is sometimes discomfort with t...

The Year of Mercy is a call to action, but first of all, it is a call to contemplate the action of God. In the words of Pope Francis, “We need constantly to contemplate the mystery of mercy.” But contemplation is really hard work; it takes tremendous effort to learn to receive well, to take up a posture of willed passivity in the manner of Jesus’ Immaculate Mother who “[heard] the Word of God and ...