Everything Jean Vanier did was inspired by his faith in Jesus and his firm belief that Christ has a special place in his heart for the poor and marginalized. Becoming bread for others and receiving their offering was at the heart of his spiritual vision. Jean Vanier, born on September 10, 1928, in Geneva, Switzerland, […]
Author: Dennis J. Billy, CSsR
Eucharistic Teachings · July / August 2019
Catherine de Hueck Doherty on the Eucharist
Catherine de Hueck Doherty sought to bring the mystical vision of the Christian East to the West in order to renew it and to serve the poor and marginalized. Catherine Kolyschkine (1896-1985) was born in Nizhny-Novgorod, Russia, and raised in an aristocratic family. At the age of 15, she married her cousin Baron Boris de […]
Eucharistic Teachings · May / June 2019
Robert Hugh Benson on the Eucharist
Robert Hugh Benson’s conversion to Catholicism made him a leading figure in the Catholic literary movement of his day. His writings emphasized Christ’s friendship with us and his humility, both of which are wondrously revealed in the sacrament of the Eucharist. Robert Hugh Benson (1871-1914) was one of the bright lights of the Catholic literary […]
Eucharistic Teachings · March / April 2019
Henri Nouwen on the Eucharist
Henri Nouwen was an influential spiritual author. His writings touched on a wide range of issues and were flavored by his own struggles and experiences. The Eucharist was one of the mainstays of his spiritual journey. Henri J. M. Nouwen (1932-1996), a Dutch priest, psychologist, pastoral theologian, and spiritual writer, was one of the most […]
Eucharistic Teachings · January / February 2019
Basil Pennington on the Eucharist
Basil Pennington’s approach to the Eucharist blended his Benedictine formation, studies in theology and canon law, and the liturgical impetus of Vatican II in a rich synthesis of mysticism, spirituality, and prayer. Dom M. Basil Pennington, OCSO, (1931-2005) was a Trappist monk and one of the founders of the Centering Prayer Movement.1 He entered Saint […]
Eucharistic Teachings · November / December 2018
Fulton Sheen on the Eucharist
Fulton Sheen’s theology of the Eucharist was rooted in his grasp of the mystical union between Christ and the Church. It was also an expression of devotion, a sacrament he celebrated daily and revered deeply. Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979) was an American bishop, theologian, author, radio broadcaster, and Emmy Award winning television personality. He was […]
Eucharistic Teachings · May / June 2018
Frank Sheed on the Eucharist
Frank Sheed was a devout Catholic, a street preacher, an apologist, a publisher, and a theologian. The Eucharist was central to his teaching, as it is central to the life of the Church. F. J. Sheed (1897-1981) was a popular twentieth-century Catholic lay theologian, public speaker, publisher, translator, and apologist. He was born in Sydney, […]
Eucharistic Teachings · March / April 2018
G. E. M. Anscombe on the Eucharist
G. E. M. Anscombe’s Catholic faith informed her reasoned search for truth and enabled her to remain true to the highest standards of her profession. G. E. M Anscombe (1919-2001) was a British analytical philosopher and a staunch defender of the Catholic faith. She was born in Limerick, Ireland, in 1919, graduated from Sydenham High […]