Robert Ellsberg

I knew Sister Wendy through publishing U.S. editions of her books, yet I would not have considered her a "friend." But in the last three years of her life, we formed a remarkable, deep friendship in correspondence.

Appreciation: Jim Forest, who lived a life of dedication to the Gospel call of peacemaking, died on Jan. 13 at the age 80. Since then, I have reflected on the deep and mysterious ways our journeys were intertwined.

Soul Seeing: So many saints and spiritual mentors elected solitude, or had it imposed by circumstances. What kind of wisdom, I wondered, might they impart to "ordinary" people entering into this unfamiliar world?

Book Review: Pope Francis established his concern for the plight of migrants and refugees on his very first trip outside of Rome, just months after his election as pope. On the Italian island of Lampedusa, a waystation for many refugees making their way to Europe, he celebrated Mass and commemorated the thousands who have died at sea.