Arts and Media

Book review: A new biography of St. Clare introduces her life and faith to those new to the Franciscan tradition and reveals previously unknown facts to those who have yearned to know more about this founder of the Poor Clares.

Simply Spirit: A Deadly Education, the intriguing first book in Naomi Novik's new series, led me to think in new ways about how we are called to use our own graced "superpowers" to overcome evil and promote good.

Movie review: The documentary "Rebel Hearts," which premiered to a sold-out audience at the 2021 virtual Sundance Film Festival, tells the story of the Immaculate Heart of Mary sisters in the Los Angeles Archdiocese.

Review: The animated film "Soul" may delight some mature viewers but consternate others, especially when it comes to philosophy and theology.

Simply Spirit: It may be time to own our despair. The clerical system isn't working anymore. Perhaps it was never meant to work, only we didn't realize it.

Book review: In A Saint of Our Own, Kathleen Sprows Cummings explores clergy, women religious and the inner workings of church politics, asking questions about American identity and citizenship and the importance of memory and historic preservation.

Review: You can tell a book by its cover. The luminous picture of Theresa Kane on the cover of this one portrays a beautiful woman of calm, confidence, vision and joy. She is a Catholic feminist with a powerful claim on the hearts and imaginations of all who want the Roman Catholic Church to be a community of sacrament and solidarity, equality and mutuality.

Simply Spirit: I had the pleasure of taking my niece and grandnieces to see the movie "Little Women." Growing up, Louisa May Alcott's classic was my all-time favorite book. Love is central to the work.