Just as all Y'at Orleanians know dat a true miracle is a Catlick family wid less than five kids, and da priest�s benediction is da starting block for da mad dash to da parking lot, now dey�ll know dat if dere�s ever an archbishop of Y�ats, it�ll be Earl Higgins--excuse me, Oil Higgins.-- Angus Lind, New Orleans Times-Picayune New Orleans culture is a fusion of secular and holy. From the earliest days of the community founded on the banks of the Mississippi River, the Catholic faith has been an influence on, and inspiration for, daily life. To be sure, religious rites such as weddings, funerals, and feast day festivals transpire elsewhere in the country. In New Orleans, however, they are celebrated with a zeal and verve that speaks to the uniqueness of the community. Earl Higgins amuses us with those quirky, sometimes paradoxical, customs that define modern New Orleans life. He humorously explains why the answer to the question 'Where did you go to high school?' is a better identifying characteristic of a New Orleanian than a thumbprint. What's in a name? Many New Orleans streets and one local bayou bear the names of Catholic saints. Louisiana's civil districts are parishes, not counties, bearing testimony to the strong congregational life of the region's founding fathers. Holidays take a twist as New Orleanians observe Christmas, but just as importantly, Twelfth Night, which ushers in the Carnival season and ultimately Fat Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. Meatless Fridays and the Creole culinary tradition of Holy Thursday's gumbo z�herbes hail from religious observances connected with Lent. The term y'at is an affectionate nickname proudly worn by some New Orleanians. Higgins, a proud Jesuit High School blue jay and y'at, explains how all these Catholic customs and traditions have blended throughout history to create a unique lifestyle and shorthand language found only in New Orleans.

An award winning writer celebrates the oldest institution in the western world and the faith he shares with 60 million other Americans plus an estimated 1.2 billion Roman Catholics in the world. Mitch Finley opens the treasure chest of Catholic experience, picks out its jewels, and shines them to a new glow. "Consider the possibility of joy," he writes. "What if your life is not pedestrian prose but a wonderful poem? What if your life is not a question but a revelation? Would this not be cause for joy? What if your life is not a sentence with a period at the end but a song that goes on and on? Would this not be cause for deep and abiding joy?"

An eminent theologian addresses an enduring--but newly urgent--question Is it possible to be both a faithful Catholic and an avowed feminist? Earlier generations of feminists first formulated answers to this question in the 1970s. Their views are still broadly held, but with increasing tentativeness and a growing sense of their inadequacy. Even now, Catholic women and men still say, "It's my Church and I'm not leaving," "Change will only happen if people like me stay and fight," and "The Church's work for social justice is more important than the issues that concern me as a feminist." Yet in a post-#MeToo, #ChurchToo moment, when the Church seems disconnected from struggles for racial justice and LGBTQ inclusion, those answers sound increasingly insufficient. Today, tensions between Catholicism and feminism are more visible and ties to Catholic communities are increasingly weak. Can Catholic feminism survive? Julie Hanlon Rubio argues that it can. But if it is going to do so, it is necessary to rethink how women and men who experience the pull of feminism and Catholicism can credibly claim both identities. In Can You Be a Catholic and a Feminist? Rubio argues that Catholic feminist identity is only tenable if we frankly acknowledge tensions between Catholicism and feminism, bring forward shared concerns, and embrace the future with ambiguity and creativity. Rubio explores the potential for synergy and dialogue between Catholics and feminists through various lenses, including sexual violence, gender theory, pregnancy and pre-natal loss, work-life balance, relationships and family life, spirituality, conscience, and what it means to be human. This book gives those who struggle to balance Catholicism and feminism a credible path to authentic belonging.

Meditation has numerous positive benefits on the human body and mind. It can strengthen our immune systems, reduce pain and stress, improve our sleep, and lessen anxiety and depression. But did you know that meditation can also have a positive effect on our soul? Catholic Meditations on Virtues is a simple, easy method for the daily practice of meditation—even children can do it! Ten minutes per day is all that is needed to enjoy the benefits of meditation, including improvements in health and brain function. But the greatest benefit for Catholics, of course, is spiritual, with each daily meditation endorsed by quotations from the Bible. By meditating on a different virtue each day of the month, or by choosing to meditate on the same virtue for as long as desired, you too can experience these health and spiritual benefits. In this way, you will form a stronger bond with Jesus Christ and bring out your potential spiritual talents.