T homas, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.

Disbelieving the report of the women about the empty tomb, Thomas did not join the other apostles on Easter night. He did not see the Risen Lord. Apart from the community of faith, we close ourselves off from the Lord’s Presence.

Before Gutenberg invented the printing press, society depended mostly on the spoken word. When it came to communicating the news, teaching the faith, spreading propaganda or offering practical solutions to difficult dilemmas, people would often frame their message with the use of rhyme in songs and poems. Not infrequently these little songs held hidden messages about someone embroiled in scandal or a ruler out of favor. Thus, Mary, Mary Quite Contrary was a satirical commentary on the rule and personal life of “Bloody Mary,” Queen of Scots.

Almost every school of ancient philosophy claimed Socrates as their patron saint. In Greece and Rome, the Skeptics, the Stoics and the Cynics all looked to Socrates for inspiration. Living in 5th century Athens, he did not conform to the pressures of contemporary society. By his method of questioning, he tried to move others away from living in the futile search for fame and power. He challenged his fellow citizens to seek higher moral standards.

Two words are frequently found on the lips of Pope Francis in his addresses and homilies. One is the word “neo-Pelagian;” the other, “neo-Gnostic.” Both words have a long and complicated history. The first is much easier to explain.

In 2011, the World Health Organization issued a report on the adverse effects of environmental noise on health. We are constantly surrounded by noise. Airplanes overhead. Buses, cars and trucks on our highways. The roar of subways in our cities. Police and fire sirens. We are bombarded on every side by a cacophony of noise.