Primo Levi's "The Truce", Part 3: The Reawakening

In 2022, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) announced that the Church in this country would undertake a Eucharistic Revival, as a way to bolster Catholics’ belief in the real presence of Christ–body, blood, soul, and divinity–in the Eucharist. This Eucharistic Revival will culminate in a nationwide pilgrimage to the city of Indianapolis in July 2024. In the months leading up to this pilgrimage, the McGrath Institute for Church Life is contributing to this revival by underscoring the intrinsic connection between the Eucharist and Catholic social teaching. 

Why are we concerned about the link between Eucharistic devotion among Catholics and our commitment to social justice? Because the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that “the Eucharist commits us to the poor” (CCC, n. 1397). Because Pope Benedict XVI declared in his encyclical Deus Caritas Est that “A Eucharist which does not pass over into the concrete practice of love is intrinsically fragmented” (Deus Caritas Est, n.14. ). And because we have it on good authority that whenever we feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, shelter the homeless, welcome the stranger, we encounter Christ, Who assures that whatever you have done to the least among you, you do for me (cf. Matthew 25:31-46). Thus our devotion to the Body of Christ in the Eucharist must be accompanied by our equally fervent devotion to serve the entire human family, especially the poor and those who are in any way oppressed. 

This theme will be taken up by the Office of Life and Human Dignity at the McGrath Institute for Church Life in an eight-part series of Conversations That Matter. In our first event, moderator Michael Baxter, Ph.D., ‘83 M.Div., visiting associate professor at the McGrath Institute, will be joined by Jennifer Newsome Martin, Ph.D. and Emmanuel Katongole, Ph.D., both professors of Theology at the University of Notre Dame, and William T. Cavanaugh, Ph.D. '84, a Notre Dame alum and professor of Catholic Studies and director of the Center for World Catholicism and Intercultural Theology at DePaul University. They will explore the intrinsic connection between the Eucharist and Catholic Social Teaching, especially as it concerns the poor. Join us as we ask how, why, and in what ways “the Eucharist commits us to the poor.”

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As we journey together through the solemn days of Lent, the Alliance for Catholic Education and ThinkND invite you to join us as we walk toward the light that our faith tells us lies ahead.

Join us for Grace Period, a weekly series of audio reflections by Fr. Lou DelFra, C.S.C. ’92, M. Div. ’03, designed to meet your busy schedule and help you pause, listen for God’s voice in your life, and begin anew.

Fr. Lou continues with the story of the disciples in the storm and focuses on Saint Peter as an example for all of us amidst the storms you may be experiencing in this season of life.

While ever so flawed, Peter knows there is one in the storm who is greater than the storm, and sends himself out onto the waves toward Christ.

This week, our prayer is that we might always keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and recommit to the practices — the Eucharist, Scripture, and daily prayer — that keep us centered on Him.

Thanks for listening! The ThinkND Podcast is brought to you by ThinkND, the University of Notre Dame's online learning community. We connect you with videos, podcasts, articles, courses, and other resources to inspire minds and spark conversations on topics that matter to you — everything from faith and politics, to science, technology, and your career.

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Join us for an insightful virtual event, "Autonomous Vehicles for Micro-Mobility," featuring renowned speaker Henrik I. Christensen, Qualcomm Chancellor’s Professor of Robot Systems and Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at UC San Diego. Professor Christensen will explore the transformative potential of autonomous vehicles in the realm of micro-mobility, addressing advancements, challenges, and implications for urban transportation. Gain valuable insights into the future of mobility, including innovations in autonomous technology and their impact on accessibility, sustainability, and urban planning. Don't miss this opportunity to delve into the exciting possibilities of autonomous vehicles in shaping the future of micro-mobility.

Thanks for listening! The ThinkND Podcast is brought to you by ThinkND, the University of Notre Dame's online learning community. We connect you with videos, podcasts, articles, courses, and other resources to inspire minds and spark conversations on topics that matter to you — everything from faith and politics, to science, technology, and your career.

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As one of the world’s leading practitioners of New Classicism, John Simpson has revolutionized the combination of durability, functionality, and beauty within his projects. John Simpson's design philosophy centers on the idea that architecture is a public art, shaping the character of streets, squares, and civic spaces to influence our collective cultural experience. In this lecture, Simpson will highlight small-scale residential apartment designs, country houses, large-scale institutional projects and more that exemplify functional design. 

Thanks for listening! The ThinkND Podcast is brought to you by ThinkND, the University of Notre Dame's online learning community. We connect you with videos, podcasts, articles, courses, and other resources to inspire minds and spark conversations on topics that matter to you — everything from faith and politics, to science, technology, and your career.

• Learn more about ThinkND and register for upcoming live events at think.nd.edu.
• Join our LinkedIn community for updates, episode clips, and more.

As we journey together through the solemn days of Lent, the Alliance for Catholic Education and ThinkND invite you to join us as we walk toward the light that our faith tells us lies ahead.

Join us for Grace Period, a weekly series of audio reflections by Fr. Lou DelFra, C.S.C. ’92, M. Div. ’03, designed to meet your busy schedule and help you pause, listen for God’s voice in your life, and begin anew.

Fr. Lou exchanges Noah’s ark for a fishing boat and the New Testament story of Jesus and the disciples in the storm.

Just as the disciples were overcome with fear in the middle of the storm, we too have shouldered fear and uncertainty in our times.

This week, take some time to reflect on the role that fear has played in your life this year. Then allow yourself to be taken in by Christ’s response to the disciples: “Do not be afraid, I am here with you,” and continue to live in hope.

Thanks for listening! The ThinkND Podcast is brought to you by ThinkND, the University of Notre Dame's online learning community. We connect you with videos, podcasts, articles, courses, and other resources to inspire minds and spark conversations on topics that matter to you — everything from faith and politics, to science, technology, and your career.

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• Join our LinkedIn community for updates, episode clips, and more.

Phillip Smith ’19 M.Arch. explores the historical influence of classical and traditional architecture beginning with Egyptian influence on ancient Greek and Roman architecture, and later sharing the impact African American architects, designers, and builders have had on our built environment.

Thanks for listening! The ThinkND Podcast is brought to you by ThinkND, the University of Notre Dame's online learning community. We connect you with videos, podcasts, articles, courses, and other resources to inspire minds and spark conversations on topics that matter to you — everything from faith and politics, to science, technology, and your career.

• Learn more about ThinkND and register for upcoming live events at think.nd.edu.
• Join our LinkedIn community for updates, episode clips, and more.

As we journey together through the solemn days of Lent, the Alliance for Catholic Education and ThinkND invite you to join us as we walk toward the light that our faith tells us lies ahead.

Join us for Grace Period, a weekly series of audio reflections by Fr. Lou DelFra, C.S.C. ’92, M. Div. ’03, designed to meet your busy schedule and help you pause, listen for God’s voice in your life, and begin anew.

What is the faint stirring in Noah’s heart which gets him out of bed and calls him to action — even when that action seems a bit absurd?

That stirring is hope.

Hope is a gift, a divine gift offered by God right into our hearts that then seeps from our hearts into our limbs.

Our prayer this week is to be evermore open to this gift, which our homes and communities so need —God’s gift of hope.

Thanks for listening! The ThinkND Podcast is brought to you by ThinkND, the University of Notre Dame's online learning community. We connect you with videos, podcasts, articles, courses, and other resources to inspire minds and spark conversations on topics that matter to you — everything from faith and politics, to science, technology, and your career.

• Learn more about ThinkND and register for upcoming live events at think.nd.edu.
• Join our LinkedIn community for updates, episode clips, and more.

How does Notre Dame’s School of Architecture address the issues of climate change confronting our world, using the lens of the built environment? Though we live in a society and a culture that may often be focused on the new, we can respect the legacy of which we are stewards, and understand the value of that legacy, when we realize that the “greenest” building is the one that is already built. Hear how the University of Notre Dame is investing in our future with the Michael Christopher Duda Center for Preservation, Resilience, and Sustainability – the only center of its kind in the world. Join Stephen Hartley, associate professor of the practice at the School of Architecture, in conversation with Carl Elefante, FAIA, FAPT, former president of the American Institute of Architects and inaugural senior research associate of the Duda Center, and a leading expert in the convergence of historic preservation and sustainability worldwide.

Thanks for listening! The ThinkND Podcast is brought to you by ThinkND, the University of Notre Dame's online learning community. We connect you with videos, podcasts, articles, courses, and other resources to inspire minds and spark conversations on topics that matter to you — everything from faith and politics, to science, technology, and your career.

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In 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, the Vatican Dicastery for Integral Human Development called upon the Church to live out its call as a healing community. Today, when one in five Americans lives with mental illness, and one in three report serious loneliness, what does it mean for the Church to be a healing community?

Sponsored by the Fiat Program on Faith and Mental Health, this panel considers how the Church can better accompany persons and families living with the experience of mental illness. Drawing from the wisdom of theology, neuroscience, and the practice of pastoral care, our panelists discuss how priests, lay ministers, and all people can strengthen a culture of belonging that both reflects and participates in our sacramental communion within the Body of Christ. Moderated by Beth Hlabse ’11, M.S., LMHCA, program director of the Fiat Program on Faith and Mental Health at the McGrath Institute for Church Life.

Thanks for listening! The ThinkND Podcast is brought to you by ThinkND, the University of Notre Dame's online learning community. We connect you with videos, podcasts, articles, courses, and other resources to inspire minds and spark conversations on topics that matter to you — everything from faith and politics, to science, technology, and your career.

• Learn more about ThinkND and register for upcoming live events at think.nd.edu.
• Join our LinkedIn community for updates, episode clips, and more.

As we journey together through the solemn days of Lent, the Alliance for Catholic Education and ThinkND invite you to join us as we walk toward the light that our faith tells us lies ahead.

Join us for Grace Period, a weekly series of audio reflections by Fr. Lou DelFra, C.S.C. ’92, M. Div. ’03, designed to meet your busy schedule and help you pause, listen for God’s voice in your life, and begin anew.

As Christians around the globe observe the season of Lent, emerging from the pandemic into a world deeply in need, Fr. Lou looks at another global crisis, a Biblical one, perhaps the first global crisis ever recorded, and the spiritual gifts it called forth among God’s people.

Thanks for listening! The ThinkND Podcast is brought to you by ThinkND, the University of Notre Dame's online learning community. We connect you with videos, podcasts, articles, courses, and other resources to inspire minds and spark conversations on topics that matter to you — everything from faith and politics, to science, technology, and your career.

• Learn more about ThinkND and register for upcoming live events at think.nd.edu.
• Join our LinkedIn community for updates, episode clips, and more.