First Things – April 2026 – First Things

They are now free to enrich our common life by promoting the gen- eral conditions for religious awareness, attentiveness, and ­practice. Pending cases about displaying the Ten Command- ments in public schools present an opportunity for them to do just that. Decided in 1962, Engel v.

Vitale concerned a prayer composed by state officials in New York and disseminated for recitation in public schools. The short prayer was this: “Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers and our Country.” Students could opt out if they wished. The Supreme Court nonetheless ruled that the exercise violated the establishment clause of the First Amendment. Some might argue that Engel signaled little beyond its school context, since pupils are immature, impressionable, still sub- ject to parental control—a special case.

But this is not so. In the early 1960s, public support for school prayer was very strong. The Court’s majority knew that their decision would engender bitter opposition. Their willingness to defy the ­opposition and prohibit even a modest expression of rever- ence tells us that they meant business. Engel was no one-off. It was not just about kids.

It was meant to be revolutionary. And it was. As with so many revolutions, the causes of this one are shrouded in mystery. Commentators at the time fixed on what they held to be the crux of the majority opinion: “It is no part of the business of government to compose official prayers for any group of the American people to recite.” Yet in the next year, the Court ruled against devotional Bible How to Bring Back School Prayer Number 362 April 2026 first things reading and saying the Lord’s Prayer—neither text composed down at City Hall.

A close look at the majority opinion reveals that the justices had nothing to say about First Amendment jurisprudence. They offer a turgid parable about freedom-loving colonials throwing off the yoke of British oppression.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, O.F.M., has lived and worked in the Holy Land since 1990 as custodian of the Holy Land and as the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. He has led his flock through the horrors of war, offering his own life during the hostage crisis of October 2023, and calling constantly for an end to hostilities. T rough years of darkness, he has spurred the persecuted Christians of the Holy Land to “a vibrant testimony of faith and belonging”.

Imbued with the spirit of St. Francis, this beautiful work includes many talks from Pizzaballa’s years as custos of the Holy Land, and an abundance of material from his time as Patriarch. What Jerusalem—“the heart of all nations”— teaches us is that when the Word becomes fl esh, He truly enters human history, in all its complexity and brutality. With a prayerful yet realistic gaze, His Eminence searches the mysteries that wrap the land where Jesus walked, bringing it to life before our eyes.

Is there hope for peace in Jerusalem, indeed, the world? Yes—through Christ alone. T e Heart of All Nations calls Christians not only to experience Jesus’ radical peace in their hearts, but to bear it courageously into a turbulent age. HANP . . . Sewn Sof cover, $18.95 “A true shepherd unfolds for us the quiet persistence and tactful witness of the Church in the Holy Land who reminds us all that God is logos and God is love.”

— Cardinal Robert Sarah, Author, T e Power of Silence “T is is biblical theology in the truest sense. T e wisdom of Cardinal Pizzaballa has brought the Resurrection more tangibly into my own life.” — J. D. Flynn, Editor in Chief, T e Pillar “T e most unique look at the Holy Land that I’ve read.

A must- read for everyone who is praying for the peace of Jerusalem.” —Jeff Cavins, Creator, Great Adventure Bible studies THE HEART OF ALL NATIONS Faith and Hope in the Holy Land Hermann Geissler, FSO, gives a fresh look at the life and writings of Newman, one of the greatest Christian thinkers of the West, recently proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIV.

A passionate seeker of truth and a convert to Catholicism, Newman’s works enrich theology, his journey enlightens consciences, and his person is venerated throughout the Church. T is intellectual and spiritual biography off ers deep insight into how the wisdom of this great saint can enrich an under- standing of many core concerns of the Church today: the development of doctrine within an unchanging Tradition, the nature of conscience, and the identity of the Church itself.

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.

Book Information

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• File Extension: .pdf
• File Size: 3,517,848 bytes (3.355 MB)
• Title: –
• Author: Unknown
• Pages: 176
• Language: English (en)

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