Thoughtful commentary at the Jesuit-led America magazine blog. An excerpt:

“Barack Obama’s tour of Afghanistan and Iraq is already paying dividends politically. The pictures of enthusiastic troops cheering him on were worth a thousand words: He is no peacenik a la Jane Fonda. Ditto the photos of Obama in a helicopter with General David Petraeus. They may not agree about strategy but they appeared to be enjoying each others’ company. And, standing alongside Obama in virtually every photograph is Republican Senator Chuck Hagel, giving a bipartisan glow to the trip.”

Read the whole story.

I first learned of Father Jim Martin when I read an op-ed of his on saints in the New Yorks Times just over two years ago. His wonderful (and now best-selling) book, My Life with the Saints, had just been published. I bought it immediately, and called him at his office in New York, where he is a writer and editor at the Jesuit weekly America. LIke a good priest, he recognized a soul in need. My knowledge then of saints and naming saints was pitifully low, and my embrace of Catholicism was weak at best.

With Father Jim Martin’s energetic, sincere and often hilarious assistance (mostly in emails, a few more phone calls and a quick visit in Manhattan) I’ve improved in both areas. Ever the supportive friend, he recently posted a short list of books he recommends for summer reading.