Dappled Things, Culture, and the Life of Faith

The life of faith demands a culture to support it; the wisdom of an age is reflected in its tales and in its art, in the stories and monuments it cherishes. Culture grows from our deepest convictions but also supports them, making visible and public the private longings in our hearts. Throughout the past year, Dappled Things, a new Catholic magazine featuring the work of young writers and artists, has been diligently working to help spark a new culture that understands the challenges and contributions of the modern world yet is firmly rooted in the rich tradition of the Church.

Now, it is our pleasure to announce the publication of the magazine's “Mary, Queen of Angels 2006” issue, which, as always, features stories, poems, essays, artwork, and photographs from young artists around the world. Below, you will find links and brief descriptions of some of the pieces featured in this edition. We encourage you to explore the new issue and join us on our forums for discussion, commentary, and fellowship.

In this issue:

&#8226 “Refiner's Fire” by Shannon Berry is a wise, moving personal essay about the trials of prayer and discernment.

&#8226 Poets Karen K. Adams (“African Angelus,” “Little Hours“) and Sarah DeCorla-Souza (“Ordinary Time“) both meditate on the quotidian miracle that is parenthood, while Amos Hunt, J.B. Toner, and Daniel Gibbons tackle terror in “Night Crossing,” despair in “To Whom Much Is Given,” and emptiness (“My winter's silent utter zero”) in “Autumnal.”

&#8226 Katy Carl recounts her meeting with a curious saint, “like something out of a Flannery O'Connor novel,” in “A Private Matter,” a personal essay in which she explores end-of-life issues and the possibility of wrongful behavior at a Catholic hospital.

&#8226 In her story “Open Great Wide Doors,” Stephanie Mader sketches the lead-up to a brash and driven young man's first encounter with God.

&#8226 Matthew Alderman explains the artistic and historical inspirations behind his symbol-rich ink drawing, “St. Gregory the Great, Pope of Rome, Seated in State Upon the Throne of Peter.”

&#8226 Our featured author this quarter is Arthur Powers, a relief and development director, lawyer, international businessman, and accomplished short story writer who has spent most of his adult life in Brazil. Dappled Things is pleased to premiere “A Hero for the People,” “Stone,” and “Carla,” a triptych of stories that form a portrait of modern Brazil: of the peasants, the priests, the landowners, the farmers, the students, and the educated elite who must confront the turmoil of twentieth-century change.

You can find all of these pieces and more from the “Mary, Queen of Angels 2006” issue, as well as archived issues, submission instructions, and the Dappled Things forums, at www.DappledThings.org.

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