Chaput has a new book out. Read it.

Archbishop Charles Chaput, former bishop in Rapid City, has a new book out, Strangers in a Strange Land. From the excerpts I’ve read it looks to be the usual interesting writing I’ve grown accustomed to from him.

Chaput has a unique ability to bring religious writing down to the level of the average Joe. It’s not like reading a doctoral thesis. His book, Render Unto Caesar: Serving the Nation by Living Our Catholic Beliefs in Political Life, is one of my favorite books of any genre.

For instance, from Strangers:

But what we do in the world, how we live and how we love (or misuse love) — these things always have consequences. And they always emerge from the past to pay a visit. Choices don’t stay buried.

That echoes my wife’s most oft-repeated words to our kids and to the college Catholic kids she serves at the SD School of Mines Newman Center: "Make good choices." For the most part they have, but not always. Kind of like her husband.

In fact, this might be a good Lenten read for me. Reminder, Lent starts on March 1, Ash Wednesday. Be there or be heathen.