In 1891, Pope Leo XIII issued an encyclical on the industrial revolution. In 2026, his namesake, Pope Leo XIV, issued an encyclical on the AI revolution. Unfortunately, AI is more of a revolution than the American-born pontiff seems to realize. The title of papal encyclicals comes from their first words: Magnifica humanitas is Latin for
Fasting reminds us that physical difficulties may come in this life, yet the Lord will bring us through them in the end.
A deeper response to AI requires us to reflect on what it means to be human and on how the reality of the body and incarnational theology affect the way we do ministry.
The rise and widespread presence of companion chatbots reveals something important about our current moment: Many individuals long to belong, to be heard, and to experience friendship and companionship. Yet they are struggling to find these things.
The August issue deals with life in the digital age and the rise of artificial intelligence.
There’s an old Latin saying: Non multa sed multum (“not many things, but much”). It’s not so important that a pastor has read a thousand books, but that he’s deeply familiar with the greatest and best.
The following article originally appeared in our April 2026 print edition. It is being published online now as part of LCMS Life Ministry’s Resource Library. If you were to ask a medical doctor what it means for a human to have “life,” he would probably cite several physical characteristics, beginning with a heart that is
The June/July issue takes up the topics of unity and variety in the church.
In the LCMS, following this tradition, we’ve sought to exercise freedom tempered by love.
How have Christians handled the “adiaphora” question over the centuries?
The multicultural church here on earth offers a foretaste of the heavenly feast to come.
Throughout the world you’ll find that the same feasts and fasts are part of the liturgical cycle.