Pierless Bridges

The Joan and Ralph Lane Center for Catholic Social Thought and the Ignatian Tradition

Faith — is the Pierless Bridge Supporting what We see Unto the Scene that We do not — Too slender for the eye It bears the Soul as bold As it were rocked in Steel With Arms of Steel at either side — It joins — behind the Veil To what, could We presume The Bridge would cease to be To Our far, vacillating Feet A first Necessity."

Emily Dickinson

As a “pierless bridge,” faith has no visible means of support. But we at the Joan and Ralph Lane Center for Catholic Social Thought and the Ignatian Tradition find consolation in Emily Dickinson’s poem, affirming with her that faith “bears the Soul as bold.” We see this every day in our city of bridges and beyond.

We are committed to supporting and highlighting the work of bold souls whose faith supports, in pierless and peerless ways, the advancement of the common good. We hope our annual volume will serve as a solid bridge that connects us to our readers and connects all of us to our world, to each other, and to God.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam