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The Romance of Wisdom

That wisdom could be “romantic” would strike many as odd. This is because, generally speaking, neither romance nor wisdom is properly considered. The former is mistaken for lust, while the latter is lost in a sea of empty esotericism, or consigned to simple disregard. Since the theme of our upcoming conference is “The Romance of Wisdom,” I feel bound to explain how these two nouns, seemingly so distant, can possibly be conjoined.

by Brother André Marie September 2nd, 2010

Pastoral Director for Westminster Archbishop Calls Britain a “Selfish and Hedonistic Wasteland”


Brian Kelly

No question where this Catholic layman, Edmund Adamus, stands. He speaks with a clear tone of righteous indignation. Some question his timing, being that the pope will be visiting Britain in two weeks. Perhaps he is hoping that such a forthright assessment of Anglo-reality (and western reality) will preempt what could be a mere diplomatic mission into being a more provocative one that will truly spur on the loyal Catholics who have the potential to become a catalyst for a Catholic contra-reform in Britain.


Un Blog Nuevo en Español sobre ‘el Dogma’


The Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Ahora hay un blog en español que defiende el dogma católico “No hay salvación fuera de la Iglesia Católica.” Está aún en construcción, pero tiene un post que se llama, “Las tres definiciones dogmáticas del dogma ‘Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus,’” que contiene en español las tres definiciones infalibles …


Ambassador, Foreign Minister, Premier, Benedictine Priest and Abbot, China’s Catholic Prime Minister Lu Zhengxiang


Brian Kelly

He had a vision for his country, inspired within him by a Catholic friend, that for China to be a great country it must find its greatness in the Christian religion. Lu (Lou) Zhengxiang was born to Protestant parents in 1871. He converted after meeting his future wife, Berthe Bovy, who was a Catholic Belgian. He represented China in 1919 at Versailles, the only representative who refused to sign the Treaty because it left Japan in control of certain territory in China that it had seized  during the World War. 


Register Online for the SBC Conference!


The Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

The most current information on the conference is on our SBC Conferences site. You can now register for the conference online at store.Catholicism.org. Keep your eye on Catholicism.org for the final conference schedule with complete list of speakers, times, etc.


The Holy Unia Blog


Brother André Marie

I would like to bring to the attention of our readers a new blog — new to me, anyway — called The Holy Unia Blog. It’s an Eastern-Rite and pro-extra ecclesiam nulla salus blog that is “Promoting Holy Unia. Rejecting Ecumenism. Fighting Modernism. Rejecting Latinizations.” There’s nothing of a “Latin Rite is inferior” attitude about the contents. It promotes great apostles of Church unity like Mar Ivanios of Trivandrum.


Soloviev’s Meditation on the Papacy


The Philosopher

Vladimir Soloviev gives this wonderful meditation on the Petrine office in Russia and the Universal Church (reprinted as The Russian Church and the Papacy). He is writing about St. Peter’s being made the Rock of the Church by our Lord and then, almost immediately, being called “Satan” (Mt. 16:18, 23).


Psychology and Salvation


Brother André Marie

In New Ideas on the Church and Salvation, I addressed the positions taken by Dr. Jeffrey Mirus in his piece, Salvation for Non-Catholics: Not a New Idea. Here, I will make some observations concerning the first of his two follow-ups: Sound Off! Comments on Salvation for Non-Catholics.

Dr. Mirus proffers the opinion that, to be damned for their unbelief, not only do people need to have heard the teachings of Jesus and the Church, they must have been convinced of them.


Fr. Michael Rodriguez Defends the Moral Law on TV


The Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Father Michael Rodriquez, who has been mentioned on this site before, was recently featured on a local television program in El Paso, Texas. The issue under discussion was Church teaching on Homosexuality. You can see the video here. Notice, if you watch it, how this priest keeps …


Archbishop Burke Clarifies: Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Girls Have No ‘Right’ to These Positions


Brother André Marie

The head of the Supreme Apostolic Signatura, the Church’s highest court, has clarified certain liturgical questions in light of Canon Law. His comments were made in the preface to a book celebrating the third anniversary of Summorum Pontificum.

Excerpts from the CNA article:


Mammoth Government Protects Itself at Our Expense


The Philosopher

Pat Buchanan reports on Nancy Pelosi and company’s $26 billion loan from China to save the jobs of other government bureaucrats whose jobs were threatened. Their jobs were threatened because their employees (state and local governments) felt the need to balance budgets. Federal government glut is sapping the life blood out of American families and putting future generations in debt to hostile communists. This is not what’s called “political prudence.”


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About Br. Francis Maluf, M.I.C.M.

Br. Francis Maluf, M.I.C.M.

Brother Francis was born, in the town of Mashrah, Lebanon, about thirty miles from Beirut, in 1913. His given name was Fakhri Boutros Maluf. The Maluf family is descended from the ancient Ghassanids, Christian and Catholic Arabs who courageously kept the Faith in the face of Moslem aggression.

Though poor, Fakhri’s family saw to his education, which was provided at home, in a small school that his father operated. In 1934, Fakhri graduated from the American University of Beirut with a Bachelor’s Degree in mathematics. From 1934 to 1939, he taught physics at that same University.

In 1939, he moved to the United States to attend the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where he received first an M.A. and, in 1942, a Ph.D. in philosophy. After receiving his Ph.D., he continued post-graduate studies at Harvard University and Saint Bonaventure University.

From 1942 to 1945, Dr. Maluf taught mathematics and science at Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts. From 1945 to 1949, he taught philosophy, theology, and mathematics at Boston College.

In addition to his academic career, Dr. Maluf's first decade in America was filled with great religious activity. On the Feast of St. Andrew (Nov. 30) in 1940, he became a Catholic. (Although he came from an historic Catholic family, his father had become a Mason and raised the children with no religion.) Two years later, he met Father Leonard Feeney, chaplain of Saint Benedict Center. In 1949, Dr. Maluf and two other professors at Boston College were dismissed from the faculty after charging the College, in a letter to Pope Pius XII and the Superior General of the Jesuit Order, with promoting the liberal doctrine of salvation outside the Church. That same year, Dr. Maluf became one of the pioneer members of Father Feeney’s religious Order, the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, eventually taking the vows of religion and the name Brother Francis, after Saint Francis Xavier.

Since that time, Brother Francis continued to teach Sacred Scripture, philosophy, theology, science and mathematics at various levels. For many years he was the Superior of the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary monastery in Richmond, New Hampshire. While in his 90s, he continued to give weekly lectures on various topics, teach high school, head the Saint Augustine Institute of Catholic Studies, and oversee the publishing apostolate of Saint Benedict Center.

On July 19, 2009, Brother Francis marked his 96th birthday. On September 5 of that year — a first Saturday — Brother went to his reward.

Although our Order is of the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, Brother Francis was a Melkite Rite (Byzantine) Catholic.

Please read Brother Francis’ Obituary and the Ad Rem, The Funeral of Brother Francis, in Thoughts and Pictures.

He gave numerous lectures and courses that are available on our online store in books or on audio.


Posts by Br. Francis Maluf, M.I.C.M.:

May 31

Cause of All Our Joys

May 31st, 2010

O Cause of all our joys! 1
Queen, merciful and kind,
What makes our girls and boys
So precious in your mind? Read More »

  1. Brother Francis composed these verses to a lovely Arabic song he knew from his youth.
May 27

On Holy __

May 27th, 2010

1. When you have __, everyone wants your company. When you lose __, men want to avoid you.

2. When you have __, you cannot be mean if you tried. When you lose __, you are mean even to yourself.

3. When you have __, you cannot commit sin.

4. When you have __, you overcome every adversity. Without __, even good fortune does you no good.

5. When you have __, you even look beautiful. When you lose __, you look ugly. Read More »

May 4

For the Children Again

May 04th, 2010

This little rhyme might
show you how to say— Read More »

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Apr 29

Anna Maria to St. Anne

April 29th, 2010

O Good Saint Anne,
I am named for you,
Will you make me good and
Holy and true? Read More »

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Apr 27

To Marie Rose on her 6th Birthday

April 27th, 2010

When Our Lady looks down from Heaven.
To admire your princely repose.
She says to the angels around her, Read More »

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Apr 22

Anna Maria at her 4th Birthday

April 22nd, 2010

Look at the morning Anna Maria,
Look at the bright blue sky!
These are the reflections, Anna Maria,
Of beauties that are on high. Read More »

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Apr 20

Agnes Mary

April 20th, 2010

Agnes Mary you are so sweet,
Your little hands, and your little feet.
Your little mouth, and your big eyes, Read More »

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Apr 15

Anna Maria

April 15th, 2010

I know how dear my God can be,
Who thought in all eternity,
An exquisite plan of darling Anne
And all the sweetness that is she.

From Divine Alchemy

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Apr 13

Peter at Seven

April 13th, 2010

Peter, a little nobleman of heaven
Pays tribute today to number seven.
Seven for the sacraments he Read More »

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Apr 8

Mariam as a Child

April 08th, 2010

I know that Mariam
Is a child of light;
She smiles at the morning
And frowns at the night.

From Divine Alchemy

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