The death of Pope Francis and subsequent election of Leo XIV by the College of Cardinals has refocused the world’s attention on that select band of men charged with the selection of new Popes. But they have a personal importance … Continue reading
Author Archives: Charles A. Coulombe
1688 and All That
How an Inglorious Revolution Poisoned the Anglosphere Down to Our Own Time At the moment, two very different events are taking place: one is the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution — seemingly ignored outside those areas of the country … Continue reading
The Verray Parfit Gentil Knight
A knight there was, and he a worthy man, Who, from the moment that he first began To ride about the world, loved chivalry, Truth, honour, freedom and all courtesy. Full worthy was he in his liege-lord’s war, And therein … Continue reading
The Need for Romanticism
The splendor falls on castle walls And snowy summits old in story; The long light shakes across the lakes, And the wild cataract leaps in glory. Blow, bugle, blow, set the wild echoes flying, Blow, bugle; answer, echoes, dying, dying, … Continue reading
The Annunciation and Literature
Salvation to all that will is nigh; That All, which always is all everywhere, Which cannot sin, and yet all sins must bear, Which cannot die, yet cannot choose but die, Lo, faithful virgin, yields Himself to lie In prison, … Continue reading
Farewell Meat!
This year of 2025, Mardi Gras arrives on March 4. While the season of Septuagesima, Shrovetide, Carneval — call it what you will — is ending, it is important to remember that keeping it is the hallmark of Catholic cultures. … Continue reading
Faerie in February
Lament, lament, old Abbeys, The Fairies’ lost command! They did but change Priests’ babies, But some have changed your land. And all your children, sprung from thence, Are now grown Puritans, Who live as changelings ever since For love of … Continue reading
Thoughts on Candlemas
Down with the rosemary, and so Down with the bays and misletoe; Down with the holly, ivy, all Wherewith ye dress’d the Christmas hall; That so the superstitious find No one least branch there left behind; For look, how many … Continue reading
Inauguration Day and the United States
Hail to the Chief we have chosen for the nation, Hail to the Chief! We salute you, one and all. Hail to the Chief, as we pledge cooperation, In proud fulfillment of a great, noble call. Yours is the aim … Continue reading
January Thoughts
Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this sun of York; And all the clouds that lour’d upon our house In the deep bosom of the ocean buried. Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths; … Continue reading
The Old Year Dies
Full knee-deep lies the winter snow, And the winter winds are wearily sighing: Toll ye the church bell sad and slow, And tread softly and speak low, For the old year lies a-dying. Old year you must not die; You … Continue reading
Yuletide Self-Defence
Ye modern throng, whose tinsel joys reveal The strain’d and labour’d ecstasies you feel; Whose empty pastimes hold a spurious bliss, And feebly copy brighter days than this: Your clumsy games suspend, and pause to hear Of genuine mirth, and … Continue reading
Having a Real Thanksgiving
As the Halloween decorations in American stores make way for those of Christmas (although in many such places the two have already co-existed happily in different aisles), here and there yet remain retail locales — especially such as sell turkeys … Continue reading
Dead and Gone?
Halloween’s Jack O’Lanterns may be gone, and the last Trick-or-Treater long since consumed his last bit of candy. But the “thinness of the veil between the worlds” of which innumerable writers speak at this time of year — and with … Continue reading
Living in the Kingdom of Christ
May heads of nations fear thy name And spread thy honor through their lands, Our nation’s laws, our arts proclaim The beauty of thy just commands. Let kings the crown and scepter hold As pledge of their supremacy; And thou … Continue reading
