February is certainly presidents’ month, given that Washington, Lincoln, and Reagan — arguably three of our most impressive — were all born at this time. Given the current and ongoing attacks against the current holder of the office — and … Continue reading
Author Archives: Charles A. Coulombe
As Christmas Leaves Us
Thus times do shift; each thing his turn does hold; New things succeed as former things grow old. — Robert Herrick, “Ceremonies for Candlemas Eve” After the excitement of the Twelve Days of Christmas and theringing in of the New … Continue reading
Why I Love St. Nicholas
Advent and the onset of Christmas always brings on memories of times past and the omnipresent figure of Santa Claus. Now, do not misunderstand me — I am all too aware (and have written about) the de-Christianisation of Christmas and … Continue reading
When the Guns Fell Silent
A century ago, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the worst war in recorded history up to that time ended on its Western Front. Hundreds of miles to the East, a Saint was driven … Continue reading
The Old World and The New
I have recently moved from Los Angeles, California, to Trumau Austria, in order to pursue a Master’s degree in Sacred Theology. Uprooting myself from the city where I have lived most of my life was difficult enough; to move to … Continue reading
A Summer Place
As I write these words, Summer is halfway through. Now, to many people, especially those living in colder climes, this is a magical season — warm, inviting, filled with vacations from work and especially school, sojourns at lake- or seaside … Continue reading
Why the ‘Catholic Revival’ Failed
In our last outing, after considering the horror of a society in which the medical murder of little Alfie Evans could occur — especially one as “God-invoking” and “nice” as that of the 21st century West — it was promised … Continue reading
The Evil That We Are
Little Alfie Evans is dead. The poor mite had little hope, humanly speaking, in any case; but the determination of the British medical, bureaucratic, and judicial establishment to kill him — in the face of an Italian government that was … Continue reading
The Modern Quest for Enchantment II
Last month we looked at the attempts of believers and non-believers alike to escape the terror and boredom of modern life via quest for enchantment launched through time — the annual observances, secular and religious, of the year. In this … Continue reading
The Modern Quest for Enchantment
Christmas is at last upon us. I say at last because even the most devout of Catholics, however keen on keeping Advent strictly they may be, are doubtless aware of the Yuletide decorations up in stores since mid-September. Of course … Continue reading
A Tale of Three Revolutions
Last night I attended a meeting of the Alhambra Historical Society, at which Joyce Amaro, president of the Alhambra Preservation Group, gave a presentation on the formerly Episcopalian chapel of Ss. Simon and Jude and her organisation’s thus far successful … Continue reading
The Sage of Milford: Remembering Andrew Rothovius
Autumn is, for me anyway, an acutely nostalgic time. I think of the New England and New York of my childhood, of cool crisp weather and falling coloured leaves — and these memories are all the more vibrant when faced … Continue reading
Battle of the Statues
As everyone save the most hermit-like will know, these United States are extremely divided just at the moment. At the conclusion of an administration whose most iconic moment was — for this writer, anyway — an executive order penalising public … Continue reading
Golden Jubilee of the Summer of Love
A few months ago, in this space, this writer offered some musings on the 65th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne. But this summer marks the Golden Jubilee of an event that has had far more impact … Continue reading
The Five Wounds and Five Joys of the Modern Church
First he was found faultless in his five senses, and then failed never the knight in his five fingers, and all his trust in the field was in the five wounds that Christ caught on the cross, as the creed … Continue reading