Eleonore Villarrubia, Author at Catholicism.org

About Eleonore Villarrubia

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1939, Eleonore Villarrubia is a 1960 graduate of Tulane University. She taught for 24 years in public and Catholic schools in that city, spending the major part of her career as librarian at Holy Cross Middle and High School for Boys. She was also a Spanish and history teacher, skills that proved useful in the busy high school library. She was active in the New Orleans Chapter of the Catholic Library Association for many years.

She is married to Will Villarrubia, also of New Orleans. They are the parents of three grown sons and have four grandchildren. Will and Eleonore moved to Richmond, New Hampshire in 2005 to become an active part of the lay community of Saint Benedict Center.

Eleonore is a member of the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Third Order. Her name in the Order is Sister Mary Monica.

Patron Saint for the Impatient

Jun 23, 2011 Eleonore Villarrubia 18

Saint Expedite: A Real Saint? Some would claim, in answer to the above question, that Saint Expedite really did not exist. In reply to that claim, we need to point out that he is indeed found in the Roman Martyrology, … Continue reading →

David Goldstein and Martha Moore Avery: from Socialists to ‘Campaigners for Christ’

Jun 8, 2011 Eleonore Villarrubia Reply

It is probably safe to say that everyone reading this knows of the famous preacher on Boston Common of the 1950’s, Father Leonard Feeney, and of the religious brothers who accompanied him there each Sunday. Father preached the unvarnished truth … Continue reading →

Casey Jones: Legendary Railroad Engineer and Catholic

May 4, 2011 Eleonore Villarrubia 3

Practically every American has heard of the storied railroad engineer of the late 1800’s, Casey Jones, made famous throughout the years in song, story, and film. But it is generally not known that he was baptized a Catholic at the … Continue reading →

The Jesuit Missions in South America

Mar 23, 2011 Eleonore Villarrubia 2

(A Little-Known Story: The Jesuit Missions in South America and How Their Success Led to the Dissolution of the Order of Saint Ignatius) [Review of Black Robes in Paraguay: The Success of the Guarani Missions Hastened the Abolition of the … Continue reading →

The Saint and His Mountain: Brother André Bessette

Mar 15, 2011 Eleonore Villarrubia Reply

[Review of Brother André: Friend of the Suffering, Apostle of Saint Joseph, by Father Jean-Guy Dubuc, C.S.C. Ave Maria Press, Notre Dame, Indiana] How we all rejoiced last October when Blessed Brother André was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI. As … Continue reading →

Sister Stanislaus – Winged Angel of New Orleans

Feb 25, 2011 Eleonore Villarrubia 5

Born in a mining camp in the high Sierras of California, Catherine Malone was the daughter of poor Irish immigrants who came to America in the early 1860’s. The child was born on Christmas Eve, 1863, and had no memory … Continue reading →

One Bloody Battle in a Faraway Land

Feb 18, 2011 Eleonore Villarrubia 1

[Review of The Battle for Oscar Six by Eugene R. De Lalla] The Battle for Oscar Six: Life and Death in Vietnam – April, 1968, by Eugene DeLalla, LaSalette Publications, 2010

Warrior, Patriot, Gentleman, and Catholic, Colonel John Ripley USMC

Feb 4, 2011 Eleonore Villarrubia 1

[Review of An American Knight by Norman J. Fulkerson] Every war has its share of heroes. Vietnam was no different. One of the greatest and most decorated officers of that bloody conflict was John Ripley, USMC. Born in 1939, Ripley was … Continue reading →

He Died in His Armor, Padre Francesco Vera

Jan 6, 2011 Eleonore Villarrubia 4

I was asked by Brian Kelly to translate a Spanish tribute for one of the 4000 priests who were martyred in or exiled from Mexico during the anti-Catholic Masonic persecution of the Church in the 1920s and 30s. The priest … Continue reading →

Bella Dodd — From Communist to Catholic

Aug 31, 2010 Eleonore Villarrubia 26

How was it that a little Catholic girl – born in Italy – became one of the most powerful figures of the American Communist Party at the height of its power during the late 1930’s and 1940’s? The story of … Continue reading →

Saint Eulogius and the Moslems

Aug 2, 2010 Eleonore Villarrubia 3

[Review of A Saint Under Moslem Rule by Justo Perez de Urbel, Catholic Authors Press.] To much of the world, Spain is an enigma. Isolated from the rest of western Europe by the daunting barrier of the rugged Pyrenees Mountains, … Continue reading →

Catholic Pilgrimage, a Spiritual Journey

Jul 17, 2010 Eleonore Villarrubia 1

The word “pilgrim,” derived from the Latin peregrinum, conveys the idea of wandering over a distance, but it is not just aimless wandering. It is a journey with a purpose, and that purpose is to honor God. Pilgrimage has a … Continue reading →

The Battleground: Syria and Palestine, the Seed Plot of Religion by Hilaire Belloc

Jul 7, 2010 Eleonore Villarrubia 2

[The Battleground: Syria and Palestine, the Seed Plot of Religion by Hilaire Belloc. Ignatius Press.] Hilaire Belloc, one of my favorite authors, was exceedingly prolific. He wrote one hundred fifty three books of poetry, essays, history, religion, politics, and economics, … Continue reading →

Saint Joseph Altars

May 24, 2010 Eleonore Villarrubia Reply

(Photography and text by Kerri McCafferty. Pelican Publishing Company) This beautiful book is a feast for the eyes. The author, an accomplished photographer, presents her subject primarily in a delicious array of colorful photos of many different Saint Joseph Altars … Continue reading →

Dios, Patria, Fueros, y Rey: The Story Of The Spanish Carlistas

May 17, 2010 Eleonore Villarrubia 18

In his article “Spain’s Crusade” of some years ago, Gary Potter briefly mentioned the Carlists “…without whose arms and sacrifices victory could well have eluded the Catholic, national side of the conflict. It would be desirable to speak of them … Continue reading →