There were natives in our New World when the missionaries came, who thought it a good idea to eat the heart and drink the blood of the enemy they killed, if that enemy showed exemplary courage. Like other pagans — … Continue reading
Category: «Ad Rem» A Fortnightly Email Message from the Prior
«Ad Rem» is our Prior’s fortnightly email message offering news and commentary regarding the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Crusade of St. Benedict Center, and issues affecting the universal Church. Each number offers brief, ad rem (“to the point”) commentary on timely or otherwise important matters. Click here to subscribe to our email list and receive the «Ad Rem» each time it’s published.
God Loves Mountains
Years ago, on the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, a priest who was visiting Saint Benedict Center began his sermon on the feast with the words “God loves mountains!” He then preached a tour de force on the … Continue reading
Life with the Trinity
Philosophers tell us that the essence of a relation is to be ad aliquid — “towards another.” In considering our own relationships, the most important ones we can speak of are those we have with the Holy Trinity and Our … Continue reading
Divine Relationships
A fallen-away Catholic once told me, “I gave up that religion for a relationship.” What she was saying is that Catholicism, with all its ceremonies, doctrines, and other “formalities,” did not give her a relationship with Jesus, which is exactly … Continue reading
On Being Beautiful
In philosophy, we consider being under three different aspects that we call the transcendentals. They are the true, good, and beautiful (verum, bonum, et pulchrum). As being is knowable to our intellects, it is true; as being is loved by … Continue reading
Boy Scouts and Homosexuality: What’s the Big Deal?
By now, readers are no doubt aware of the enormous moral capitulation by the Boy Scouts of America on the subject of homosexuality. Shortly after being informed of the bad news, I wrote a column that began with the words, … Continue reading
Some Good News
On Monday, May 13, Brother Joseph Mary professed his perpetual vows. The following “letter” concerns this wonderful event in our community’s life. The previous day saw nine innocents make their First Holy Communion in our chapel. Please also see the … Continue reading
The Bad News
The Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ is the “Good News” that our King and High Priest ordered to be preached “to every creature.” Not exclusively for one tribe, nation, or continent, it was intended to go to all the … Continue reading
Sanctifying the Sensory at Mass
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass can be considered from a multitude of angles and by a variety of sciences. First and foremost, it is the actio sacra, the sacred action of the Church’s highest worship. As such, it is … Continue reading
‘Born This Way’
The Supreme Court has recently begun to hear arguments in two cases related to “gay marriage” — a doubly-deceptive oxymoron which ought always to be put in quotes, if used at all. It is no surprise that, early in the … Continue reading
Tweeting Pope Francis
At some point it became fashionable to portray Saint Francis of Assisi with birds all over him. Yes, he did preach to birds, as his disciple, Saint Anthony, preached to fish. I have seen many ancient paintings of Il Poverello, … Continue reading
We Need Grace!
Here we find ourselves past the midway mark of Lent, and we may have to renew our sense of purpose in this holy endeavor. One of the best ways to do this might be to focus not on our own … Continue reading
The Carthusian Tattoo and the Papal Conclave
Within the last week, I renewed my acquaintance with an Australian journalist I met a couple of years ago. She is a convert from Anglicanism who has taken very nicely to the traditional Mass and the integral Catholic culture that … Continue reading
Let Us Do Penance
There is a venerable tradition in the Church, going back at least to the time of Saint Jerome (+420), of referring to Penance as the “second plank.” The sacrament of Penance is here meant, and this explains the capitalization. This … Continue reading
Patriarchy and the Defenseless
On January 25, 500,000 pro-lifers marched on the Mall in Washington D.C. in defense of unborn human life. Four days before that, the most progressivist, pro-abortion, homosexualist president in American history gave his second inaugural address. In that address, Mr. … Continue reading
