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.

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 →

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 →

‘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 →

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 →

The Grace of the Epiphany

Epiphany, January 6, is the “Christmas of the Gentiles,” a feast which popularly outranks Christmas in certain Catholic nations and predated it on the Church’s calendar. (Liturgically, in fact, it outranked Christmas until its octave was sadly dropped in 1955). … Continue reading →