«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.
Musicians, actors, and other performers can be very clever at employing mental exercises to improve their performance. When I was a teenager, my older brother, Charles, told me that he had been directed by one of his teachers to read … Continue reading
Memor fui óperum Dómini: quia memor ero ab inítio mirabílium tuórum. (“I remembered the works of the Lord: for I will be mindful of thy wonders from the beginning.”) — Psalm 76:12 When he received the Templeton Prize for Progress … Continue reading
In the writings of the Desert Fathers, the reckoning of what we call the “deadly” or “capital” sins was not exactly the same as the familiar list of seven that we now have: pride, covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, and … Continue reading
By now, I hope that all our readers have read Gary Potter’s latest excellent piece on this site, Christ is King of More Than Our Hearts. Gary’s lesson, implied in the title itself, is that the social reign of Our … Continue reading
As we look at a Christmas crèche, a question should come to each of our minds: What will I do for the love of this Child? Perhaps some who chance upon these lines will think the question untimely. Christmas, they … Continue reading
There is a story that wise men tell of an Enchanted Infant once born into this world. He was, they say, so ancient that nothing created came before Him; yet His birth into this world was attended by all the … Continue reading
One of the major themes of the Church’s Advent liturgy is hope as exemplified in the lovely hymn, Rorate Caeli. That this is a season of hope is something of a commonplace in considerations on these first four weeks of … Continue reading
Pax Christi. In this Ad Rem, I offer a brief reflection on religious life and especially on female religious; I give a long overdue public appreciation of our own Sisters here at Saint Benedict Center; and, finally, I make an … Continue reading
In recent months and especially recent weeks, I have been asked by several individuals to provide letters for them as they seek religious exemptions from draconian COVID-19 “vaccine” mandates. As many of these drugs do not fit the definition of … Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King in the Traditional Roman calendar. A feast of recent origin, Pope Pius XI gave it to the Church in 1925 specifically as a perpetual monument to the … Continue reading
Our 2021 Saint Benedict Center Conference is now history. Thankfully, it is a pleasant history — so we are being told by many in attendance — and one that can be relived in part by listening to or viewing the … Continue reading
One of the lessons we frequently meet in the lives of the saints is that true virtue can be very surprising. For instance, the “hilaritas mentis” (cheerfulness of heart) of many saints who were very ascetic — e.g., Saint Philip … Continue reading
In two back-to-back Wednesday audiences last month, Pope Francis managed to bring upon himself a great deal of criticism from two quite different audiences: faithful Catholics and the Grand Rabbinate of Israel. While Catholic outlets were quick to pick up … Continue reading
Next week, our IHM School resumes classes. ‘Tis that time of year! In honor of all the students, parents, and teachers preparing for a new academic year, I thought I would make this Ad Rem a “back-to-school special” edition. It … Continue reading
“Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:10). So goes the eighth Beatitude, which is the only one of the eight followed up by an inspired “footnote” at the end: … Continue reading
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