It was on October 13, 1917, one hundred years ago, that the Miracle of the Sun was witnessed by 70,000 people at Fatima. Many of these witnesses were naysayers, atheists, and Catholic haters. They had come to Fatima expecting that … Continue reading
Category: Articles
Summation of Our 2017 Conference
Brief Summation of 2017 talks at Saint Benedict Center’s 20th Annual Conference Opening remarks from Brother André Marie. The theme of the Conference being “A World View in the Light of Fatima” Brother gave thanks to the late John Vennari … Continue reading
Asking Candid Questions About Fundamental Convictions: Josef Pieper
While slowly reading the second of the three volumes of Josef Pieper’s Memoirs, Not Yet the Twilight (Noch Nicht Aller Tage Abend), I came more and more to think of him as a cultivated and disciplined man who so graciously … Continue reading
September/October 2017 Mancipia
The September/October 2017 Mancipia is now posted (scroll down for PDF). Back issues of this newsletter are linked from our downloads page. If you would like to receive our bi-monthly newsletter via U.S. mail, please sign up to get it … 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
Ayn Rand, Conservatism’s Favorite Philosopher
There is a line of Scripture politicians commonly recite when American warriors killed in action or law-enforcement officers killed in the line of duty are commemorated. They may refrain from identifying the New Testament as its source lest they risk … Continue reading
Vincent Capodanno: Catholic Priest, Maryknoll Missionary, United States Marine, Servant Of God
Did you know that there is a very special Archdiocese in these United States of America that does not have any geographical boundaries? It has its own Archbishop based in Washington, D. C., but he is not the Bishop of … Continue reading
An Analogy from Hilaire Belloc’s “The Barbarians”
After recently re-reading after some years Hilaire Belloc’s 1912 essay, entitled “The Barbarians,” I have thought to apply a few of his keen insights about both ancient and modern civilisation to the current Catholic Church and her own “cultural immune … 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
Deconquista
November before last I wrote an article for the SBC website marking the fortieth anniversary of the death of Francisco Franco and comparing Spain when he governed the country to Spain now that it is no longer Catholic, no more … Continue reading
Hilaire Belloc: Walking, Inns, and the Recovery of Europe
On this 64th anniversary of the death of Hilaire Belloc (and fitting Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel), I thought to select a few passages from our beloved friend’s versatile writings both before and shortly after World War I: … Continue reading
July/August 2017 Mancipia
The July/August 2017 Mancipia is now posted (scroll down for PDF). Back issues of this newsletter are linked from our downloads page. If you would like to receive our bi-monthly newsletter via U.S. mail, please sign up to get it regularly. … Continue reading
Pentecost: Releasing the Power of the Holy Spirit
Our Lord, Jesus Christ, knew that His disciples would experience great sorrow — “Amen, amen, I say to you, that you shall weep and lament…” — when He ascended into heaven, leaving them behind to “Go into the whole world … Continue reading
Jonas the ‘Reluctant Prophet’
An evil and adulterous generation seeketh a sign: and a sign shall not be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet (Matthew 12:39). Let us see how Our Lord uses the story of Jonas to refute some of … Continue reading
The Power of Silence
A few years ago I wasted money on a book that purported to be about the history and importance of silence in Catholicism. It turned out to be an exercise in political correctness instead. This became apparent in the opening … Continue reading
