This is the text of the talk I gave at the 2025 Saint Benedict Center Conference in October. “MAY you live in interesting times!” So goes an ancient and proverbial Chinese curse, short and pithy, but packed with enigmatic Asiatic … Continue reading
Category: Articles
The Intelligent American’s Guide to the French Right IV: Against Two Evils
This is the fourth in a series. Here are parts one to three: The Intelligent American’s Guide to the French Right, I The Intelligent American’s Guide to the French Right II: Maurras and Mussolini The Intelligent American’s Guide to the … Continue reading
Leaving Behind the Filioque?
Pope Leo’s apostolic letter, In Unitate Fidei (“in the Unity of Faith”), raises serious concerns over its treatment of core Catholic teachings. The letter, dated November 23, concerns the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicea in 325, and … Continue reading
Theresian ‘Littleness’ — What Is It Really?
It is impossible to read The Story of a Soul and not be struck by St. Therese’s marked predilection for the word littleness. She likes to compare herself to a little toy or a little ball belonging to the Infant … Continue reading
The Intelligent American’s Guide to the French Right III: Condemnation, Missed Opportunities, and Vindication
This is the third in a series. Here are parts one and two: The Intelligent American’s Guide to the French Right, I The Intelligent American’s Guide to the French Right II: Maurras and Mussolini The Croix de Feu rose up … Continue reading
Confronting the Monster Madness
If you haven’t already noticed, our culture is becoming increasingly “monstra-fied.” Is this a sign of our broad-mindedness and growth in compassion? Are there good qualities to be found in monsters? Do they have a few noble motives and desires? … Continue reading
The Intelligent American’s Guide to the French Right II: Maurras and Mussolini
Go here for part I: The Intelligent American’s Guide to the French Right On the land without a Monarchy The enemy descends four times in a hundred years; We have saved the Fatherland, But what has been done with the … Continue reading
Human Love: How Much Is Too Much?
“You are so deeply engraved on my heart that the more I realize how truly you love me from the depths of your soul, the more incapable I am of forgetting you, and the more constantly you are in my … Continue reading
The Intelligent American’s Guide to the French Right
French people, let us speak with courage. Born on the soil that our Kings gathered, We receive as inheritance, The field less rich, and less large than before… Yet it is the same seed, The same earth too, Who has … Continue reading
On the Utility of Quoting the Talmud
In my most recent Ad Rem, On the Boy Jesus and the Doctors of the Law, I did something I rarely do. I quoted from the Talmud. Someone on social media took exception to my doing so, and I explained … Continue reading
In Memoriam: Gary Potter
Our hopes for early glory fail, The causes that we fought for die; Still avidly His Cross we hail, In silhouette against the sky. — Charles A. Coulombe, “To Gary Potter.” GARY POTTER has died; these lines are among the … Continue reading
On Great Souls and Little Souls
Is there really a difference between “great souls” and “little souls” or “great” saints and “little” saints? St. Therese thought so. Actually, she did not just think so in an abstract, theoretical sort of way — she was walking, talking … Continue reading
On El Camino Real — The King’s Highway
I have placed all my confidence in God, from whose goodness I hope He will grant me to reach not only San Diego to raise the standard of the Holy Cross in that port, but also Monterey. —St. Junipero Serra, … Continue reading
When the Going Gets Tough — The Tough Get Mary: Five Secrets of Catholic Battle Joy
Three soldiers rose up from their tents And went to join their regiments. And one said: “Captain, I report Because I think that war is sport!” And one said: “Captain, I am here Because my duty makes it clear.” And … Continue reading
Saint Cyril of Alexandria was a Chalcedonian
The many heresies that assailed Christ’s Church in the early centuries, though multifarious in nature, can roughly be classified as belonging to one of two general tendencies: the first, which encompassed the Judaizers and Arians, attacked the fullness of Christ’s … Continue reading
