When writing to the people of the United States in 1895, Pope Leo XIII observed: “The names newly given to so many of your towns and rivers and lakes teach and clearly witness how deeply your beginnings were marked with … Continue reading
Category: Articles
The First Yankee Priest, Father John Thayer
Question: What do a French beggar-saint, a burned-down Boston convent, and County Limerick, Ireland, all have in common? Answer: The subject of this article, the first “Yankee Priest,” Father John Thayer. Being the scion of Puritan settlers of New England, … Continue reading
The Case of Father Michael Mueller
As thinking Catholics the world over realize, the Church today is in a state of crisis — one that Pope Paul VI described as its “auto-demolition,” its self-destruction. The great majority of those who acknowledge this agonizing reality are inclined … Continue reading
Joseph Smith and the Mormons
The Mormons, who style themselves “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” could, with very little investigation, discover the fantastic foundations on which their title rests. For even were we to wink at their assuming the unusual privilege of … Continue reading
Meditations Upon The Seven Daily Prayers of Saint John Fisher
SAINT JOHN FISHER, whose feast day falls on June 22, was born in 1469 in Beverly, Yorkshire, England. He was Bishop of Rochester for thirty-three years and was a solicitous bishop, stirring preacher, brilliant scholar, and model of every virtue.
The Story of the Miraculous Medal
Early this century, Pope Saint Pius X declared that “true devotion to Christ demands true devotion to Mary.” More recently, Pope John Paul II urged an increase in devotion to the Mother of God while visiting the National Shrine of … Continue reading
The BIG BAD Catholic Church, or Dealing with the “Argument from Corruption”
Whenever Catholics and non-Catholics find themselves discussing religion — an all too rare occurrence — one of the commonest objections voiced by the non-Catholic has something to do with the “horribly corrupt” history of the Catholic Church. What this article … Continue reading
The Holy Angels: Our Faithful Allies in the History of Salvation
An Issue[1] dedicated to the angels would not be complete without a Look at the historical activity of the “ministering spirits” on earth, as we know it from the Old and New Testaments. From the time of Adam their most … Continue reading
Father Gallitzin and the Cliptown Exorcism
Introduction: The following account is from Daniel Sargent’s book, Mitri, pages 113-116. A few explanations are in order to help the reader understand. Mitri is Demitrius Gallitzin, the Russian prince-priest who became “Apostle of the Alleghenies.” He was also known … Continue reading
Metropolitan Sheptytsky, Apostle of Church Unity
November 1st has meant All Saints Day to us for centuries, but Byzantine Rite Catholics are hoping that it will become the feast day of Metropolitan Andrew Sheptytsky, a priest of their rite, whose life was spent seeking unity between … Continue reading
Dream of Saint John Bosco: to Hell and Back
Introduction: At the beginning of Holy Week in 1868, haunting dreams began to trouble Don Bosco, and they “went on for several miserable nights.” “These dreams so exhausted me,” he stated, “that in the morning I felt more done in … Continue reading
Apologizing for the Rosary
Defenses against two common objections to the Holy Rosary, written, we hope, with a little humor. “Vain Repetition” — The Big Canard This is probably the objection Protestants have to the Rosary, that “vain repetition” is condemned by God. … Continue reading
Blessed Margaret of Castello
PROBABLY THE most unlikely — and yet most significant — patroness for this day and age would be Blessed Margaret of Castello. If her parents had lived today and the doctors had been able to anticipate with accuracy the little … Continue reading
The Faith Triumphs at Chalcedon
IN PREVIOUS ISSUES we have told the stories of the first and third ecumenical councils. In what follows, Brother Michael tells the story of the fourth Ecumenical Council, that of Chalcedon (pronounced Kal- sē’- dun). This of necessity brings in, … Continue reading
A Bouquet from the Spiritual Garden of Mother Cabrini
The lovable personality of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini and her holy zeal are beautifully reflected in her letters, of which, thank God, there are an abundance. And no wonder, when we consider the long journeys she undertook in her life … Continue reading
