This man is off the wall. But he keeps to the program. I remember seeing him posed on the front cover of Time Magazine proudly gripping his lapel (is this a sign of something?) when he was running for the … Continue reading
Category: Columns
Traditional Sedia Would Protect Pope
Writing for Britain’s Catholic Herald, security expert Dominic Scarborough urges the Vatican to draw on tradition to prevent a repeat of the Midnight Mass attack on Benedict XVI. He believes that the sedia gestatoria would protect the Pope from such … Continue reading
Ben Hur and Billy the Kid?
Did You Know that the first book of fiction to be “blessed” by a pope was Ben Hur. Yes, Pope Leo XIII did the honors. Well, for what it’s worth, there’s the fact of it. Lew Wallace wrote the story … Continue reading
Pro-Father Feeney Blogs
More pro-Father Feeney and pro-extra ecclesiam nulla salus blogs are showing up on the Internet. I have recently been made aware of three of them, and noticed that they have some excellent postings and links. Regular readers know that it … Continue reading
Patron Saint for the Internet, Isidore of Seville
In 1997, Pope John Paul II decided that the internet could use a patron saint to guide Catholics in its proper use. He chose Saint Isidore of Seville (560-636), Doctor of the Church, and last of the Latin Fathers. His … Continue reading
Umberto Eco, Meet Fyodor Dostoevsky
With a hat tip to Tancred at the The Eponymous Flower, I bring your attention to Umberto Eco‘s op-ed piece in the New York Times, The Lost Wisdom of the Three Wise Men. Eco is a secularized Italian who was … Continue reading
January 6, So Much to Celebrate
What a wonderful day we have in the Church’s calendar tomorrow! It is the feast of the Epiphany, which means “manifestation.” It is the day the Baby Jesus was first worshiped by the Gentiles in the persons of the Magi: … Continue reading
Roman Priests’ Conference to Feature Classical Rite
Archbishop Joseph Augustine Di Noia, Secretery of the Congregation for Divine Worship, will celebrate the traditional rite at the Church of St. Stephen of the Abyssinians, located inside the Vatican walls, on January 6 (the Epiphany). Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke … Continue reading
Saint John Neumann
He’s in the middle of a saintly American triple header. Yesterday was Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. Tomorrow is Blessed Brother Andre. Canonized in 1977, Saint John Neumann is not to be found in Missals for the Classical Roman Rite. Yet, … Continue reading
The Lutherans are on to Something
It’s “the Holidays,” so chipper good will, merriment, warm feelings, and all that good stuff are abounding.* Why, right now we’re even inclined to be a little ecumenical this time of year and admit that the Lutherans are on to … Continue reading
Let’s Change the Name Of the Poinsettia Flower to Dolorosa Flower
Did You Know that the red leaf Poinsettia flower that adorns our altars at Christmas time was named after an anti-Catholic Freemason, Joel Roberts Poinsett. When Latin American countries complain of the United States (add British and French) businesses monopolizing … Continue reading
If Religion Has Nothing to Do with Saving Your Soul…
But if you still need that “churchy” feeling on Christmas, may I commend to you BBC Magazine’s “A guide to Christmas worship for novice churchgoers“? Despite its point of origin in the U.K., the advice offered applies here in the … Continue reading
Palestinian Christians Object to Israeli ‘Apartheid’
Their moving cri de coeur can be found at Kairos Palestine , and reported on CWN. Even western (especially American) Christian naivete (and theological error) in the matter is addressed: “…theologians in the West try to attach a biblical and … Continue reading
India: Avenging ‘Christian Elephants’?
In recent months, herds of wild elephants have begun to storm villages that are home to some of the worst persecutors of Christians during the troubles. In one village, where in August a year ago the Christians had to run for their lives while their homes were being destroyed by rioters, a herd of elephants emerged from the surrounding jungle exactly one year later, in July 2009, at the same time of the day of the attack.
These elephants first attacked a rock crusher machine owned by a key leader of the persecution movement. They then went on to destroy his house and farms. Continue reading
Blessed Frère André to be Canonized
In a meeting today with the Prefect of the Congregtion for the Causes of Saints, Archbishop Angelo Amato, Pope Benedict XVI approved twenty-one decrees pertaining to canonizations, beatifications, and declarations of heroic virtue. Blessed André Bessette, the patron saint of … Continue reading
