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: History
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
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
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
The Death of Chopin
The great nineteenth-century composer, Frédéric François Chopin (1810-1849), was born in the wake of that horrid reign of “enlightened” barbarity, the French Revolution — the age when Masonic philosophers boasted that Reason had finally triumphed over “the Galilean,” Jesus Christ … Continue reading
Review of The Faithful Departed: The Collapse of Boston’s Catholic Culture by Philip Lawler
In 1985 the US bishops received a confidential report on sexual abuse by clerics, warning them that there was “simply too much at stake for the Church” for the hierarchy to ignore the issue. (From the Introduction to The Faithful … Continue reading
Red is for Martyrdom: Unsung Heroes of the Sacred College
Well then, on the Cardinal’s ring that I will consign in a few moments to the new members of the Sacred College is portrayed precisely the Crucifixion. This, dear new Cardinal-Brothers, will always be an invitation for you to remember … Continue reading
Islam Versus the Faith
Much of history since the seventh century has been shaped by an unending conflict between the One True Church and Islam. Today’s Church having fallen into a sorry state with many of her members no longer understanding that they belong … Continue reading
The Edict of Nantes, Wars of Religion, and Damnable Nationalism
The Edict of Nantes was a pragmatic, political solution to the civil strife that existed in a sixteenth-century France ravaged by wars of religion. Though the edict itself was not trusted, appreciated, or liked by most Frenchmen at the time, … Continue reading
A Great Catholic Historian: Godfrey Kurth C. S. G.
I have finished reading the wonderful volume of Godfrey Kurth, The Church at the Turning Points of History, now happily brought back into print by my friends at IHS Press. This accomplished author is not so well known as he … Continue reading
The Council of Trent: Overview of its Importance and Difficulties
The importance of the Council of Trent lies in its being two things at the same time: 1) the heart and soul of the Catholic Reformation (the authentic reform of the Church); and 2) the definitive moment of the Counter … Continue reading
The Council of Nicea was Catholic
The headline of this posting may strike readers as comical. It is, of course, a fact.It seems so obvious as to be like asserting that the New England Patriots are a football team. However, there are Protestant polemicists who attempt … Continue reading