A recent story in the Washington Post left me agog! I mean really folks, how intentionally pointed and disjointed can a report that is really not a report be? Curious? The Post states that “nearly 2 percent of Texas women say they tried to induce abortion.” The headline is generated by a report entitled “Knowledge, […]
ST. CLEMENT is said to have been a convert of noble birth, and to have been consecrated bishop by St. Peter himself. With the words of the apostles still ringing in his ears, he began to rule the Church of God; and thus he was among the first, as he was among the most illustrious, […]
Blessed Miguel Pro, SJ (January 13, 1891 – November 23, 1927) was a Mexican priest executed on trumped-up charges of bombing and attempted assassination of former Mexican President Álvaro Obregón. Pro’s arrest, lack of trial, and summary execution by firing squad gained prominence during the Cristero War (1926-29) for which he served as an inspirational […]
As we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King this weekend, it’s worth asking ourselves what kind of kingdom Christ promised us. We know his kingdom is not of this world, and his crown is made of thorns. Will our sacrifices and suffering be worth it? What awaits us after death? The Book of Revelations […]
IN the evening of her wedding-day, with the music of the marriage-hymn ringing in her ears, Cecilia, a rich, beautiful, and noble Roman maiden, renewed the vow by which she had consecrated her virginity to God. “Pure be my heart and undefiled my flesh; for I have a spouse you know not of—an angel of […]
One Gypsy Man The heat was so great that I sat down to rest And watched as mankind was put to the test A gypsy approached, barely able to walk He staggered and moaned, unable to talk. Filthy and starving and bronzed by the sun Scarred by the world and by the world shunned- Our eyes met […]
ST. FELIX was son of the Count of Valois. His mother throughout his youth did all she could to cultivate in him a spirit of charity. The unjust divorce between his parents matured a long-formed resolution of leaving the world; and, confiding his mother to her pious brother, Thibault, Count of Champagne, he took the […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading Daniel 7:13-14 2nd Reading: Revelation 1:5-8 Responsorial: Psalm 93:1-2, 5 Gospel: John 18:33-37 Allowing Jesus Christ, Our King, To Feed Us with His Grace and Power Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of […]
ELIZABETH was daughter of a king of Hungary, and niece of St. Hedwige. She was betrothed in infancy to Louis, Landgrave of Thuringia, and brought up in his father’s court. Not content with receiving daily numbers of poor in her palace, and relieving all in distress, she built several hospitals, where she served the sick, […]
St. Rose Dushesne was born in Grenoble, France in 1769 and died in St. Charles, Missouri, 1852. Scion of a prominent family, she joined the convent of the Visitation, without her family’s knowledge. During the French Revolution her convent was suppressed, but in 1804 her community was incorporated into the Society of the Sacred Heart […]
ON Christmas-eve, 877, a noble of Aquitaine implored Our Lady to grant him a son. His prayer was heard; Odo was born, and his grateful father offered him to St. Martin. Odo grew in wisdom and in virtue, and his father longed to see him shine at court. But the attraction of grace was too […]
Moral relativism bothers me for numerous reasons, but the greatest annoyance I have is relativism’s consistent use of illogical reasoning and justification. Besides selfishness, relativism’s only consistent attribute is being illogical. I find this frustrating because several friends buy into relativism lock, stock, and barrel without a second thought. By illogical I should say I […]
Presidential candidate, Dr. Ben Carson, was recently quoted in the Washington Post regarding the starvation death undergone by the severely brain injured (and NOT brain dead) Teri Schiavo, “We face those kinds of issues all the time and while I don’t believe in euthanasia, you have to recognize that people that are in that condition do have a […]
A Little on the Soul Periodically one has a soul. Nobody has it all the time and forever. Day after day, year after year can pass without it. Sometimes only in rapture and in fears of childhood it dwells within longer. Sometimes only in the astonishment, that we have become old. It rarely assists us […]
In honor of National Adoption Month, here’s my review of Jaymie Stuart Wolfe’s excellent discernment guide, Adoption: Room for One More?, from Pauline Books & Media. A few years ago, between babies #3 and #4 (or #4 and #5), my husband and I contemplated adopting a baby girl from China. We were moved by stories […]
ST. GREGORY was born in Pontus, of heathen parents. In Palestine, about the year 231, he studied philosophy under the great Origen, who led him from the pursuit of human wisdom to Christ, Who is the Wisdom of God. Not long after, he was made Bishop of Neo Cæsarea in his own country. As he […]
21st-century Europe will be extremely chaotic.
ST. EDMUND left his home at Abingdon on Thames, England, a boy of twelve years old, to study at Oxford. There he protected himself against many grievous temptations by a vow of chastity, and by espousing himself to Mary for life. He was soon called to active public life, and as treasurer of the diocese […]
ST. MARGARET’S name signifies “pearl;” “a fitting name,” says Theodoric, her confessor and her first biographer, “for one such as she.” Her soul was like a precious pearl. A life spent amidst the luxury of a royal court never dimmed its lustre, or stole it away from Him who had bought it with His blood. […]
Called the Great, even by his contemporaries, Albert was born of noble parents in Swabia in 1206. While a student at the University of Padua in 123, he joined the new Order of Preachers. He excelled particularly in the natural sciences, of which his knowledge was truly encyclopedic, and is called Universal Doctor. As a […]
ST. DIDACUS was born in Spain, in the middle of the fifteenth century. In Spanish he is known as San Diego, from whom the California city takes its name. He was remarkable from childhood for his love of solitude, and when a youth retired and led a hermit life, occupying himself with weaving mats, like […]
By Oliver Maksan HAVANA, Cuba—The skyline of the suburb of Guiteras, on the outskirts of the Cuban capital, is dominated by grey prefabricated buildings that are crumbling badly, weakened by the moist tropical temperatures. Some 32000 people live in this place that looks like so many others on the island nation. But Guiteras is very […]
