What movie stars don’t have
I imagine that many movie stars (I’ve noticed that many are much smaller than they appear on film) need to buy up the space around them because their egos are so big they can’t share the area around them for a hundred-mile radius. So they buy sprawling ranches in Texas, or 25,000 square-foot homes in Malibu, and they live there—maybe with one other person. “More money than brains,” my mom used to say. Who actually needs 25,000 square feet of living space? and 6 pools? and 16 bathrooms decorated with gold leaf wainscotting? Unless you have entire villages visiting regularly, I don’t see the need for it. And yet, I greedily lap up celebrity photos and gossip and judge their purchases with a “tsk tsk.” Perhaps because I’m envious? Or maybe because I want to think I’d do a better job spending all that money. But I highly doubt I would do better—because in the end, money makes a person crazy. It would be hard for crazy not to happen. If I had all the money in the world, I’d likely buy myself an island and have everything shipped to the gigantic crypt of selfishness I build there. Living with others requires a person to share, to come out of oneself and be charitable, kind, honest, patient, and good (amongst other things). It’s hard and sometimes, I don’t want to do it. And that’s where People magazine comes in—so that I can fantasize about not having to love my neighbour as I love myself. Ok, I’ll admit it. I’m a little interested in the lives of movie stars. I’m definitely not the type to be standing for hours outside of theatres at the Toronto International Film Festival with signs, but I’ve been known to occasionally browse through the likes of Hello or People to check out what the Duchess of Cambridge is wearing and what Martha Stewart is whipping up. And there are plenty of stars to be seen these days, which makes me wonder—why in the world would I care, even a little bit, about people I’ve never met, never will meet, who they’re dating, and the size of the homes they purchase? I think it’s because I dream of the space that money can buy. Not space like the final frontier—space like places all to myself, with nobody else around; space like private rooms in nice restaurants, deserted pristine beaches, and acres of untouched wilderness all to myself (okay, maybe my husband too). It occurred to me while reading an article about why we, as a society, are obsessed with the rich and famous (the science behind the “love”) that I’m interested in the lives of those with money because of what a person can buy with that money: privacy. “Privacy is a luxury,” I heard someone say at Madonna House (a lay apostolate founded by Catherine Doherty in Northern Ontario) and it’s a luxury that movie stars spend billions on every year. Maybe space and privacy is what they need to keep their sanity while navigating the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Who knows? But it’s not for me. I mean, even though I have my days, I am content with my life—a loving husband and large, joyful extended family, a 5-year-old golden retriever, and a sunshine-filled home with widowed neighbours on either side. They’re just nosy enough to be concerned with our welfare, yet disinterested enough for us to live a quiet, peaceful existence in harmony with one another. I have fresh tomatoes, hot off the vine, every other day and a delightful old lady who’s concerned about our pooch’s eating habits. I may not have more than I need, but I have more than I’d ever want. Photo source.
Saint Kateri , Canada’s Protectress
This was the title given to Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, by Pope Benedict XVI, when he canonized her on October 28th, 2012, along with six others, in Saint Peter’ Square (she had been beatified by Pope John Paul II back in 1980). With Saint Joseph as our protector, along with the Canadian martyrs, we seem to[…]Continue reading→
Remembering Father Alphonse de Valk
(Today marks the sixth anniversary of the death of Father Alphonse de Valk, C.S.B., a faithful, courageous and indefatigable Basilian priest, pro-life-and-family apostle, and the founder of Catholic Insight magazine. Here is what we wrote those on his entering into eternity five years ago, as we continue to remember him in our prayers and thoughts)[…]Continue reading→
My Name is Bernadette
April 16th is a propitious day, for besides the anniversary of Father de Valk’s death, who founded Catholic Insight in its print form decades ago, and the commemoration of the ‘two Benedicts’, mentioned in accompanying posts, today we also recall Saint Bernadette Soubirous, the young visionary to whom the Virgin Mary appeared numerous times at[…]Continue reading→
Canonizing Sister Faustina and Divine Mercy
HOMILY OF THE HOLY FATHER MASS IN ST PETER’S SQUARE FOR THE CANONIZATION OF SR MARY FAUSTINA KOWALSKA Sunday, 30 April 2000 1. “Confitemini Domino quoniam bonus, quoniam in saeculum misericordia eius”; “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever” (Ps 118: 1). So the Church sings on the Octave of[…]Continue reading→
Divine Mercy Sunday – An Echo of Every Mass
Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe’… ‘My Lord and my God!’ (Jn. 20:18)). Today is Divine Mercy Sunday, and as we celebrate the end of the Easter Octave, we contemplate the wounded side of our Saviour, the Church’s source of life. On Good Friday in the[…]Continue reading→
First Holy Communion: Sermon from May 16, 1943
Here is a sermon from the good old days by +Rev. Msgr. Vincent Nicholas Foy (August 14, 1915 – March 13, 2017), from 1943. Readers may recall that Pope Saint Pius X, by the decree Quam Singulari in 1910, lowered the customary age of reception of Holy Communion – after the rigours of the plague[…]Continue reading→
In the Glorious Light of Easter, Alleluia!
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory (Col. 3:3-4). The Resurrection of Our Lord and Saviour[…]Continue reading→
An Ancient Homily for Holy Saturday
The time between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is one of waiting, in silence, as the world wonders – anticipates – what will happen, after the death of Christ. We re-live this time each year in the anamnesis of our liturgy, and in turn look forward to the glorious re-creation of all things at the[…]Continue reading→
Europe’s Long Descent
(As we meditate on this day on Christ’s burial, and His descent into hell, it is fitting to ponder here with contributor Peter Marcus how the world seems to be heading there as well. The difference is that, although God cannot ‘redeem’ hell, nor those therein, He can and did redeem the world. There is[…]Continue reading→
Pope Saint John Paul II’s First Good Friday Homily
ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS AT THE COLOSSEUM Good Friday, 13 April 1979 When we make the Way of the Cross from one station to the next, in spirit we are always at the spot wherethis journey had its “historical” place: where it[…]Continue reading→