Of Burma, Prophecy and Advent
Pope Francis has begun his visit to Burma, now officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, a nation nestled between India and Bangladesh that is predominantly Buddhist, but with significant Muslim and Christian minorities (about 4 and 6 percent respectively). The troubled nation has been much in the news recently, with apparent violent oppression, even murder and rape, what is euphemistically termed ‘ethnic cleansing’, of the Rohingya Muslim minority flooding into Bangladesh. One would not normally consider Buddhists violent, but the connection between the principles of a religion, and how it is lived out, is rather tenuous in today’s world.
The Holy Father’s main pastoral concern is for Catholics, of whom he is the head and shepherd, but he is also called to be a truly Catholic, or universal, Father to all men. Hence, his concern for Buddhist, Muslims, Hindus, agnostics and atheists, all of whom are also called to live with God forever. That the world hangs on the words of the Pope, like the crowds hung upon the words of Christ, is a testament to the true spiritual and divine foundation of the Petrine office. What the Pope will say is up in the air, but he must balance his words; as we have discovered, any misconstrued phrase can be used as a pretext for further violence in this fraught world, especially certain regions that know not Christ. Pray that all goes well, and that, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he finds the right and true thing to say.
I read on the Catholic Herald that Pope John Paul II, as a young priest, used to speak with Christ and Our Lady ‘face to face’, much like Moses of old. Thomas Aquinas also conversed colloquially with Christ, come to think of it, a doctor whom John Paul quoted extensively. I think the mystical aspect of John Paul II is too underplayed, for I have always wondered how he wrote so much, so clearly, with such precision, insight and wisdom; it has the element almost of the angelic.
The same article declared that the Pope prophesied an Islamic takeover of Europe, even worse than the invasions of the twentieth century. Hmm. There are many stories told of Karol Wojtyla, and they all must be carefully discerned, but this particular prophecy seems to be unfolding before our eyes, which the world cannot, or does not want, to see.
On that note, this last week of the liturgical year has a rather apocalyptic flavour, for each Advent is, at its deepest level, a preparation for the final Advent, when Christ will return in glory with all His angels, bringing about “God’s victory over the final unleashing of evil”, an evil incarnated in the pseudo-secular-messianism of the Anti-Christ (cf., CCC, 675-677). And as Saint John the Apostle taught, we can recognize the essential spirit of Anti-Christ in a denial that Christ, God Himself, came in the flesh (1 John 4), a truth Islam denies most vociferously. For if Christ did not join heaven with earth, the divine with the human, then we are limited to the horizons of this world, this age, this ‘saecula‘ and are, as Saint Paul, greatly to be pitied.
But Christ offers us eternity, everlasting life with Him, with God, in the unimaginable new heavens and new earth. This is the good news, to put things mildly, that Advent and Christmas offer. Without that, everything else is cheap tinsel.
Carney’s Amoral Majority
After five defections – euphemistically described as ‘crossing the floor’ – and three by-elections, Mark Carney and his Liberals how have their coveted majority. One wonders what bowls of pottage were offered in back-room deals. In the archaic monarchical system that is the Dominion of Canada, this majority allows the newly-minted Prime Minister to rule[…]Continue reading→
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→
A Closed, Unsustainable, Descending Loop
As a follow-up to my thoughts on Payette’s payout, here be a stark image of where are here in Canada. As the graph shows in, well, graphic terms, since 2025, the public sector has contributed to 95.5% of economic growth. The private sector – which funds the public sector, or is supposed to – has[…]Continue reading→
A Tale of Two Benedicts
A grace-filled Holy Week to all our readers! As we await and prepare for the Resurrection about to dawn upon us, we might keep in mind two Benedicts: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, requiescat in pace, elected on this day in 2005; and today’s commemoration of the mystic pilgrim, Benedict Joseph Labre, who died on this[…]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→
Presidential Pardon of Weronika Krawczyk
As a good news, follow-up to our story from Poland, of the persecution of Weronika Krawczyk for her pro-life views, we heard that she has been granted a presidential pardon. One might still wonder why one needs a presidential pardon for simply holding the long-held belief that the child within the womb is a child,[…]Continue reading→
Saint Lydwina of Schiedam and Suffering Joyfully
Saint Lydwina of Schiedam (1380 – 1433) was one of the countless and glorious ‘victim souls’ in the history of the Church, those whose lives are filled with suffering, often of an unimaginable intensity, but who suffer joyfully. She was a fifteen-year old Dutch girl, out skating one day, when she fell and broke one[…]Continue reading→
The Glorious Martyrdoms of Martin and Maximus
As we enter into Eastertide, we recall on this 13th of April Pope Saint Martin I (+655), one of the noblest, if most tragic, of the successors of Saint Peter. Born in Umbria, Italy, he was of noble lineage, with great intelligence combined with charity and love of the poor and the Church. While still[…]Continue reading→
Pope Leo and a Rosary for Peace
Pope Leo XIV has asked Catholics across the world to join him in a Rosary for peace today, at 18:00 Rome time (6 pm), which would be noon from where I write (EST). If you are able, whether at that time or another, and in whatever way you pray, to join in intercession with the[…]Continue reading→
Payette’s Payout
I was glancing through some headlines, and noticed a mention of Julie Payette – engineer and astronaut and sometime the Queen’s representative in Canada – which brought back vague memories. She was appointed Governor-General by Justin Trudeau in 2017. Ms. Payette resigned in 2021, amidst claims that she created a ‘toxic work environment’, with allegations[…]Continue reading→