2019 Dystopia, Papal Pilgrimage and Super Bowls
I just read that 2019 was the futuristic year – at least in relative terms – in which the films Blade Runner (1982) and The Running Man (1987) were set, both envisioning dystopic futures of oppression, poverty, pollution and artificial intelligence run amok. Not far off the mark, even if the stories, as is the wont in the genre, were more fiction than science.
Of course, there is much they neglected and omitted, that fits not into the narrow, secular, atheistic metaphysical narrative of Hollywood, the real plagues of widespread abortion, transgenderism, euthanasia, the breakdown of the family, demographic implosion, and the rise of radical Islam, to name but a few of the real tragedies facing us. Neither dystopia has much time for these themes, for they would bring troubling thoughts to mind, like God, the moral law and such, thoughts that have been buried deep in most of the Western hemisphere, as more people, especially the young, eschew their religious duties for a vague ‘spirituality’ that imposes no demands on us at all, leaving us ironically free to enslave ourselves to the fickle nature of our passions.
And, on religion and Islam, the Holy Father is in the United Arab Emirates, one of the more ‘liberal’ of Islamic nations, where many non-Muslims, especially Asians and Phillipinnos, go to work, in relative freedom, with emphasis on ‘relative’. Building bridges with the religion of the ‘Prophet’ is a noble endeavour, so long as such opens a door to conversion for those willing – and brave enough – to take it. For apostasy in the religion of peace is punishable by death, a rather formidable obstacle to those pondering an Islam-to-Catholicism updated version of Newman’s Apologia pro Vita Sua. More like an apologia pro mea fatwa.
There are more than a few who would like to inflict such a punishment on the Pope, which is likely one reason why Francis is the first pontiff to visit the Arabian peninsula. I am glad to hear that he will offer the first outdoor Mass there (for all other such liturgical celebrations must be indoor and sort of ‘secret’, so as not to offend sensibilities). Pray for the grace of metanoia – that changing of the heart – of many, away from whatever is false and towards the fullness of truth.
And another Super Bowl come and gone, like most of the ephemera in this passing life, and more ephemeral than most, already described as the Super Bore. In accord the principle that most professional sports are an over-rated boondoggle, I did not watch. Not only was it the lowest scoring Super Bowl in history, but football – an ironic name for an American sport where one’s foot rarely touches the ball, and which really should be called hand-running-passing ball – is one of the most boring of sports. As I wrote meditating on this theme a few years ago now, in the average 2-hour plus ‘football’ game, there are, on average, about 11 minutes of actual playing of football. Almost all of what you watch in the other 169 minutes or so are players dawdling around, cheerleaders bouncing around, replays, commentaries and commercials. To paraphrase the Bard, much ado about not all that much. But if it offers some note of hope and inspiration to people – Tom Brady, six-time champion with his wife and children in tow – so be it. People need heroes, and we must often take what solace we might get in this troubled and fractious world, as the all-too-real evolving – or devolving – 2019 dystopia closes in around us. God has it all in hand, far more so than Brady.
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→