Two Popes and a New Bishop of Antigonish
Saint Anastasius I served as Pope for but a brief time, from November 27th, 399, to his death on this day, December 19th, 401, but was known by his contemporaries – Jerome, Augustine and others – for his holiness, his love of poverty, and his devotion to his office. He condemned the writings of Origen, rife with what we would now call ‘material’ heresy (before a number of doctrines had been defined). With Augustine, Anastasius also battled the Donatists, who claimed that the sacraments only ‘worked’ if a priest were ‘holy’ (in a state of grace), and that some sins were unforgiveable – such as adultery, apostasy. He is perhaps the only Pontiff to be succeeded by his own biological son – a widower, he had been married earlier in life – who took the name Innocent I, also a saint, himself a shining glory of the papacy.
We also recall Blessed Urban V, a Benedictine, the sixth of the exiled Avignon Popes (1362 -1370), and the only one of them raised to the altars. He strove to reform the Church, overseeing and helping to fund monasteries and churches, and to heal the schism between East and West, going far upon the road, seeking that unity that still eludes us. And it was also his desire, along with all the saints of the day, that he return the papacy to its rightful place in Rome. And to Rome he eventually did go, arriving in the eternal city on October 16th, 1367 – curiously, the same day Pope John Paul II would be elected six centuries or so later – and remained there, governing the Church, for close to three years. The city was in such disarray, that the Pope perhaps thought he could rule better from his native land, the lush gardens of Avignon. Saint Bridget of Sweden predicted he would soon die were he to return – but he set sail regardless, on September 5th, 1370, sure enough falling ill a few days later, and going to eternity on this day, December 19th, 1370. The final return of the papacy to Rome would have to wait until his successor, Gregory XI (1370 – 1378), under the fateful warnings of another saint, Catherine of Siena.
We should pray for the new bishop of Antigonish, Wayne Joseph Kirkpatrick, until now one of the auxiliary bishops of Toronto, president of Saint Augustine’s seminary, and overseeing relations between the Roman Catholic/United ‘Church’ dialogue, as well as National Christian Muslim Liaison Committee. Hmm. He will have his work cut out for him, as the diocese, besides still living out its raucous post-Vatican II days, known for its dissident theologians at Saint Francis Xavier university – derided by Anne Roche Muggeridge in her Gates of Hell by their own title as the ‘cream of Antigonish’ – who have done much damage in the past half-century malforming minds, is also suffering the trauma of being led by former-bishop Raymond Lahey (2003 -2009), caught returning from Thailand with child pornography on his computer, convicted and laicized. Yes, alas,the same one who also edited the unfortunate, neutered and bowdlerized Catholic Book of Worship III, whose only saving grace is O God Beyond All Praising, which hymn hence tends to get a little overdone. The diocese is also selling off underused property – and many of the churches are ‘underused’ – to fund a $15 million settlement with abuse victims from various priests. But we may hope, that in every end and dissolution, something new may arise from the ashes.
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→
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→
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→
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→
Saint Stanislaus of Szczepanów
We celebrate Saint Stanislaus today (+ April 11, 1079), in light of this Easter Octave, a bishop and martyr who accepted the episcopacy only at the direct order of Pope Alexander II. He proved a wise and courageous leader of his flock, put to death by his own king, Boleslaus, for rebuking the monarch’s ‘immoral[…]Continue reading→
Weronika Krawczyk and Injustice in Poland
Catholic Action in Poland has issued a formal statement appealing to the President of the Republic of Poland to pardon Weronika Krawczyk—convicted for warning other women against an abortion-performing gynaecologist. Catholic Action (AK) emphasizes that no apology is owed to a doctor who has performed numerous abortions and proposed others; furthermore, the organization considers the[…]Continue reading→
Three Easter Musical Gems: Bach, Palestrina and Byrd
A very blessed and glorious Easter! Christus surrexit vere, alleluia! As we begin this Easter Octave with the great Solemnity of Easter, music to lift the soul would be one of Bach’s Easter cantatas, composed during his time at Leipzig in the early 1700’s, for the six Sundays of this festive season, leading up to[…]Continue reading→
Saint Isidore of Seville, the Internet and Industriousness
Today, April 4th, muted this year by Holy Saturday, is the commemoration of Saint Isidore of Seville (560-636) a bishop and doctor of the Church during a tumultuous age, when civilization was crumbling, coming apart at its very seams, which may sound sort of au courant. Then again, the form of this world has always[…]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→