Christmas Suffering and Joy

The religion of ‘peace’ continues its Christmas gift of bloodshed and mayhem – but then, as Saint Thomas says, without the violence of tyrants, where would we martyrs be? As Saint Paul wrote of heresies – that they must be – so too of persecution, until the end of all things. Hence, ten Christians were beheaded by ‘ISIS’ on Christmas Day – an eleventh was mercifully shot – in retaliation for the recent killing of their one-time leader, Abu Bakr as-Baghdadi, now gone to whatever eternity he merited. And, just today, on the feast of the Holy Innocents, a truck bomb detonated in Mogadishu, killing at least 73, gravely injuring hundreds. No one has yet claimed responsibility, but the usual suspects are, well, the usual suspects. As Pope Benedict put it in his 2006 Regensburg Address, in the mouth of the Byzantine Emperor Michael II Paleologus:

Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached

Pray for the dead, that they may enjoy the Christmas gift of paradise soon, for the wounded, those left behind, the grieving, and, yes, the perpetrators, whose judgement before God will be grievous indeed.

What was with the Christmas concert at the Vatican? Exit stage left, Palestrina, Bach, Mozart, Vivladi…Enter septuagenarian pop star Lionel Ritchie, belting out, as he might, his 80’s hit ‘All Night Long’; the Scottish Susan Boyle, her fifteen minutes of fame from her American Idol audition extended in some dubious manner indefinitely; and then, indigenous artists from the Amazon, piping on pan flutes. When Sacrosanctum Concilium described the Church’s musical tradition as a ‘treasure of inestimable value’ I don’t think this is what she had in mind. All proceeds – I assume people did pay for this – went to various works in the Amazon. Whither and wherefore art thou, oh muse of aesthetics, beauty, of the sacred and transcendent? I recall that wonderful concert with Hilary Hahn playing Mozart’s violin concert in D major, for Pope Benedict XVI’s own Christmas concert, which seems so long ago, in a galaxy far, far away…

On a more positive front, Toronto – pronounced by its denizens as ‘Torannah’ – may soon, in Vatican terms, get its first saint, Sister Carmelinas, a victim soul, professed as the city’s first Passionist Sister in 1977, who offered her sufferings – she lost her hip, her left leg, and parts of her right leg to a rare form of cancer, and the wounds refused to heal – as she lay stricken for most of her life. But such was her reputation for holiness that people waited in line for months for a chance to see and speak with her. So, if anyone has any miracles occur, send them along to Father Piccini at his religious centre in Teopoli, outside Gravenhurst (where I stopped by on a motorbike years ago, to visit one of my student working there, now that I ponder that). Or, perhaps, call the diocese. One never knows.

A continued Merry Christmas to one and all, as the form of this world is passing away, and we await all the promises of Christ.

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

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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

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Presidential Pardon of Weronika Krawczyk

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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→