Conquering Fear

Here is an uplifting article; President Trump’s early release from hospital will, alas, bring out the worst in some, like Lex Luther hissing over Superman overcoming the kryptonite necklace. The schadenfreude of the ravenous Marxist-Leftists – the virus claiming its prize victim – now seems, like news of Livingstone’s demise, to be rather premature. We can only hope some level of moral sanity can be restored to a fractured nation, along with the bodily sort. As the first Roosevelt said, we have nothing to fear but fear itself. Not quite true, but approximately so, and close enough for me.

And I came across this a propos excerpt from the writings of the perspicuous C.S. Lewis, (that adjective sort of rhymes, and may be the basis of future poem – 🙂

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. They may be more likely to go to Heaven yet at the same time likelier to make a Hell of earth. This very kindness stings with intolerable insult. To be “cured” against one’s will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease is to be put on a level of those who have not yet reached the age of reason or those who never will; to be classed with infants, imbeciles, and domestic animals

Live free, or die trying – or something like that, perhaps phrased in more Catholic terms.

And on a final note of freedom, today is the anniversary of the Englishman Jason Lewis’ return from a 12-year round-the-world trek, using muscle power alone, the first man in known history to do so. He left Greenwich, London on July 12, 1994, and returned, from the other direction, on October 6, 2007, having traveled 45,505 miles, by mountain bike, by pedal-powered boat, by kayak, by foot, and by rollerblades across the continental United States (the first person to do this also). And the day he left, had never mountain biked or kayaked in his life – the first 20 miles outside London nearly did him in. But he persevered, all the way, amidst exhaustion, loneliness, despair, heat, flies, waves. Again, not exactly a Catholic way to spend one’s young adulthood – he was 36 when he left, and on the verge of 40 when he stepped afoot on English soil again – but there is a magnanimity to the endeavour, what we might almost call a secular holiness. Perhaps he will be, or has already been, led to the fullness of holiness.

There is a two-hour documentary out there, but here is a twelve-minute mini-film, showing some of his adventures, which may inspire the reader to dust off that old bike, or buy a new one, or just get out for a sprightly jaunt:

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→