Inspired by Truth, Enlightening Minds for the Church in Canada and Throughout the World
Inspired by Truth, Enlightening Minds for the Church in Canada and Throughout the World
Once I gave a talk on Saint Andrew. It was in Kenaston, Saskatchewan, in a church dedicated to Saint Andrew. At the end of my remarks, the parish priest opened the floor for questions. The first one I directed to him: “Why don’t they ring the bells at funerals any more?” The second was more[…]
I bind myself in this way so that for the rest of my life I will have neither permission nor freedom to refuse opportunities of dying and shedding my blood for you (Saint Jean de Brebeuf, +1649)
(Courtesy of a source, slightly modified for publication🙂 There was an interview on September 23rd, of Harvard and Standford Professors of medicine, Martin Kulldorff, Jay Battacharya, and Michael Levitt — providing a clear and sane appraisal of the Covid-19 situation. It is 2 hours in length ( a great watch for a Friday night movie).[…]
(What follows is an adapted version of a summary I wrote for a friend of my thoughts at present on these protocols being put in place, which might help some, even we disagree. Rational and free discourse and debate is requisite for human beings, whatever we end up doing, so that we end up doing[…]
Humility, simplicity, charity…but above all charity (Blessed Emilie Tavernier’s dying words)
Born and raised in the age of the horse and buggy, the Frenchman Jacques Maritain (1882-1973) is widely regarded as the 20th Century’s most eminent Catholic philosopher. In youth he was a self-admitted candidate for suicide before he abandoned atheism. Early on, at the suggestion of his wife Raissa, he steeped himself in the works[…]
Hope, pray…and don’t worry. God is merciful and will hear your prayer (Saint Pio of Pietelcina, +1968)
Last summer, I had the opportunity to attend the Canadian Renaissance Summer Music School in London, Ontario. The week was filled with an abundance of motets, as well as madrigals and different settings of the Mass Ordinary. The theme of this particular year was the connection between English sacred polyphony and the Italian madrigal. I[…]
To see a deeper understanding of the great celebration Matthew held at his house, we must realise that he not only gave a banquet for the Lord at his earthly residence, but far more pleasing was the banquet set in his own heart which he provided through faith and love. (Saint Bede the Venerable, +735)
A reader wanted a version of O Magnum Mysterium, by Tomas Luis Victoria, first published in 1572, at the height of the Catholic restoration, a beautiful motet, normally sung at Christmas (it was originally the Midnight Mass antiphon) but works for any time of year:
