Children, I beseech you to correct your hearts and thoughts, so that you may be pleasing to God. Consider that although we may reckon ourselves to be righteous and frequently succeed in deceiving men, we can conceal nothing from God. Let us therefore strive to preserve the holiness of our souls and to guard the[…]
Year: 2020
Big data and the Birth of Christ
From the information superhighway to artificial intelligence to contact tracing for COVID-19, ours is certainly the era of “big data.” “Big data” might seem like an odd theme for a meditation on the Advent season and the approaching celebration of our Lord’s nativity. But if we mine below the surface, several occasions for reflection emerge.[…]
Mother Egarée’s Thimble and the Hierarchy of Truths
(On what would be the feast of Saint Nicholas, the great foe of heretics, you may enjoy this delightful reflection from Father Callam on the ‘hierarchy of truths’, a much misunderstood truth – but one which Bishop Nicholas would have grasped, as he grasped the beard of the heretic Arius, Council of Nicaea. Editor) “The[…]
Second Sunday of Advent and the Church in Quebec
‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight’ (Mt. 3:3) ⧾ The Gospel of the Mass on this second Sunday of Advent introduces us to John the Baptist, the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ John the Baptist calls us and[…]
The True Santa Claus
In these early days of Advent, we celebrate one of the most popular of saints, of whom we actually don’t know all that much. That he was born in Myra – now in Turkey – where he was bishop most of his life seems certain; he is also called ‘of Bari’, a coastal city in[…]
Live by Truth, or Die by Lies
We’re living in an era of obfuscation or, to frame the matter more bluntly, a veritable blizzard of lies, ones that are difficult to discern, for they are either subtle and insidious, with the truth hidden in back rooms and off-camera, or so bold and brazen, told with such apparent confidence, that even those who[…]
The Subjective Monster
There is an ancient Indian fable of six blind men who meet an elephant. Each of them touches different parts of the elephant. One of them, touching the elephant’s side, concludes that the elephant is like a wall. Another, touching the elephant’s trunk, believes the elephant is like a snake. Yet another touches the elephant’s[…]
Lord, I am here! What do you want me to do? Send me anywhere you like… (Saint Francis Xavier, +1552)
The Diamond of England: The Mission and Martyrdom of St. Edmund Campion
St. Edmund Campion first became a major part of my life when I was assigned to read Edmund Campion: Hero of God’s Underground by Harold C. Gardiner, S.J. I was in 4th Grade at the time and already fascinated by England thanks to my earlier love-affair with Robin Hood. But the story of Fr. Campion opened up[…]
A Feast for All Franciscans
November 29th is the special day dedicated to all the Franciscans who are now born into eternal life. Every year our Franciscan Order reserves this special day to honour them and get the courage, once more, to let their holy example bring that much-needed renewal within it as it is also badly needed in any[…]