I plead with you–never, ever give up on hope, never doubt, never tire, and never become discouraged. Be not afraid. (Pope Saint John Paul II, +2005)
Year: 2022
Saint Ursula and her Myriad Companions
Today is the traditional commemoration of Saint Ursula, who was put to death on this October 21st, in 383, along with – as the legend has it – 11,000 virgin martyr companions. They were all slaughtered by pagan Huns, but Ursula was spared, for the king was besotted with her, offering his hand in marriage.[…]
Tattoos as a Spiritual, and Bodily, Harm
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” (1 Cor 6:19) With the spring season in full swing (keep in mind Mr. Suski writes from Australia, Ed.) in so many countries under the Southern Cross,[…]
Queen Elizabeth’s Mixed Legacy
The many accolades heaped upon Queen Elizabeth have their place. She was, as promised in that early address of 1941, devoted to her duty, at least as she saw it, exemplified in her wartime service as an ambulance driver; her staying in London during the blitz; her many years of doing the rounds of what[…]
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque and the Sacred Heart
Today in Canada we celebrate Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (+1690), a contemplative nun in France, who from childhood devoted herself to God, with some rather intense asceticism, and entered the Order of the Visitation in 1671. She was subject to various humiliations, including the delaying of her profession; she was assigned to work in the infirmary,[…]
Saint Hedwig of Silesia: Poland’s Crown and Glory
It’s a special day for the Polish, as one of their patrons is celebrated, at least here in Canada, on this day – normally, Saint Hedwig of Silesa (+1243) (not to be confused with the other Saint Hedwig, Queen of Poland, who died in 1399) is commemorated on the 16th – that day of four[…]
Entrust yourself entirely to God. He is a Father and a most loving Father at that, who would rather let heaven and earth collapse than abandon anyone who trusted in him. (Saint Paul of the Cross, +1775)
The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread (Lk 24:34)
Christianity is not a matter of persuading people of particular ideas, but of inviting them to share in the greatness of Christ. So pray that I may never fall into the trap of impressing people with clever speech, but instead I may learn to speak with humility, desiring only to impress people with Christ himself.[…]
Ignatius Ground to Wheat, While Canada Grows its Pot
(This being not only the memorial of the one of the Church’s earliest post-Apostolic martyrs, the great Ignatius, who may have known the Apostle John personally, but also the fifth anniversary of the legalization of marijuana, or cannabis, we thought this retrospect quite fitting. As readers may know, a new ‘pot shop’ opened up a[…]