Naked Desecration
Venerable Fulton Sheen said that one of the hallmarks of the demon was an inordinate love of nudity – that is, to flaunt what should not be flaunted, and a disregard, if not outright disdain, for modesty, to veil what should be veiled. I know not what inspired the man who desecrated the main altar of Saint Peter’s basilica, standing on it naked, with writing on his back supporting children in Ukraine – but it was not the Holy Spirit.
There is much that might be said of this. We may all have sympathy for children and others suffering in Ukraine, but does he really think this is going to help them? One could hardly imagine such a man pulling such a stunt for, say, unborn children.
The more immediate concern is the lack of security, with some wondering ‘where the Swiss guard were’, but they are mainly at their various official posts, and I don’t recall them wandering around the interior of the church. Even so, it doesn’t take long to strip off, and there are plenty of pillars behind which to hide.
The main problem, we might posit, however, is not the lack of human guardians, but rather, the spiritual emptiness that now pervades the basilica. The abolition of private Masses leaves the huge space quiet through much of the day, at least in a spiritual sense. I was there in 2018, and the huge nave bustled with countless Masses at the dozens of side altars (44 in total, dedicated to various saints), and one could choose to attend whichever one wanted. I recall running down from my hostel – two miles or so – and finding a Mass just on time. Priests are now required to concelebrate in one of the main Masses on the main altar.
Fewer Masses, we may conclude, means less grace, and less grace leads to spiritual emptiness. And as nature abhors a vacuum, so do souls and churches, into which other spirits – as Christ says, seven devils – tend to gather.
This desecration is but one of many across the world, in this month of ‘pride’, which is really the month of the Sacred Heart. We should make what prayers and reparations we might – the Litany and consecration are good places to start.
And let’s get those private Masses back where they belong.
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
This was the title given to Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, by Pope Benedict XVI, when he canonized her on October 28th, 2012, along with six others, in Saint Peter’ Square (she had been beatified by Pope John Paul II back in 1980). With Saint Joseph as our protector, along with the Canadian martyrs, we seem to[…]Continue reading→
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
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→
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→