Matthew Perry, A Troubled Friend

Matthew Perry died last week at the age of 54, found drowned in his hot tub by his assistant (which made me wonder whether all actors all have assistants at home with them) – and, sadly, could not be revived. Mr. Perry main claim to fame is being cast at the age of 24 – three decades ago, which is hard to believe – as one of the stars of the show ‘Friends’, which ran from 1994 to 2004. Perry played a character unrealistically called ‘Chandler Bing’, but, realistic or not, the name sort of fit. I don’t think I ever saw a complete episode – I was otherwise occupied for most of that decade – but, from what I can glean, the show was somewhat like the contemporaneous Seinfeld, subtly – and sometimes not so subtly – undermining of traditional mores, especially of the sexual sort, with attractive young characters sleeping around and changing ‘partners’ in an ongoing romantic, hedonistic melee.

Friends and Seinfeld, edgy and risqué in their own day, now seem so quaint, but they did much to begin the untethering of our society from what we were, and what we should be. The full bitter fruits of this loss we are witnessing today. as mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, as Chandler Bing dies a lonely middle-aged man in a hot tub.

Mr. Perry had his troubles. Purportedly, he was at one point so dependent on alcohol and various drugs that he does not recall three entire years the filming of of Friends, but still making about a cool million per episode. That’s some gig. People who knew him say he was generous and kind-hearted, but ’tis sad that he died a bereft and lonely bachelor, having been recently engaged – as Jane Austen put it, It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife – but the wedding was, alas, called off, for reasons undisclosed.

He was one of the most zealous promoters of the mRNA ‘vaccine’, even selling t-shirts after his whatever-number-of booster, ‘Could I be any more VACCINATED?’ – emphasis in the original – which now seems more than a little tragic. Did the ‘vaxx’ have anything to do with his sudden heart attack? Many suspect so, but we’ll likely never know and most out there don’t want to know, and, as a Google search will tell the reader, are, with the algorithm of the search engine, in a state of absolute denial, which ain’t a river in Egypt. As the ‘excess deaths’ pile up, they can’t admit even one ounce of harm from the ‘vaxx’ – for to do so would collapse their whole world view. But, as a friend of mine is wont to say, the collapse is comin’ – whether we want it or not.

It is reported that in their elite high school, a teenaged Matthew Perry beat up fellow classmate Justin Trudeau, who likely had that sort of face, even back then. That speaks something to Mr. Perry’s character – what, exactly, I won’t hazard to say. We leave his soul to God, and pray for him, and every soul, in this week of All Souls. There is hope for us all, as God’s grace seeks out the lost sheep most, and we may pray that in some way, Matthew opened himself to that grace and mercy.

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→