Saint Francis Cacciolo: Zeal for Thy House

A brief mention of Saint Francis Cacciolo (1563 – 1608), who was born during the final sessions of the Council of Trent, and died the year that Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec city, laying the foundation for the future nation of Canada. Francis, however, spent his life far removed from the swirl of history, with much of his time before the Blessed Sacrament, hearing confessions, preaching, helping the poor. He was one of the co-founders of the ‘Order of the Clerics Regular Minor’, with Father Giovanni Agostino Adorno (after whom they are often named, the ‘Adorno Fathers’). One of their charisms is perpetual adoration, with each member covering some hour or other of the day or night.

Their original rule was quite severe, by today’s standards, with the priests and brothers also taking turns either fasting on bread and water, taking the discipline or wearing a hairshirt. In all of this, they were motivated not by a morbid fear of sin, but by the love of God: Saint Francis’ favorite verse was from Psalm 68, quoted by Christ as He cleansed the Temple: ‘Zeal for thy house hath consumed me‘.

Father Francis was eventually appointed Superior of the new Order, but he would still do all of his regular, humble chores – sweeping the floor and doing the dishes. Their work was supernaturally fruitful, even though – or perhaps because – they suffered misunderstandings, detractions and calumnies.

After burning himself out with zeal for God and souls, Father Cacciolo fell ill at the beginning of June, 1608. On the fourth day of that month, the vigil of Corpus Christi, fittingly enough, that year, he was bedridden and rapt in prayer, when he suddenly sat up and exclaimed “Let us go, Let us go to heaven!”, and died. He was canonized by Pope Pius VII – the one who opposed Napoleon’s ambitions over the Church – in May, 1807.

It is said that when they examined his body, his heart appeared burned, with the words he loved so well, and lived by, “Zelus domus Tuæ comedit me” inscribed thereon. There is indeed a fine line between heaven and earth, and Father Francis Cacciolo walked the line indeed. May he intercede for all of us with far less zeal than he, that we be given but a smidgen of his.

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

April 16th is a propitious day, for besides the anniversary of Father de Valk’s death, who founded Catholic Insight in its print form decades ago, and the commemoration of the ‘two Benedicts’, mentioned in accompanying posts, today we also recall Saint Bernadette Soubirous, the young visionary to whom the Virgin Mary appeared numerous times at[…]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→

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→