And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven?[…]
Month: May 2025
Ascension and Novena to the Holy Ghost – First Day
In the Church universal, the solemnity of Ascension is on its traditional day, Thursday – so a blessed, if belated, and joyous one to all our readers – commemorating Our Lord’s return to heaven, whence He shall return at the end of time. The ‘nine days’ from here to Pentecost signifies the very first ‘novena’[…]
A Reply to Apologetics 101: Question 1: Proving that God Does Indeed Exist
Recently, Catholic Insight posted a thoughtful note from contributor Carl Sundell on the essential questions we should be prepared to answer about our faith. This list of questions was likely meant to inspire readers to find and research their own answers to these questions. There are over 2,000 years of resources one could sift through[…]
William of Gellone and the Implacability of Islam
William of Gellone (ca. 755 – 812) had two phases to his life: He began as a warrior knight of the Carolingian era in France, and he was related to Charlemagne himself, perhaps a cousin, the nephew of Charles Martel, who was Charlemagne’s grandfather (some of the lineage is historically obscure). Like Martel, the ‘Hammer’,[…]
Blessed Joseph of Igualada, OFM Cap
This 27th of May is the feast day of the Capuchin Blessed Joseph of Igualada, a beardless Capuchin, which for some of us in the Order can be understood as a sign of relief, for you don’t have to wear a beard to be a holy Capuchin. What counts is where the heart is. José[…]
March for Life Canada 2025: A Synopsis and Call for Reflection
The March for Life on May 8 2025 was attended by fewer than the 20,000 or so participants of previous Marches – and by some counts much fewer, a number which was very much reduced from pre-Covid years. Still the spirit was strong, and zeal for the cause of life shone forth. This was certainly[…]
Saint Augustine of Canterbury, the Man Who Who Made England Catholic
There are two Saints Augustine – the bishop of Hippo, and author of the Confessions and numerous other theological masterpieces, and, today’s saint, Augustine, the first bishop of Canterbury, (+604), often pronounced in England, ‘Austin’. Both were Roman citizens, for there was but one civilization and one ‘world’ in those days, united by the Faith.[…]
Pope John Paul II and Saint Philip Neri
(At the very beginning of his pontificate, Pope Saint John Paul II made a pilgrimage to the church of Santa Maria in Vallicella, commonly called the ‘Chiesa Nuova’, which was constructed under the auspices of Saint Philip Neri in founding the Oratory, and still stands as the Oratory’s original and principal church. Here is the[…]
First let a little love find entrance into their hearts, and the rest will follow. (Saint Philip Neri, +1595)
Saint Philip Neri’s Joyful Heart
We celebrate today one of the most joyful and idiosyncratic – the two are not unrelated – of saints, Philip Neri, (+1595), the founder of the Congregation of the Oratory named after him. Born and raised in the great city of Florence, which has produced a whole host of luminaries from Dante to da Vinci[…]