I do not fear at all what men can do to me for speaking the truth. I only fear what God would do if I were to lie (St. John Bosco, +1888)
Month: October 2025
Saint Crispin, Agincourt and the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales
This day, October the 25th, is Saint Crispin’s Day – or, rather, the feast of Saint Crispin and Crispianus, for let us not forget that there were two brothers put to death during the reign of Diocletian in the middle of the third century, circa 285, during the same persecution that took Saint Lawrence and[…]
Canada’s Ominous Bills That Would Make Orwell Blush
Over the past decade, Canada has slid from policing words to policing thoughts. What was once the domain of dystopian fiction, such as Minority Report (based on the 1956 short story The Minority Report by Philip K. Dick), and Orwell’s 1984, is quickly becoming legislative reality. In Parliament, laws keep piling up, each one nibbling[…]
Anthony Mary Claret, On Fire for God
Anthony Mary Claret died on this day, October 24th, 1870, after a long, full and adventurous life, demonstrating how much one man can do if he puts his mind and will wholeheartedly to the plow in God’s vineyard. Most of the life of this zealous priest, and eventual bishop, was spent in Spain, followed by[…]
When I am before the Blessed Sacrament I feel such a lively faith that I can’t describe it. Christ in the Eucharist is almost tangible to me…When it is time for me to leave, I have to tear myself away from His sacred presence. (Saint Anthony Mary Claret, +1870)
The Fightin’ Friar of Capistrano
John of Capistrano (+1456) lived a life very much in the ‘world’ at first, studying law, and becoming involved with the political machinations of the fractious fifteenth century. He was appointed as ambassador from Perugia to the quarrelsome family of the Maletestas – which, ironically, means ‘evil heads’ – to broker peace, a mission which[…]
Do not be afraid. Open, I say open wide the doors for Christ. To his saving power open the boundaries of states, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and development. Do not be afraid. Christ knows “that which is in man”. He alone knows it. (Pope Saint John Paul II, +2005)
The Late, Great Saint John Paul II
Today marks the memorial of Pope Saint John Paul II, who was beatified on May 1st, 2011 by Pope Benedict XVI, and canonized three years later by Pope Francis on April 27th in 2014. This October 22nd was chosen as his feast, for it was on this day in 1978 that Karol Wojtyla, Archbishop of[…]
His gift is very great indeed, but our capacity is too small and limited to receive it. That is why we are told: Enlarge your desires, do not bear the yoke with unbelievers. The deeper our faith, the stronger our hope, the greater our desire, the larger will be our capacity to receive that gift, which[…]
The Passion of Saint Paul of the Cross
There are two options today for saints – the first are the North American Martyrs, also called the Canadian Martyrs, but who most accurately may be termed the French missionary martyrs to a country that would later be called Canada, in which dominion we celebrate them as a feast in Canada on September 26th, as[…]