Nota in Brevis November 30th
Today is the feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle, brother of Saint Peter, patron of Scotland, Russia, Ukraine and Greece, for what reason are somewhat historically obscure. Here is the Wikipedia take on the matter, whether accurate or not:
According to legend, in 832 AD, Óengus II led an army of Picts and Scots into battle against the Angles, led by Æthelstan, near modern-day Athelstaneford, East Lothian. The legend states that he was heavily outnumbered and hence whilst engaged in prayer on the eve of battle, Óengus vowed that if granted victory he would appoint Saint Andrew as the Patron Saint of Scotland. On the morning of battle white clouds forming an X shape in the sky were said to have appeared. Óengus and his combined force, emboldened by this apparent divine intervention, took to the field and despite being inferior in numbers were victorious. Having interpreted the cloud phenomenon as representing the crux decussata upon which Saint Andrew was crucified, Óengus honoured his pre-battle pledge and duly appointed Saint Andrew as the Patron Saint of Scotland.
It is historically accurate, as far as I can determine, that I was born in the bonnie land, so Saint Andrew, ora pro nobis!
Officer James Furcillo, yes, the man who shot Sammy Yatim eight times, five while he was lying prostrate mortally wounded on the ground, now admits that his primary motivation was to ‘get home safe and sound to his family’, and that police officers are ‘not paid to get stabbed or shot’.
Of course, it is unclear how much he has been coached by his defense team, and how much of this he actually believes. Does he, and his fellow officers, not realize that they are paid their large salaries, and offered their early retirements, partly due to the fact that they do in fact face the risk of getting ‘stabbed or shot’? To reduce that risk to near-zero, James Furcillo should have taken up woodworking or library science, or stayed in his original capacity as a security-guard.
How about a drop of remorse, Officer Furcillo? If his is the attitude of his fellow officers, then God protect us all. It makes me more convinced of the truism that those who have a burning desire to be police officers (or politicians, or rulers of any sort) are likely the last people who should actually be chosen
The U.N. Climate Summit has now begun, with our Prime Minister declaring in his role as anti-global-warming-(or-is-that-climate-change?) warrior that ‘Canada is back’. Back from what, one may ask? From the chilly days of Conservative eco-foe Stephen Harper? I will post an article soon on so-called climate science, and how unscientific it has become. For starters, carbon dioxide is not a pollutant, and is in fact the ‘air’ of plants, which are necessary for life, as well as the normal exhalation of humans. A perfect balance, one would think. There is little evidence that it actually produces global warming, which has sort of stopped over the past generation (hence, the unfalsifiable and hence pseudoscientific thesis of ‘climate change’). But then Trudeau would not permit his mind to dwell upon that ‘inconvenient truth’, for, as a man of slogans, his intellectual grasp of reality seems, well, slim. Pray for the attendees, and that the truth of the evil of what they are trying to do to sinks in.
*I also notice that interest rates are going up. This, unlike the Syrian war-connection of Prince Charles, is in fact likely connected to climate change, at least insofar as the untold billions wasted on dead-end ‘green technologies’ have dried up real wealth and efficient, viable energy production. Woe to those who are on the razor edge of their mortgage payments when interest rates, unlike the sea levels, do indeed rise. But maybe we can all live in igloos if Trudeau and his gang are really successful in reducing global temperatures by the time our homes are foreclosed.
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→