Crux Stat, Dum Volvitur Orbis
Saint Paul of the Cross (+1775), the second of sixteen children, grew up in poverty in rural Italy, knowing the value of things, and with only six of his siblings surviving infancy, the brevity of life, that we must make good use of the time we are given. Hence, his vocation to a contemplative path, devoted to Christ’s passion, developed early on. Education by a priest who ran a school for children sowed the seeds of a vocation, but one which took its time: He first went off to fight the Turks, who were threatening Christendom once again, but his soul was not made for soldiering. After helping an elderly childless couple, who wanted to make him their heir, an inheritance which he politely declined; his uncle, a priest, also urged him to marry and settle down, but Paul knew he was called to a higher and narrower path.
Hence, with his own brother, John Baptist, following an interior revelation in prayer, Paul began a new Order, devoted to contemplating and preaching the Suffering and Cross of Christ, the ‘Passionists’, whose austere existence – including at least three hours of mental prayer a day – did not attract large numbers. They began in Rome, their monastery being called a ‘Retreat’ to emphasize the solitary, prayerful aspect of their rule, and grew slowly, as Father Paul knew and desired. He was one of the most popular preachers of his day, for his words derived from his deep prayer life, his love of God, and his own example. He, like his Master, spoke with authority.
After bearing much fruit, Paul died on October 18th in 1775 in Rome at the ‘Retreat’ of Saints John and Paul, just as the winds of revolution were to sweep across France, Italy and Europe. At the time of his death, there were 180 Fathers and Brothers living in twelve Retreats across Italy, mostly in what were then the Papal States. They now have members throughout the world, who will hopefully preach the Passion and Death of Christ until He comes again: In the midst of the apparent chaos and flux of this passing age, there is an anchor and sure hope: Crux stat, dum volvitur orbis. The Cross stands, while the world turns.
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee, for by Thy holy Cross, Thou has redeemed the world.
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 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→
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→
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→
Saint Gemma Galgani
On this April 11th, in 1903 – the same year that the Italian Guiseppe Sarto was elected Pope later that summer as Pius X – a lovely, young Italian woman died, by the name of Gemma Galgani. She lived a brief life of 24 years, as did a number of other young saints, including Pier[…]Continue reading→
An Ideological and Improper Translation
I noticed something odd with the psalm reading at Mass the other day. Our bishops’ conference here in Canada has decreed that the Mass in English – Novus Ordo – use the ‘NRSV’, the ‘New Revised Standard Version’, an ‘updated’ translation of the original RSV, first published in 1952. This ‘new translation’ has the tendency[…]Continue reading→
Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle: A Teacher for Teachers
Jean-Baptiste de la Salle (1651 – 1719), a French nobleman, ordained a priest, founded the first order in the Church’s history entirely without priests, and this came about almost by accident. I say ‘almost’, for, of course, there are no accidents with God. Destined for ordination from an early age, Jean-Baptiste never looked back, even[…]Continue reading→