The Bad and the Good

The German episcopacy begins its tortured synodal path today, with the intent, according to reports, to approve contraception, homosexuality and female ordination, any one of which would put them outside the visible, hierarchical Church founded by Jesus Christ, continuing in the world unto the end of time. So be it, for, like Judas, perhaps ‘tis best to brings what men have ‘spoken in darkness’ out into full daylight of truth, and what they must do, perhaps is best done quickly.

Priests are demoralized, and with good reason, it seems. Ponder this reflection from Father Peter Stravinskas – just for starters, imagine you’re always walking on eggshells wondering whether you’re just one confession away from some disgruntled ‘parishioner’ accusing you of ‘something’, and your life, at least as you knew it, is more or less over.

There is the added acidic influence of secularism, one principal tenet of which his that you must grab every pleasure you can in this life, or it ain’t worth livin’. The antichrist, so sayeth the Catechism, will preach a ‘secular messianism’, a salvation in this world, or age (saecula) alone. But we know that Man was made for greater things, for eternity, and the more we give up in this life the greater our reward may be. He who loses himself, finds himself. The nihilistic philosophy of YOLO – you only live once – should be balanced by the same paradoxically more hopeful principle of YODO – you only die once, and, then eternity…

It is thus with great sadness that we read of the recent suicide of a young priest, Father Evan Harris, who was only just ordained at the age of 24 in 2010. We know not what demons lurk within souls, even, perhaps especially, those consecrated to God, whose task is to help lift us out of the secular and hedonistic miasma. Please do pray for the repose of his soul.

Getting rid of clerical celibacy will do nothing to alleviate this, and will only exacerbate the difficulties priests face. After all, the priesthood is either about full and complete conformity to Christ, or it’s about nothing. And Christ was poor, chaste and obedient, just as priests are called to be, and all of us, in some way or another. To turn the priesthood into some state-funded social worker – a la, the German model – will end in nothing short of disaster, perhaps a long, slow gradual one, but a disaster nonetheless.

And, to end for now on some good news, the Cistercian nuns at Our Lady of the Valley Monastery are growing, and looking to build a new convent. A worthy endeavour – indeed, one of the worthiest – for the Popes, Councils and teachings of the Church have exalted the contemplative vocation as the most perfect this life can offer, witnessing to the eschatological reality of all things – that we are made for heaven, not for this earth, something the climate zealots could learn. Furthermore, as the Second Vatican Council declares, their intercession for the world is ‘as effective as it is hidden’. Hence, a work to support, amongst so many in need. And, full disclosure, I have a vested interest, as two alumni from Seat of Wisdom College are members, and I had the honour and privilege of attending the final vows of one of them a number of yeas ago. Ad multos annos, et florescant vere.

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→