Beatification of Catherine of Saint Augustine
(What follows is an excerpt from the homily of Pope Saint John Paul II beatifying Mother Catherine of Saint Augustine along with four others on April 23, 1989, in Canada’s ‘other’ official language. The Pope delivered the address, raising four others to the altars, in at least three different languages, fluently. If there is time, we may offer a translation, but, for those of us who might muddle through, here are the words in Catherine’s own mother tongue)
5. “Come io ho amato voi”.
“Comme je vous ai aimés”: telle est la règle de l’amour des chrétiens: se laisser saisir par le Christ, aimer avec lui, modeler toutes ses actions sur son infinie générosité.
Marie-Catherine de Saint-Augustin fut animée d’un tel amour. Très tôt, elle répondit à l’appel du Seigneur, sans réserve, humblement fidèle à toute l’exigence spirituelle, communautaire apostolique et charitable qui marquait la vie des Augustines de la Miséricorde. Elle a su “être à Dieu et n’avoir rien à cœur que son service”.
Dans le secret de son âme, il lui fut donné d’être sans cesse présente à Dieu, au Christ rédempteur. Elle demeurait unie au Sacré-Cœur de Jésus et donnait toute sa confiance au Saint Cœur de Marie. Les tourments douloureux de la tentation ne purent atteindre sa sérénité, ni affaiblir une expérience mystique hors du commun. Mais sa souffrance intime et cachée, elle l’acceptait en “prenant sur soi les misères et les maux des autres”. Face aux péchés des hommes, sa réponse était le sacrifice d’elle-même, en union avec la Croix du Sauveur, pour “gagner les cœurs à Dieu”.
Dans un désir missionnaire ardent, elle rejoignit ses Sœurs au Canada, pays qu’elle aima de toutes ses forces. Apôtre infatigable, elle fut aussi généreuse à remplir de lourdes charges qu’infiniment habile et patiente à soigner avec amour les malades. Dans le printemps spirituel du premier âge de l’Eglise au Canada, on peut inscrire parmi les “fondateurs” Marie-Catherine, cette religieuse dont “la main aussi bien que le cœur n’étaient que charité”.
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→
Canonizing Sister Faustina and Divine Mercy
HOMILY OF THE HOLY FATHER MASS IN ST PETER’S SQUARE FOR THE CANONIZATION OF SR MARY FAUSTINA KOWALSKA Sunday, 30 April 2000 1. “Confitemini Domino quoniam bonus, quoniam in saeculum misericordia eius”; “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever” (Ps 118: 1). So the Church sings on the Octave of[…]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→