Canon Law, Tornadoes and Reprisals
May 27th marks the anniversary of the promulgation of the first official Code of Canon Law, by Benedict XV in 1917. The laborious – even Herculean – endeavour of collating the two millennia wide swathe of Church laws, customs and ordinances was begun by the indomitable Saint Pius X, but completed under his successor. Some thought it simply could not be done, to synthesize the immense amount of material into one handy handbook, but, as Christ says in today’s Gospel, all things are possible with God. The Pio-Benedictine code is now known as the ‘old code’, as a new edition was promulgated by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1983. What is good in the old, however, should not be discounted, as Christ also says of the wise man, who accepts the new, while not rejecting what came before. For behind the law stands the truth, and the Truth, on which all law must be founded; and law itself is a means to an end. As the final code (can. 1752) says, in salute animarum…Ecclesia suprema semper lex esse debet – the supreme law in the Church should always be the salvation of souls. Just so.
There has been a tornado outbreak in several southern U.S. states, leaving at least 21 dead, and dozens injured, with widespread damage. We pray for the victims, and for all those affected. Yet, before we use such disasters as proof of ‘climate change’, calling for the cessation of all things carbon, we should put this into historical context. To take but two examples from this day in history, amongst any number of others: In 1896, an F-4 tornado struck Saint Louis, killing 225 people and causing $10 million in damage, which, in today’s terms, was many more millions. In 1997, another killer tornado hit Texas, killing 27. Extreme weather events have been with us since the Earth was young – even more in our planets early tempestuous temper tantrums.
Storms, heat waves, and all the rest of it were around before industrialization, and will be with us unto the end of time. The best we can do is prepare with what human means we might – better buildings and such – and trust in the good God, Who knows what He’s about.
And on this day in 1942, two operatives – Josef Gabčík (a Czech) and Jan Kubiš (a Slovak) – attacked the motorcar of Reinhardt Heydrich, one of the highest-ranking Nazis, and one of the main architects of the Holocaust. The Sten submachine gun jammed – complaints were common of the British-made weapon – so they threw a landmine, which exploded under the rear tire. Heydrich was mortally wounded by shrapnel, dying a slow death from sepsis eight days later. Both Gabčík and Kubiš escaped, narrowly, after a gun battle and a chase. The event makes for harrowing reading. The Nazis retaliated by razing two whole villages, massacring all the men, and sending the women and children to death camps. According to one estimate, 5,000 people were murdered, and 13,000 arrested (many of them ending up dead), none of them were connected to the assassination (even if Nazi lies implied as much).
This raises questions of proportionate morality – one Nazi for nearly twenty thousand? But the fog of war raises many fraught and complex moral questions, which are not easy to answer. God’s providence is mysterious, as we read in the book of Job, and we return again to the basis: trust in God and praise Him still. At that final parousia, all things will be made clear, and we can only do the best we can, by the wits of our own conscience.
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→
Remembering Father Alphonse de Valk
(Today marks the sixth anniversary of the death of Father Alphonse de Valk, C.S.B., a faithful, courageous and indefatigable Basilian priest, pro-life-and-family apostle, and the founder of Catholic Insight magazine. Here is what we wrote those on his entering into eternity five years ago, as we continue to remember him in our prayers and thoughts)[…]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→
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→
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→
Weronika Krawczyk and Injustice in Poland
Catholic Action in Poland has issued a formal statement appealing to the President of the Republic of Poland to pardon Weronika Krawczyk—convicted for warning other women against an abortion-performing gynaecologist. Catholic Action (AK) emphasizes that no apology is owed to a doctor who has performed numerous abortions and proposed others; furthermore, the organization considers the[…]Continue reading→
Three Easter Musical Gems: Bach, Palestrina and Byrd
A very blessed and glorious Easter! Christus surrexit vere, alleluia! As we begin this Easter Octave with the great Solemnity of Easter, music to lift the soul would be one of Bach’s Easter cantatas, composed during his time at Leipzig in the early 1700’s, for the six Sundays of this festive season, leading up to[…]Continue reading→
Saint Isidore of Seville, the Internet and Industriousness
Today, April 4th, muted this year by Holy Saturday, is the commemoration of Saint Isidore of Seville (560-636) a bishop and doctor of the Church during a tumultuous age, when civilization was crumbling, coming apart at its very seams, which may sound sort of au courant. Then again, the form of this world has always[…]Continue reading→
An Ancient Homily for Holy Saturday
The time between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is one of waiting, in silence, as the world wonders – anticipates – what will happen, after the death of Christ. We re-live this time each year in the anamnesis of our liturgy, and in turn look forward to the glorious re-creation of all things at the[…]Continue reading→