Blessed Terence O’Brien and Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez
This penultimate day in October – all hallowe’ed eve’s eve – is the memorial of the Irish bishop and martyr, Terence O’Brien (1601-1651), put to a brutal death on October 30th for his hand in resisting the siege of the notorious Oliver Cromwell, grand-nephew of Thomas Cromwell. Both Cromwells were bitterly anti-Catholic ideologues, who dispatched many of the faithful to heaven, by the sword, fire and noose. A summary of his life may be found here (and, as mentioned in a previous post, because this link is from a rad-trad website, does not mean we here at C.I. subscribe to all of their views). Intriguing was the fact that the Roundhead soldiers beat the bishop’s body for three hours after his death, to an unrecognizable pulp. Hmm.
We also commemorate Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez (1532-1617), a Jesuit lay-brother who spent much of his long life – 46 years – as door-keeper at the newly-founded Jesuit college at Mallorca. He was severe with himself – his bodily mortifications and rigour of conscience were renowned – but always patient with others, gifted with ecstasies and miracles. His life bears much similarity to our own Canadian Saint André Bessette, the porter of Montreal. As the Second Vatican Council’s decree on the religious vocation says, the contemplative life is as effective as it is hidden. Saint Alphonsus lived the motto of his contemporary, Philip Neri: Amare nesciri – love to be unknown. Just so, the example of Saint Alphonsus resounds throughout the world.
The future Jesuit poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins – who also suffered in his vocation – wrote a poem on the saint, which the reader may find here.
As the poem ends, so may we:
Those years and years by of world without event
That in Majorca Alfonso watched the door.
What reward he had in heaven, we will one day, Deo volente, find out. But pray to him in the meantime. +
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→