Captain America

Wow. Just…wow. Captain America: The Winter Soldier had it all: action, suspense, mystery, romance, camaraderie, spies, secrets, and—most importantly—awesome superheroes. The action scenes were spectacular, but even the quieter thought-provoking scenes kept you on your toes. The film made $95,023,721 on opening weekend and has made $225,059,241 as of 25 April 25 in the U.S. alone. Not the best the box office has ever seen, but still mighty impressive.

The story follows Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), a.k.a. Captain America, after the large-scale alien attack in the Avengers movie. He lives a pretty normal life—except for his work with the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division or as it is more commonly known, S.H.I.E.L.D. However, Rogers becomes uncomfortable with the fact that only Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) knows everything about an operation. But this becomes the least of his worries when Nick Fury—after warning Rogers to trust no one—is assassinated by a mysterious man called the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan).

Rogers gets marked as a traitor by S.H.I.E.L.D.—technically HYDRA, an evil organization thought to have broken up after WWII that had infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D and began their takeover the minute Fury died. Rogers teams up with Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), or Black Widow, and Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), who later becomes the Falcon. Together, they fight against HYDRA and retake S.H.I.E.L.D. But are they powerful enough? You’ll have to see it to find out.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe never ceases to amaze. The order of films was planned in phases: in Phase One, there were five independent prequels leading up to The Avengers. Phase Two consisted of Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Avengers: Age of Ultron. Throughout all of these films, there are tie-ins and references to one another that give the whole franchise a sense of unity.

I think Captain America: The Winter Soldier was one of the best (if not the best) Marvel movies ever. It was not all about the hero—it was also about the organization that formed the Avengers. Marvel has already given us a glance at the inside of S.H.I.E.L.D. through ABC’s television show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., but this film took the inside look to a new level. Captain America questioned the tactics of S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury questioned its loyalties, and the true faces of many people inside the organization were revealed.

Captain America has always been seen as a patriotic character, but to some, he is also a Christian hero. He values truth, freedom, righteousness, justice, loyalty—and he is willing to lay down his life to protect the innocent. This image was upheld—but also tested—in the new film. The struggles with S.H.I.E.L.D. changed him ever so slightly and although he is still good, he became a little tougher as the movie progressed. All in all, this is a must-see movie—especially if you want to be ready for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (they continue off of what happens in the movie after Episode 17) or Avengers: Age of Ultron. And save me a seat at the theatre—I’m dying to see it again.

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→

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→

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→

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→

Divine Mercy Sunday – An Echo of Every Mass

Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe’…  ‘My Lord and my God!’ (Jn. 20:18)). Today is Divine Mercy Sunday, and as we celebrate the end of the Easter Octave, we contemplate the wounded side of our Saviour, the Church’s source of life. On Good Friday in the[…]Continue reading→

First Holy Communion: Sermon from May 16, 1943

 Here is a sermon from the good old days by +Rev. Msgr. Vincent Nicholas Foy (August 14, 1915 – March 13, 2017), from 1943. Readers may recall that Pope Saint Pius X, by the decree Quam Singulari in 1910, lowered the customary age of reception of Holy Communion – after the rigours of the plague[…]Continue reading→

In the Glorious Light of Easter, Alleluia!

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory (Col. 3:3-4). The Resurrection of Our Lord and Saviour[…]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→

Europe’s Long Descent

(As we meditate on this day on Christ’s burial, and His descent into hell, it is fitting to ponder here with contributor Peter Marcus how the world seems to be heading there as well. The difference is that, although God cannot ‘redeem’ hell, nor those therein, He can and did redeem the world. There is[…]Continue reading→

Pope Saint John Paul II’s First Good Friday Homily

ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS AT THE COLOSSEUM Good Friday, 13 April 1979   When we make the Way of the Cross from one station to the next, in spirit we are always at the spot wherethis journey had its “historical” place: where it[…]Continue reading→