Simon, Jude and Desperate Causes
All of the Apostles have a feast day, and, on this day at the end of October – the same day that Emperor Constantine won his victory over Maxentius at the... Read more.
Saints and Sinners: A History of the Popes
No Pope is impeccable, even if, by virtue of their office, they are at times infallible – or, more precisely, a few of their statements are. Every Pope is a sinner,... Read more.
Camp of the (Un)Saints
Ponder this list of names of the alleged perpetrators of a grooming-and-rape gang in Britain involving a 13 year-old girl. One name is not quite like the others,... Read more.
Iniquitous Westphalia
October 24th, 1648, marks the official end of the Thirty Years War, which had begun in 1618, and was one of the bloodiest and most brutal conflicts of modern times,... Read more.
Saint Ursula and her Myriad Companions
Today is the traditional commemoration of Saint Ursula, who was put to death on this October 21st, in 383, along with – as the legend has it – 11,000... Read more.
Queen Elizabeth’s Mixed Legacy
The many accolades heaped upon Queen Elizabeth have their place. She was, as promised in that early address of 1941, devoted to her duty, at least as she saw it,... Read more.
Saint Hedwig of Silesia: Poland’s Crown and Glory
It’s a special day for the Polish, as one of their patrons is celebrated, at least here in Canada, on this day – normally, Saint Hedwig of Silesa (+1243)... Read more.
Ignatius Ground to Wheat, While Canada Grows its Pot
(This being not only the memorial of the one of the Church’s earliest post-Apostolic martyrs, the great Ignatius, who may have known the Apostle John personally,... Read more.
Hilary Mantel’s Reformation Revisionism
Hilary Mantel, English novelist died last week at the age of 70. Her fame – or infamy, depending on one’s perspective – rests largely upon her... Read more.
O Crux Ave Spes Unica
A blessed and glorious feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross! Also called the Triumph of the Cross and, at times, the ‘Invention’ of the Cross, in... Read more.