Boniface’s Good Work
Saint Boniface, bishop and martyr, was hacked to death by a band of Frisian idol-worshippers on this day, June 5, 754, along with 52 of his companions. His life... Read more.
The Glorious Witness of the Ugandan Martyrs
If the Church seems moribund in North America, there is hope in the vast continent of Africa, where there are untold millions of Catholics, fervent, joyful and full... Read more.
The Opticks of Justice
Isaac Newton penned his treatise Opticks in 1704 – and who am I to improve upon his spelling, about which they were not exactly rigorous in those pre-O.E.D, and... Read more.
Peter and Marcellinus, Hidden, Yet Known
Not much is known of Saints Marcellinus and Peter, except that they were martyrs, likely put to death by beheading at the 12th milestone on the Via Aurelia outside... Read more.
The Legacy of Paul VI
The controversial Pope Saint Paul VI is commemorated on May 29th, the day of his ordination to the priesthood in 1920 – this marking the hundredth anniversary.... Read more.
Augustine’s Monastic Mission
The first bishop of Canterbury, Augustine (+604), pronounced in England, ‘Austin’, was a Roman citizen, like the ‘other’ Augustine, of Hippo, who lived over... Read more.
Philip’s Spirit of Joy
We celebrate today one of the most joyful and idiosyncratic – the two are not unrelated – of saints, Philip Neri, (+1595), the founder of the Congregation... Read more.
One Fine Spring Day, Three Saints
There are many saints in the Church’s history too many ever to be celebrated liturgically, and those are only the officially canonized ones. We have the ‘old’... Read more.
Anne Bolyen’s Apparent Demise. But ’tis Really So?
Anne Boleyn lost her head on this fine spring day in May, 1536, put to death by the decree of her own quasi-husband, Henry VIII – I say, ‘quasi’, since Henry’s... Read more.
Victoria Day 2-4, Ales and Dominions
A happy Victoria Day to all our readers! Some have dubbed this ‘May 2-4’, I suppose since it often falls somewhat close to the 24th of May – the... Read more.