Fabian and Freedom

Pope Fabian (+250) was put to death on this day in the persecution of Emperor Decius, for refusing to offer idolatrous sacrifice, and this after a rather long reign of 14 years characterized by its rather amicable relations with Caesar, which allowed the good Pontiff to set up the hierarchical structure of the Church in Rome.

Perhaps Fabian is better known for the manner of his being chosen:  A simple layman, he went to Rome after the death of Pope Anterus, to see the man whom the Holy Spirit would choose as the next Vicar of Christ, as still happens with the crowds outside conclaves. Well, poor Fabian, for the Holy Spirit quite literally descended upon him, a dove alighting on his head, upon which the crowds chanted “Fabian for Pope! Fabian for Pope!” with some degree of enthusiasm for this apparently heavenly sign (keeping in mind that choosing a Pope back then was was a more widely democratic affair, and would not be relegated to the cardinals until 1059 under Nicholas II).

As Pope Benedict, as Cardinal Ratzinger, once quipped, the choice of a Pope is not always the one the Holy Spirit may have chosen – although we do what we might with prayer adn sacrifice – this time, it seems, the choice was propitious, and, fortunately for the Church, Fabian acquiesced to being so chosen, in freedom. In the mysterious gift of freedom which makes us like Him, God allows us to make bad decisions, so that we may repent, and later make better ones. We must discern the spirits, to follow those which are of God, and our way through those that are not, always freely choosing the better part.

Ah, yes, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

So the U.S. government has ‘shut down’, which really means not much, as most operations will stay open, and this will affect only ‘unnecessary’ services, which makes one wonder whether they should be funded at all. Things will keep rolling along for now, until, well, until the time that God, as manifested in His Holy Spirit, so chooses.  The bloated bureaucracy, consuming vast resources of the poor common man, will truckle along like the behemoth it has become. A good read is this article by Mark Steyn the last time the government ‘shut down‘ under Barack Obama, and ponder how many such resources were used up in maintaining that ‘shut down’ in the most frivolous and authoritarian of ways, demonstrating how subtly and imperceptibly we can lose, even give up, the very freedoms for which our forefathers fought, and died, so valiantly (see Dunkirk).

True freedom requires effort, vigilance, virtue, and courage, the whole notion of ‘self-reliance’ that we modern millennial men so easily hand over to a coddling, but suffocating, State.

I just wish more of the government would shut down more often, and we could get back to getting back on our own two feet, as the pagan Sea Wolf taught his land-lubbing, inept protégé Humphrey in the stormy seas of the Atlantic, in the wind, the waves and the stiff salt air. We could use a few more Catholic Sea Wolfs, when men were men, who cared not for a far-off squabbling political class.

For truly, it is for freedom Christ has set us free.  (Gal 5:1).

Speaking of sailing the open seas, I have an article published in Crisis magazine, on the metaphysical implications of Darwin’s theory. Feel free to peruse, and I will post it on these pages in a few days.

Pope Fabian and all holy martyrs, orate pro nobis!

Carney’s Amoral Majority

After five defections – euphemistically described as ‘crossing the floor’ – and three by-elections, Mark Carney and his Liberals how have their coveted majority. One wonders what bowls of pottage were offered in back-room deals. In the archaic monarchical system that is the Dominion of Canada, this majority allows the newly-minted Prime Minister to rule[…]Continue reading→

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→

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→

A Tale of Two Benedicts

A grace-filled Holy Week to all our readers! As we await and prepare for the Resurrection about to dawn upon us, we might keep in mind two Benedicts: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, requiescat in pace, elected on this day in 2005; and today’s commemoration of the mystic pilgrim, Benedict Joseph Labre, who died on this[…]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→

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→

Saint Lydwina of Schiedam and Suffering Joyfully

Saint Lydwina of Schiedam (1380 – 1433) was one of the countless and glorious ‘victim souls’ in the history of the Church, those whose lives are filled with suffering, often of an unimaginable intensity, but who suffer joyfully. She was a fifteen-year old Dutch girl, out skating one day, when she fell and broke one[…]Continue reading→

The Glorious Martyrdoms of Martin and Maximus

As we enter into Eastertide, we recall on this 13th of April Pope Saint Martin I (+655), one of the noblest, if most tragic, of the successors of Saint Peter. Born in Umbria, Italy, he was of noble lineage, with great intelligence combined with charity and love of the poor and the Church. While still[…]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→