Saint Katharine Drexel, the second American canonized saint, was born into a wealthy family in Philadelphia in 1858. Her father was an international banker and philanthropist accustomed to spending each evening in prayerful vigil. Although her mother passed away a few weeks after Katharine’s birth, her stepmother Emma Bouvier, wealthy in her … Read more
In the second half of the nineteenth century, the Catholic Church in the Netherlands experienced a revival that was at least on par with France and perhaps stronger than anywhere else in the world. At that time, the Dutch Bishops had the reputation of being Ultramontane, even though they avoided controversies and … Read more
Some tragic things are so symbolic that they demand a commentary. Remaining silent is not an option. Such is the case of a new trend among well-heeled women suffering from the pains of divorce. They have taken to making “divorce” rings to celebrate their newfound “freedom.” Wearing one is a form of … Read more
The industrialized world often mistreats the consumer. With so many mass-produced and standardized products, I sometimes feel standardized myself. There are limits to standardization. Some products present no problems since we benefit from their uniformity. Others cause us to lose our personality since we have to adapt to them. For example, I … Read more
Throughout history, Providence has never left the Church without defense. Whenever new errors appeared, God supplied new graces so that the faithful might confront them. When heresies spread in medieval Europe, for example, God raised Saint Dominic and his sons to fight them through preaching and learning. When the spirit of the … Read more
Twelve young men will gather from around the world—Belgium, South Africa, Ecuador, and the United States. We will be going on a pilgrimage. Why are they coming from four different countries? Why unite across continents? A brief backstory. My name is Vincent Maleski. I am a high school senior, and earlier this … Read more
Springtime is approaching in Southern California, which means that the time has come for the annual Los Angeles Religious Education Congress (REC). For decades, the REC has been a scandal to the Catholic world due to its yearly promotion of dissident speakers who use it as a platform to push their heterodox … Read more
This article is the third part of a series about Purgatory, a topic that is rarely discussed today. A knowledge of Purgatory is essential if souls are to avoid the pains of this place of expiation. The first article can be found here. * * * Even during her lifetime, … Read more
After the fall of the Soviet Union, many believed the Russian Orthodox Church experienced a revival, evoking memories of “Holy Mother Russia.” The outward signs of official government policies favoring orthodoxy and the rebuilding of churches were offered as proof of positive change. However, recent findings and statistics, especially those involving an … Read more
After Notre Dame in Paris, Chartres cathedral is undoubtably France’s most famous medieval cathedral. It’s gothic arches, flying buttresses, magnificent statues, and approximately 170 medieval stained-glass windows attract millions of pilgrims from all over the world. It is a masterpiece of the medieval Gothic style, and the testament to the once-strong Catholic … Read more