Saint Katharine Drexel

Saint Katharine Drexel

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

The Affections and Tensions between Pius IX and the Dutch Episcopate

The Affections and Tensions between Pius IX and the Dutch Episcopate

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

How the “Divorce Ring” Turns We into Me

How the “Divorce Ring” Turns We into Me

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

Probing the Limits of Standardization

Probing the Limits of Standardization

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

Venezuela’s Plight Is Not a Typo

I recently read an article in a local paper about the desperate situation in Venezuela. It told the doleful tale of an economy in crisis with shortages, blackouts and widespread corruption. At a certain point, the article mentioned that the average worker’s wage was about one dollar… a month! I did a … Read more

Why the TFP Protest at the Religious Education Congress Matters

Why the TFP Protest at the Religious Education Congress Matters

Once again, thousands of Catholics gathered for the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress (REC). It is America’s largest Catholic religious educational conference of the year, and this year marked its seventieth anniversary. The idea of any religious educational conference should be to help people learn how to teach fellow Catholics to grow … Read more

What Lies Beneath the Epstein Scandals

As millions of pages of the Epstein files become available, many are shocked by their sheer volume and the extensive network maintained by the notorious sex offender. Many notable figures among the elite had at least some contact with him. These leaders in society are now falling from favor because of these … Read more