The last article in this series (see link here) described political events that prevented Amicizie’s full development in Italy. However, these setbacks did not dampen Father Nicholas Diessbach’s spirits. With the assistance of Baron Joseph von Penckler (1751-1830) and other Austrian members, he continued his illustrious apostolate and prevented the sodality from … Read more
This June has proven to be a particularly chaotic month. We are only partially through it, and already, there is a new war, civil unrest, celebrated vice and a scrambled world order. It feels so disconcerting. Things are so far from the way they should be. The worst part of being in … Read more
Liberalism holds that humanity evolves with ever more expressive manifestations of freedom. Once in motion, this process cannot be reversed. At best, the more conservative elements of society can resist and slow down the advance. However, this liberal narrative is false. History is not fated to go in a specific direction. Every … Read more
(Editor’s note: The last four articles in this series (found here, here, here, and here) concerned aspects of a message that Father Nicholas Deissbach sent to the newly crowned Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II around 1790. During this time, the disastrous French Revolution was in progress, although it had not yet reached … Read more
A quarter century ago, volunteers from Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) vigorously protested the blasphemous release of the film Dogma, which openly mocked the Catholic faith in the name of comedy. However, blasphemy is still blasphemy 25 years later. With the re-launch of the movie showing in many theaters nationwide in 2025, … Read more
The right music can have a calming effect on babies. Thus, some have claimed that serene passages of classical music should be played to babies as part of their formation. However, it is not Mozart who impacts infants the most. The soothing tone of a loving mother is much more effective. A … Read more
The last three articles (found here, here and here) in this series have examined a remarkable letter sent by Father Nicholas Deissbach to the newly crowned Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II in 1790. This article will conclude that exploration. In that missive to the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold III, Father Nicholas Deissbach … Read more
In a legal settlement, a Connecticut couple has been awarded $2 million because their daughter was born with Cystic Fibrosis. The court assessed the penalty against the doctor who neglected to run a relatively simple blood test almost four years before the child’s birth. At first blush, this looks like a simple … Read more
One longstanding Church practice oriented to the worship of God has been the chanting of psalms and hymns. From the earliest times, monks engaged in liturgical chanting that complemented their often grueling lives. These monks managed to accommodate hours spent in choir while providing for their material needs. French author, Dr. Alftred … Read more
Father Nicholas Diessbach sent a 1790 message to Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II. It first mentions the political difficulties Leopold encountered when ascending to the throne of Austria. These challenges threatened the very existence of the Holy Roman German Empire. Father Diessbach enumerates these difficulties, which we will see in greater detail … Read more