He Who Has Not Mary for His Mother Has Not God for His Father

    Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort, the great Marian apostle, has these beautiful words about our correlation with Our Lady and why devotion to her is so indispensable. *          *          * “Just as in the natural and corporal generation of children there are a father and a mother, so in the supernatural and … Read more

Humility, Magnanimity and Magnificence

Humility, Magnanimity and Magnificence 1

True Humility Is Not Contrary to Legitimate Splendor and Honors The virtue of humility, at least in its external aspects, arouses much sympathy even among those who are not particularly religious or otherwise oppose religion. In a world dominated by pride and sensuality, it seems very timely to study this virtue, however … Read more

Humility Is Compatible with the Rich Dress of One’s Office

Humility Is Compatible with the Rich Dress of One’s Office 2

Saint Francis of Sales, the bishop of Geneva, while on a journey during Lent, went to a church that was attached to the monastery of Capuchin friars. He arrived at sermon time; the preacher had taken ostentation in dress as his sermon’s theme and was inveighing vehemently against prelates and ecclesiastical dignitaries … Read more

“A Fire in My Chest…” – From Shepherdess to Saint

“A Fire in My Chest...” - From Shepherdess to Saint 2

""""[vc_column_text] Visiting Fatima years back, preparing to work on my children’s book Jacinta’s Story, the tiny town of Aljustrel gave me a glimpse into the personalities of the three small seers, Lucia dos Santos, and Francisco and Jacinta Marto. I will never forget emerging from the tiny, white-washed cottage that had been … Read more

The Holy Spirit and the Next Conclave

The Holy Spirit and the Next Conclave 3

The eyes of the whole world — not just Catholics — are turned to St. Peter’s in Rome, wondering who will be the new Vicar of Christ. This time, after a series of shocking and confusing events, the expectation that precedes every conclave is sharper and more intense. Massimo Franco writes in … Read more

Clarity

Clarity 3

""""[vc_column_text]The ongoing developments regarding the Sede Vacante  are strikingly similar to those when Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira (1908-1995) published this luminous article. As is known, the Sede Vacante is the interim period that began last Feb. 28 with the resignation of Benedict XVI and will close when his successor is elected.Although the article was published 35 … Read more

True Joy

True Joy 2

We must serve God with joy and communicate this joy in doing holy things. Saint Thomas Aquinas named the weariness for holy things and the subsequent sadness of living in the service of God, acedia, which means weariness and lack of joy and desire for things. Today, joy is only seen in … Read more

A Reverent and Filial Petition to the Next Pope

A Reverent and Filial Petition to the Next Pope 2

Join this Prayerful Worldwide Petition to the Next Pope After Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation, Catholics worldwide are asking: Who will be the next Pope? This is a reverent and filial petition to the next Pope: Holy Father, were it not for the promise of Our Lord Jesus Christ that “the gates of … Read more

How a Good Lent Can Help Fix a Bad Economy

How a Good Lent Can Help Fix a Bad Economy 4

To those who see no link between Lent and our failing economy, it might be the case to look again. Economics is about people. It cannot be reduced to numbers, formulae and analyses. “The subject matter of economics,” observes economic historian Odd Langholm, “is properly the habits, customs, and ways of thinking … Read more

Thoughts on the Resignation of Benedict XVI

Thoughts on the Resignation of Benedict XVI 2

On February 11, feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes, Pope Benedict XVI announced to the Consistory of Cardinals and to the whole world his decision to resign from the Papacy. The announcement was received by the Cardinals, “almost in disbelief,” “with a sense of loss,” and “like a lightning bolt out … Read more