St. Martin of Tours was a bishop, born at Sabaria, Germany about 316 and died at Candes, Touraine, most probably in 397. He was moved to Pavia in Italy in his early years when his father, a military tribune, was transferred. Martin accompanied him and when he reached adolescence, he was enrolled … Read more
This commemoration was introduced in the liturgical calendar by decree of Pope Pius VII on September 16, 1815, in thanksgiving for his happy return to Rome after a long and painful captivity in Savona and France due to Napoleon’s tyrannical power. By order of Napoleon, Pius VII was arrested, 5 July, 1808, … Read more
More than 150 Italian and European pro-life associations joined together as over 15,000 people participated in the first March for Life in Rome on May 13. Thousands of enthusiastic youth who affirmed Catholic teaching against abortion formed part of the crowd that drew almost three times the number expected. The pro-life group, … Read more
The destruction of a large part of the Assyrian army by God before Jerusalem in 701 B.C. only provided a brief respite for the incorrigible city. It refused to take advantage of God’s mercy and continued in its sinful ways with the predictable results. By the final years of the seventh century, … Read more
When abortion activist Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL, saw last year’s March for Life in Washington, D.C. she was utterly astounded: “I just thought, my gosh, they are so young,” she told Newsweek. “There are so many of them, and they are so young.” Abortion advocates like Keenan must be uneasy with … Read more
“We all came here form different places but we are united,” commented one Slovakian conservative at the closing banquet of the 2009 International Student Conference. This sense of unity would seem very hard to imagine to the superficial observer who would see people from such diverse places speaking so many different languages. … Read more
-150x150.jpg)
Passing undulating rows of grapevines on either side of a steep driveway lined with cypress trees, the scene reminded me of a picture calendar I had seen of Tuscany, Italy. However, as I crested the hill, nothing I had ever seen before could match what I beheld atop this mountain. I was … Read more
The America Needs Fatima campaign (ANF) seeks out occasions for like-minded Catholics to meet. Gatherings after Mass and even barbeques provide such opportunities. With this in mind, America Needs Fatima Custodian Jose Walter Ferraz held a barbecue at his home in Drums, Penn., on June 10. Around 200 people attended. The event … Read more
“The pro-life movement has an amazing capacity to unite, impassion and win. However if we are to win the whole Cultural War, we must go beyond pro-life.” This was one of the conclusions of the meeting held at the TFP Washington Bureau on Tuesday, January 23. Well over one hundred TFP members, … Read more
-150x150.jpg)
This photograph is of Saint Gemma Galgani (1878-1903), a famous mystic who lived in the enchanting town of Lucca, Italy. Her countenance is impressive for several reasons. First, we note her profound reflection and the harmony of her traits. Second, the saint’s gaze has something elevated and sublime about it. Her thoughts … Read more