From Holy Saturday to Pentecost we sing or recite one of the Church’s most joyful anthems, the Regina Cæli (O, Queen of Heaven), customarily said in place of the Angelus at twelve noon. According to The Golden Legend, a thirteenth century work on the lives of the Saints, Pope Saint Gregory the … Read more
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
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
""""[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
A narrow-minded, vulgar, egoistic and even idolatrous woman — this is how Irish author Colm Tóibín presents the Blessed Virgin Mary in his novel (now making its debut on the stage) titled The Testament of Mary. His blasphemous play is being presented at the Walter Kerr Theatre, a Broadway theater, starting Tuesday, … Read more
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
""""[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
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
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
A review of Becoming Europe: Economic Decline, Culture, and How America Can Avoid a European Future by Samuel Gregg (New York: Encounter Books, 2013) * * * It is not often that one finds refreshing nuance in books dealing with economy. Economics is not supposed to be about nuance. It usually presents itself in … Read more