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Nota in Brevis
Celebrating Our Baptismal Day
On this day, I was baptized in Saint Patrick's church, in Dumbarton, Scotland, on the commemoration of King Saint Louis IX and Saint Joseph Calasanz, at least in the revised calendar. I recommend that...
Blogs
Petrine Papal Primacy
In light of today's readings on this Sunday, and Christ bestowing the papal office on Saint Peter, here is the text of Pastor Aeternus, the dogmatic constitution from the First Vatican Council (1879) defining...
Music
Palestrina’s Tu Es Petrus
As a meditation on this Sunday's liturgical theme, here is a reprise of Palestrina's motet Tu Es Petrus, based on Matthew's 16:18-19. The motet was first published in 1572, at the height of the...
Nota in Brevis
Saint Helena and the True Cross
August 18th is the traditional feast of Saint Helena, a barmaid in Britain who caught the eye of the co-emperor Constantius Chlorus, who married her. Their son was Constantine the Great, who defeated the...
Music
Musical Offering: Mendelssohn’s Ave Maria
On this Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven, body and soul, here to help celebrate is a magnificent rendition of the Ave Maria by Felix Mendelssohn. This may seem...
Editor's Corner
Musical Offering: Couperin’s Motet in Praise of Saint Anne
François Couperin (1668 - 1733) was one of the great Baroque composers, perhaps most famous for his keyboard - harpsichord and organ - works, which are indeed marvelous, and played at many a wedding....
Nota in Brevis
Poland Upholds Marriage
It has been a constant teaching of the Church that society, and its laws, must uphold marriage and family. That means, of course, the true marriage, between a man and a woman, faithful and...
Nota in Brevis
Pope John Paul II and Carmel
A young Karol Wojtyla, while discerning his vocation as he matured in his hometown of Wadowice, thought of becoming a Carmelite, drawn to their contemplative life and deep spirituality, prayer, devotion to Our Lady,...
