Monday, December 1, 2025

Dr. Frances Kelsey and Thalidomide

On this August 7th, back in 1962, Frances Oldham Kelsey, a Canadian-American physician/pharmacologist (who hailed from bucolic and beautiful Cobble Hill, on Vancouver Island,...

The Battle of Vienna and the Holy Name of Mary

September 12th commemorates the Battle of Vienna, the great victory in 1683 of the Christians armies, led by Jan Sobieski, against the Ottoman Turks...

Are Fairies Catholic?

Are fairies good Christians? Many say they are not; that they are actually shrunken idols, worshipped into later ages by the people of the fens,...

A Meditation for Palm Sunday: The Passion according to Mark

In Scripture, a single phrase can open the way to a profound insight into the message of the mysteries of the faith. A striking...

Why the Ideological ‘Rosary of Modern Sorrows’ is not a Rosary

The ‘Rosary of Modern Sorrows’ (RMS) is made by the American company, 'Contemplative Rebellion' (CR) and is sold on-line for US$62. It is unique,...

The Power of the Holy Rosary

Today, Wednesday 7 October 2021, the Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. In the silence of my heart Pope Francis’...

Long Live Buckfast Abbey

I begin this reflection from the beautiful and prayerful grounds of Buckfast Abbey, not far from the coast at Brixham, where I have been...

Charles Tournemire and L’Orgue Mystique

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, France produced a number of famous organist-composers, such as Louis Vierne, Charles-Marie Widor, Marcel Dupré, Maurice...

The Holy Name of Mary is our Hope

As we are joyfully celebrating the feast of the Holy Name of Mary, on this twelfth of September, it is important that we see...

Bach and Beethoven on Classical Guitar

Someone once said that there are few more beautiful sounds than a well-played classical guitar, and I must agree, even if I enjoy all...