Father Jonathan Robinson, C.O., Requiescat in Pace

Father Jonathan Robinson, C.O. the founding superior of the Toronto Oratory, has just gone to eternity, after a brief illness. Ordained in 1962, just...

The Faith and Music of Anton Bruckner

Faith and music are forever intertwined in Western art music. Many, if not most, of the leading classical composers were people of faith. Anton...

The Opticks of Justice

Isaac Newton penned his treatise Opticks in 1704 – and who am I to improve upon his spelling, about which they were not exactly...

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,...

The Similes of the Spirit

Suppose a blind man asked you, “What is a crimson like?” You might answer, “It’s like a blare of trumpets.” And the simile is...

Pentecost’s Fortitude

‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me so I send you’ (Jn. 20:21). ⧟ The text of the Gospel brings us back...

Augustine’s Monastic Mission

The first bishop of Canterbury, Augustine (+604), pronounced in England, ‘Austin’, was a Roman citizen, like the ‘other’ Augustine, of Hippo, who lived over...

Word Painting in William Byrd’s Vigilate and Ave Verum Corpus

Few composers have lived and nonetheless thrived in such a turbulent era as William Byrd. Born sometime between 1539 and 1543, Byrd grew up...

Anne Bolyen’s Apparent Demise. But ’tis Really So?

Anne Boleyn lost her head on this fine spring day in May, 1536, put to death by the decree of her own quasi-husband, Henry...

Tories and the Grave New World

A nation that kills its own children has no future.  St. John Paul II In 2008, the late Father Alphonse deValk, founding editor of...