Beacon in a Town in Decay
I left my hometown, Kirkland Lake, at eighteen. I know there are innumerable reasons why I was placed there, be they survival instincts, the...
Eugène de Mazenod’s Oblation
Fittingly, in this month of Mary, we celebrate on this May 21st Saint Eugène de Mazenod (+1861), the 19th century founder of the Missionaries...
Father Magallanes’ Mexican Martyrdom
The twentieth century saw the rise of various vicious anti-Catholic regimes, totalitarian and ruthless in their demonic fury to stamp out the Church. Ecrasez...
Ananais and Sapphira: a lesson of Acts 5
Many gospel episodes leave us guessing about their backstories. For example, I’ve often wondered about the “rich young man,” who “turned away sad,” when...
Saint Bernardine of Siena
Saint Bernardine of Siena (+1444) lived through a tumultuous time in the Church's history. The Great Western Schism had begun in 1378, two years...
Pope Saint Celestine V: Resigning to God’s Holy Will
The controversial Pope Saint Celestine V the third-last pontiff to resign the papacy, and the one who codified this possibility into canon law, died...
Pope Saint John I and John Paul II
We celebrate today, Pope John Saint I (+526). One might wonder why it took five centuries for a Pope to be chosen with this...
Saint Paschal Baylon’s Humility and Joy
The life of Paschal Baylon (1540 - 1592) has much in common with that of his fellow Franciscan, Joseph of Cupertino (+1633). They were...
Saint Brendan’s Legendary but Likely Voyage
Saint Brendan (+577) the sixth century Irish monk, called the 'Navigator', is reputed to have discovered Canada a full millennium before the Italian John...
Dymphna’s Holy Sanity
The story of Saint Dymphna (7th century), steeped in legend, is not one, perhaps, that parents would feel comfortable telling their children. Dymphna was...
