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 Fantastic 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 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...
Saint Isidore the Farmer and Rerum Novarum
Saint Isidore, or, in his native Spanish, Isidro de Merlo y Quintana, was named after the other Saint Isidore, the bishop of Seville (whom...
Bad Choices: Trudeau’s 1969 Omnibus Bill
A good choice was made with Saint Matthias, in accordance with God's holy will, and we may rejoice accordingly on this feast of the...
The Choice of Matthias
Some are born great, some achieve greatness, some have greatness thrust upon them
So wrote the Bard in his 1602 play the Twelfth Night, and...
Nereus, Achilleus and Pancras: Finding One’s Way to Heaven
Today we commemorate the early martyrs Nereus and Achilleus, soldiers, officers of the court, and converts, likely put to death under Emperor Domitian in...
The Other Saint Ignatius – of Laconi
Saint Ignatius of Laconi (1701- 1781) - not to be confused with the more famous Ignatius of Loyala - was a Franciscan friar, whom...
Saint John of Avila, Apostle of Andalusia
Today's optional memorial as we continue the Easter season (alleluia!) commemorates Saint John of Avila (1499 – 1569), a contemporary of his fellow Spaniards,...
Father Damien’s Sacrificial Life
Saint Damien de Veuster (+1889) is celebrated on this tenth of May, a missionary priest who gave everything, even laying down his life, for...
