Poet’s Corner: Exiled in Place
To be estranged from what was once dear land,
bereft and orphaned, herded now like beasts—
interred too deep, a silence creeps in stonehand.
They raze the...
The Not so Hidden Life of Blessed John Juvenal Ancina
Saint Philip Neri, the founder of the Oratorians and the ‘second Apostle’ of Rome, recommended reading books beginning with ‘S’, that is, lives of...
The Tragedy of Anthony Kenny
The recent encomium on Anthony Kenny - former priest turned agnostic philosopher – struck me as disconcerting. The title of the reflection is indicative:...
The Interior Furnace: Reclaiming our Burning Love for Jesus and Mary
In our modern, fast paced world, there is a dangerous tendency to turn our Catholic faith into a cold, dry routine. We easily look...
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...
Saint Louis IX: A Most Christian King
(Here is a reprise of Kaleb Hammond's reflection on the great medieaval king, whom we celebrate today)
St. Louis IX (1214-1270) has been considered by...
Saint Joseph Calasanz, a Teacher for Teachers
We would be remiss if we did not at least remark on this day on the great and sadly forgotten Saint Joseph Calasanz (+1648),...
Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre
It is an unfortunate accident of history – insofar as we may speak of accidents, when all things are guided in their providential design...
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 Enigmatic and Ecstatic Life of Rose of Lima
Rose of Lima (+1617), whose birth name was Isabel, was called 'Rose' when a servant saw her face mystically transformed into the beautiful flower...
