Weekly Insight
Pope Benedict and Saint Boniface
BENEDICT XVI
GENERAL AUDIENCE
Saint Peter's Square
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Saint Boniface, the Apostle of the Germans
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today, we shall reflect on a great eighth-century missionary who spread Christianity in Central Europe, indeed also in...
Saint Boniface: Laying the Axe to the Root of Evil
Saint Boniface, bishop, missionary and martyr was hacked to death by a band of Frisian idol-worshippers on this June 5th in 754, along with 52 of his companions. There must have been quite a...
Saint Francis Caraciollo
This co-founder of the Adorno Fathers was born Ascanio dei Caracciolo Pisquizi, in the kingdom of Naples in the year 1563, just as the Protestant revolt was reaching its crescendo. Italy was largely spared...
Terminal at Tim’s, and a Modest Proposal
There's an old joke that asks what's the difference between God and a doctor?
God doesn't think He's a doctor.
Sure, it's hyperbolic and cynical, and many physicians do sacrificial hidden work for their innumerable patients,...
Lessons from My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady is one of my darling bride’s favorite plays. I, on the other hand, am more a fan of the original play script Pygmallion, by George Bernard Shaw. On May 20, Eliza...
Saint Charles Lwanga and Companion Martyrs: The Hope of Africa
If the Church seems moribund in North America, there is hope in the vast continent of Africa, where there are untold millions of Catholics, fervent, joyful and full of life. This spiritual energy that...
Peter and Marcellinus, Hidden Yet Their Voice Goes Out Through All the Earth
Like many of the early martyrs, not much is known of Saints Marcellinus and Peter, except that they died for the Faith during the persecution of Diocletian in 304, put to death by beheading...
Something Wicked: A Review
Something Wicked: Why Feminism Can't Be Fused with Christianity
Sophia Institute Press
Manchester, New Hampshire
Copyright 2021, 2025
241 pp.
I’ve been meaning to write a few words on a new, and controversial, book making the rounds, namely, Dr....
Justin, the Philosophical Martyr
Saint Justin (+165) who is called the 'Martyr', was born around the time the last Apostle, John, departed this life for heaven. Justin was not raised in the Catholic faith – few were in...
The Most Holy Trinity
He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only son of God (Jn. 3:18).
Each year, the...
A Short Primer on the Trinity
In light of yesterdays’ Solemnity celebrating the Most Holy Trinity, a few words on this central teaching of our Faith may be in order. The doctrine of the Trinity is unique to the Christian...
Sunday Musical Offering: Bach’s Cantata for Trinity Sunday
J.S. Bach composed this cantata for Trinity Sunday in 1725, first performed on May 27th of that year. The libretto begins with Es ist ein trotzig und verzagt Ding (There is something defiant and...
King Saint Ferdinand III
I didn't know that 'San Fernando' in California (and other places) was named after the saint we commemorate today, Saint Ferdinand III (1201 - 1252), the great, 13th century King of Leon, Castile and...
The Pope’s Rosary for Peace Today
The Vatican has announced that Pope Leo XIV will lead a Rosary for peace today, at 7 pm Rome time, at the end of this Marian month - which means 1 pm for many...
