Weekly Insight
Saint Raymond of Penyafort
Today, January 8th, is the feast of Saint Raymond of Penyafort (1175-1275), one of the first Dominicans (officially known as the Order of Preachers) eventually becoming the third Master General of the Order (after...
Cardinals in Consistory
The 245 cardinals of the Catholic Church - give or take a few - are gathering today and tomorrow in consistory to discuss various issues. We don't know precisely what they may discuss -...
Petit Brother André Bessette: The Miracle Worker of Montreal
On January 7th here in Canada we honour one of our most beloved homegrown saints, André Bessette (1845-1937), a humble lay-brother who went on to found Saint Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal. A sickly boy,...
Pope Saint Telesphorus
This fifth of January is the traditional commemoration of the eighth bishop of Rome after Saint Peter, namely, Saint Telesphorus. Not much is known about his life: He was Greek, and was chosen Pope...
Saint John Neumann, the Bishop Who Kept on Going
Today is the feast of Saint John Neumann - whom we should distinguish from Saint John Henry Newman, the English Oratorian and fellow saint; as well as from the non-ordained layman John von Neumann,...
How Dostoevsky Changed the World
In 1849, Fyodor Dostoevsky stood before a firing squad, fully prepared for death, only to hear his execution sentence revoked at the final instant. This episode serves as more than dramatic biography, since it...
Bach’s Christmas and Epiphany Oratorio
Between 1734 and 1735, J.S. Bach composed six Oratorios - or six parts of one long Oratorio - for the Christmas season, which the Lutherans in his day still celebrated with gusto and devotion,...
The Epiphany to (the) Wise Men
A blessed and joyous Epiphany to all our readers, at least to those in Canada and other regions, where this solemnity is moved to the nearest Sunday. For the universal Church, it's on the...
Epiphany: Kneeling Humbly Before our God
On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh...
Mother Elizabeth Ann Seton: The First American-Born Saint
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774 - 1821) signifies what America once was and, by the grace of God, may yet be again - the true 'MAGA', if you will, not based on money, but...
The Holy Name of Jesus
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under...
Pope Benedict and Saint Basil the Great
BENEDICT XVI
GENERAL AUDIENCE
Paul VI Audience Hall
Wednesday, 4 July 2007
Saint Basil (1)
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Let us remember today one of the great Fathers of the Church, St Basil, described by Byzantine liturgical texts as "a...
Pope Benedict and Saint Gregory Nazianzus: Kindred Spirits
BENEDICT XVI
GENERAL AUDIENCE
Paul VI Audience Hall
Wednesday, 8 August 2007
Saint Gregory Nazianzus (1)
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Last Wednesday, I talked about St Basil, a Father of the Church and a great teacher of the faith.
Today, I...
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman…so that we might receive adoption as sons (Gal.4:4).⧾
On this the last day of the Christmas Octave and the first...
Pope Leo’s Angelus Address: The Holy Family and Holy Innocents
FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF NAZARETH
POPE LEO XIV
ANGELUS
St Peter's Square
Sunday, 28 December 2025
________________________________________
Dear brothers and sisters, happy Sunday!
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, and the Liturgy offers us the story...
