Weekly Insight

Biebl’s Ave Maria

Franz Biebl (1906 - 2001) was a contemporary German composer, known for his choral ensemble works, the best known of which is his Ave Maria (Angelus Domini), published just in time for Mary's month...

Our Lady’s Birthday

A blessed and joyful birthday to the Blessed Virgin Mary! This feast that has been celebrated since at least the sixth century in Syria, in the wake of the proclamation of Mary as the Mother...

Saints Cloud and Regina

Two saints to mark on this September 7th, which also happens to be Labour Day this year: First, Saint Cloud, whose name evokes the ethereal and heavenly, fitting for these last days of summer. His...

Labour Day, Leisure and Life

Labour Day is a rather prosaic name for the last holiday of summer. Why not, 'blow out day', or 'the end of leisure, and back to work day' (at least for teachers and students),...

Twenty-Third Sunday and the Wisdom of the Cross

So you, O son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel’ (Ez. 33:7). This mission given by the Lord God to the Prophet Ezekiel is in turn, the task of...

Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s Mission to the Poorest of the Poor

As universities gear up to receive students, we should leave the travails of this world for a moment and ponder the other-worldliness of Mother - or Saint - Teresa of Calcutta (+1997) who did not...

Would the Real Taylor Swift Please Really Sing?

Fil Henley provides convincing evidence that Taylor Swift lip synched - or mimed - her songs during her recent 'Eras' tour. Keep in mind that the tour raked in two billion dollars, a hefty...

Dina Belanger’s Unrelenting Quest for Perfection

Blessed Dina Belanger (+1929) is a home-grown Canadian saint whom we commemorate today. Born April 30th, 1897 in St. Roch, Quebec, now a suburb of the capital city, Dina was baptized a few hours later....

Rings of Power, Rings of Turpitude

The ongoing new take on Lord of the Rings - 'Rings of Power', an 'Amazon Original' - is, as expected, from what Ben Reinhard report - and I paraphrase - a dumpster fire, a...

Gregory the Great, a Pope for All Seasons

One of the great joys of history is reminiscing about the past, giving hope for the present; for history is ‘eschatological’, moving towards a final purpose. Hence, we Catholics should never lose hope, and...

Pope Benedict’s First Address on Saint Gregory the Great

BENEDICT XVI GENERAL AUDIENCE Wednesday, 28 May 2008 Saint Gregory the Great (1) Dear Brothers and Sisters, Last Wednesday I spoke of a Father of the Church little known in the West, Romanus the Melodist. Today I would like...

Spaghetti and the SSPX

Kennedy Hall has positioned himself as the foremost apologist for the SSPX, his books and articles are considered required reading by some fellow traditionalists. His most recent foray into that field may be found...

Saints Agricola and Ingrid

A mention of two other saints commemorated on this second day of September: The first is Saint Agricola (630 – 710), who at the tender age of sixteen chose the ‘better part’, becoming a monk...

André Grasset, Canada’s First Homegrown Beatus

Blessed André Grasset was the first Canadian to be beatified - not quite the first 'saint', which requires canonization. That honour belongs to the heroic Jesuit martyrs (if we may consider them Canadian, for...

At the Roots of the Mountains: J.R.R. Tolkien’s Contributions to The Jerusalem Bible, continued: Part II

Tolkien’s Original Jonah Compared to other Traditional Catholic Versions Msgr. Ronald Knox, a prominent convert from Anglicanism, became “the fifth Catholic Chaplain at Oxford since the Reformation”, holding the position from 1926-1939. During this time,...