Author: John Henderson

The Brown Scapular and the Sabbatine Privilege
In the mid-1240s, the Carmelite order left Mt. Carmel for England because of persecution from the Saracens. The Carmelites were small in number before migrating to Europe, and now the order appeared to be on the verge of extinction as …

The Resurrection of the Body: Why Catholics Should Oppose Cremation
Editor’s Note: The Catholic Church has made provision for cremation under certain circumstances in the 1983 Code of Canon Law, a somewhat striking departure from her earlier view on the matter. For an explanation of this modified view, see here. …

The Modern Scandal of Indulgences: It’s Not What You Think
Fr. Leonard Feeney, M.I.C.M. used to say that it is good to view as scandalous the trafficking in indulgences that took place during the middle ages, but he would continue, “what should concern us even more is that, due to …

Our Lady and St. John of Eudes Exhort Us to Save Souls
Our Lady of Fatima went against her usual custom of appearing to the seers on the 13th of each month when, in August, she appeared on the 19th. By doing this, Our Lady showed her special affection toward St. John …

Lessons from the Conversion of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
While it is true to say that only God can ultimately convert people, it is equally true to assert that God wills to employ men as instruments in the great work of conversion. Pius XII wrote in Mystici Corporis, “As …

St. Anthony Mary Claret: How Easily People Commit Mortal Sins
St. Anthony Mary Claret is often depicted in paintings as having a glowing substance within his breast. This is because on May 16, 1862, Our Lord gave St. Anthony the extraordinary privilege of retaining the Sacramental Species perpetually within him. …

Masonic Naturalism and the Near Occasion of Sin
The widespread acceptance of the falsehood promoted by Jean-Jacques Rousseau and other influential Freemasons concerning man’s supposed natural goodness has resulted in extreme moral corruption and devastation for souls. In his premier encyclical on the secret society, Pope Leo XIII …

Just because It Sounds Right Doesn’t Mean It Is Right
A Catholic teaching sister once took a young boy to task who, when asked why a certain verb form should be used instead of another, responded, “Because the other word doesn’t sound right.” “No, no, no!” said Sr. Ruth, “you …