The Bombing of Japanese Catholicism
Nagasaki was the very epicentre of Japanese Catholicism.
Facing Objections to the First Crusade
Above: Taking of Jerusalem by the Crusaders, 15th July 1099, Émile Signol (1847). The First Crusade was nothing short of miraculous, in which our fathers left their homes and families to lay down their lives for Christendom. Yet this event was not without its critics, then and now. For traditional Catholics, it is important to have…
Lights and Shadows in the Pontificate of Pius XII
Back in May, I published an article at LifeSiteNews entitled “Coincidences during the reign of Pius XII? Political background to Vatican II and liturgical changes.” The article generated a fair amount of discussion, both favorable and critical. Since the pontificate of Eugenio Pacelli is so rich with historical interest and consequences, I would like to…
Mary will Crush Islam, or Islam will Crush Us
For more than 1000 years (610-1700), the sword of Muhammad has fought with Christendom. The sword struck within Christendom after the Muhammadans conquered the Christian Middle East and North Africa in the 7th century. Over the years the crushing blasphemy of the shahada against the Nicene Creed (blasted five times daily by the muezzin) weighed…
Hiroshima, Our Lady, and Traditionis Custodes
“Ground zero.” Such haunting words. They bring to mind, of course, the hideous images from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Unforgettable in their horror. And, ever since, the words “Ground Zero” have become embedded in our collective vocabulary. The words “Ground Zero” became embedded in another generation’s vocabulary as well. Almost eight decades…
America: In God is Our Trust
Our family wanted to do more this year to celebrate Independence Day, so we put up additional flags and painted red, white, and blue on a heart-shaped flag. Judging from the increased American flags in our area, other families had the same thought. A nearby patriotic display gave us the idea for our new yard…
Remembering the Molly Maguires: Sacrifice, Duty, and Faithful Fortitude
Do you worry about today or what the future holds? Opening the newspaper or reading the latest tweet certainly provides enough kindling for worry to become a roaring fire. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Recently, I’ve been thinking about fears Americans and other nationalities confronted in the past. Pondering history is not…
Remembering D-Day
They protected our freedoms; now it is our turn. Yesterday, June 6, 2021, marked 77 years since the D-Day Invasion at Normandy. As memories of that fateful day dim, we must take steps to remember. We have a duty to honor the men who fought bravely, and we must learn from their resolve. D-Day’s hard-fought…
Napoleon, Europe, and Haydn’s “Mass in Time of Affliction”
Two hundred years ago, “by the tidings, in amaze / the earth is held, and with her gaze / the parting hour doth mutely scan / of this great spirit,” as we read in Alessandro Manzoni’s The Fifth of May. In fact, on May 5, 1821, Napoleon Bonaparte died in Saint Helena, a British island…
500 Years Later, Remembering World Explorer Ferdinand Magellan
Half a millennium ago, on April 27, 1521, the Portuguese explorer who made the first tour of the world in human history was killed in the Philippines during an unexpected skirmish on the small island of Mactan: Ferdinand Magellan (Fernão de Magalhães, in Portoguese; Fernando de Magallanes, in Spanish). Born to a noble family in…
Patrick of Ireland
Author’s note: there are many legends and stories of St. Patrick. In an attempt to view the saint from a different perspective, I offer a reflection on one of the most significant events in the life of the “Apostle to the Irish” as a creative non-fiction short story. The following is based on actual accounts…
