Venerable Fulton J. Sheen spoke prophetically in a 1947 radio address of a coming era when religious principles would cease to inspire social, political and economic life. He predicted a future when man would forget his obligations to God imposed for his and the world’s benefit. A time when religious faith, informed by man’s intellect,…
A while ago, I did something thoughtless that angered a good friend. I was faced with the realization that one foolish decision had the potential to irreparably damage this valuable friendship. Although the conflict was ultimately resolved, and the friend forgave me, the feeling of uncertainly beforehand was gut-wrenching. I was horrified by what I…
The Yucatan. To winter-wearied North Americans, the name revives images of turquoise seas, powder-white beaches, and ancient Maya ruins. The Yucatan Peninsula is alleged to have one of the richest stores of archaeological ruins in the world and is home to the Maya Indians, the largest indigenous group in North America. The peninsula is comprised…
On March 8, 2012, the Jesuit magazine America published an article by Fr. Peter Schineller entitled “The Tridentine Mass: Why I Couldn’t Go Back.” For years, I’ve noticed that America actually pays to promote this article in online searches so that it will influence public opinion (they are evidently worried about the direction the youth…
Driving down the road one day with my family, we passed by a dead rabbit on the side of the road. At that moment an interior struggle entered my soul, one which every dad surely understands. “Lord, make me less stupid,” I begged, before adding, “but not yet…” Alas, as a fulfilment to my weak…
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 following essay does not treat of the Church’s current provision, but rather examines the…
My position in defence of the moral liceity of the currently available anti-Covid vaccines has attracted the approval of some cardinals, theologians and priests, whom I thank here, but also the predictable disapproval of many who hold an “anti-vax” position. Having recently published a study on the moral liceity of vaccination examining the question more…
Editor’s note: this post was originally published by Boniface, the pseudonymous blogger at the website Unam Sanctam. We thought it was an Easter message worth sharing, particularly this year, and with his permission we present it to you here. A most happy, blessed Easter to all of you who may be reading this, whether you…
It is said that the knowledge of Church history is a consolation. Most often this is meant in the sense that, for those who are troubled about the Church in the present age, all you have to do is look back at the history of the Church and you are sure to find an era…
Want to listen to this post instead? Check out our audio recording of this essay. Musical accompaniment by Frank LaRocca, “Miserere,” taken from the album “In This Place“: The sky was overcast, steel-gray clouds admitting only a few rays of light as I ascended the hill. It looked like rain, but none had yet broken…
Editor’s note: Today we are pleased to reprint, with the author’s permission, the following essay from Prof. Roberto de Mattei, an eminent scholar of Church history and one of the most notable thought leaders of European traditional Catholicism. Herein he offers helpful guidance on the matters of both the moral liceity and the questionable efficacy…
