The Man of God Loves and Converts Violent Heretics
Above: the sacrileges of heretics in the Catholic cathedral of Antwerp, 1566. The example that he has bequeathed to us, not only in his works but especially with his life, is ever timely and of lasting value. He teaches clearly that the apostolic ministry is effective and produces fruits of salvation in hearts only if […]
St. Isidore and Mozarabic Chant
Photo: Catedral de Santa María de la Sede, Seville, Spain. Three hundred years ago yesterday, on April 25, 1722, the last of the Christian Fathers of antiquity was proclaimed Doctor of the Church by Pope Innocent XIII: St. Isidore of Seville. Seventeen years after his death in 636, he was recognized by the the 8th […]
The Anti-Church Cookbook
Editor’s Note: In light of recent catechesis-related developments in Church news, we are publishing the remainder of this three-part series. Find Part I here. NB: For those seeking reliable Catholic catechisms, the Tradivox series is recommended. Calling for a change to Church teaching on sodomy, Cardinal Reinhard Marx recently insisted that “the catechism is not set in stone.” That […]
“My Lord and my God!”
This Sunday we complete the Octave of Easter. In the post-Conciliar calendar, it is creatively called the “Second Sunday of Easter” or, since John Paul II was greatly interested in the theme, “Divine Mercy Sunday”. However, historically we call the Easter Octave, “Low Sunday”, probably because it was celebrated with less pomp than Easter. It […]
Children Terrify Demons and Grandparents Help Them
Photo: a play ride resembling the demon “Thadagai” at a children’s theme park in southern India (public domain). Read the last chapter before this one Table of Contents Start reading from chapter 1 Chapter 16 Malthus my boy, If you are wondering why I am spying on you, well, then it seems you still […]
The Emperor of the Church and the Worldwide Devotion to Blessed Karl
Photo: Emperor Karl visiting the residents of Cortina D’Ampezzo, c. 1917. He was known by all during the war (especially his troops) to visit and comfort his people in their suffering. Editor’s note: as we announced a few weeks ago on the centenary of Blessed Emperor Karl’s birthday into heaven, we have chosen this great […]
The Miraculous Blood and the Music of St. Januarius
Art: The Blood Miracle of Saint Januarius in the Cathedral of Naples (1780) by Louis Jean Desprez (1743-1804). 1750 years ago, on April 21, 272, he who is venerated as the main patron of Naples, southern Italy, famous in the world, was born: Saint Januarius, bishop and martyr. In Pozzuoli, just west of Naples, on […]
New Life in Christ: a Paschal Meditation
Photo: the blessing of the water for Baptism at Easter Vigil. By Allison Girone. “This is my body, which is given for you . . . This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Lk 22:19-20). Of ecstasy—that is, standing outside oneself or going out of oneself—Our Lord […]
Forgotten Customs of the Easter Octave and Eastertide
Easter itself is an 8-day celebration, and even after the Octave concludes on Low Sunday, the Easter Season lasts for a total of fifty days until the completion of Ascensiontide and the celebration of Pentecost Sunday. This period of time, especially for the Octave of Easter, is enriched with many rich customs all expressing the […]
The Joy of Easter and the Easter Duty
Happy Easter! My hopeful prayer is that you experience, in this Easter Season, true joy in a personal encounter with the Risen Lord. The Church’s firehose of imagery and traditions and sacred liturgy has been blasting fully at our little drinking cups. Holy Week and the Sacred Triduum can overwhelm as we reach the apex […]