“Men of Catholic views are truly but a party in that Church.”
Category: Current Affairs
True and false miracles in the life of the Church
"If in Sodom had been wrought the miracles that have been wrought in thee, perhaps it had remained unto this day."
On the immorality of labelling other Catholics as “radical traditionalists”
"A little historical awareness, humility, respect and basic human kindness would go a long way." Image: David Gilbert Wright, 'Queuing for Holy Communion at the top of the mountain.' This article is an expanded excerpt from our essay What does Michael Lofton mean by “tradition”? In order to address this topic, we have to remember …
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Preparation for Tyranny: Persecution, Bravado and the Japanese “Hidden Christians”
"The clumsiness of the torture that kills was not for him." These notes are not only a continuation of our series Preparation for Tyranny, but also serve as editorial comment on the extract which we published from Fr Henry James Coleridge, on the results of persecution. Image: Cogniet, Wiki Commons One of the most appalling …
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What does Michael Lofton mean by “tradition”?
"It is absurd, and a detestable shame, that we should suffer those traditions to be changed which we have received from the fathers of old." The Decretals, cited by St Thomas AquinasSumma Theologica, Ia-IIae, Q. 97 A. 2Photo by Thays Orrico on Unsplash In this piece...– What is tradition?– Can abandoned or forbidden practices be …
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L’Abbé Henry Essex Edgeworth, Louis XVI’s heroic Anglo-Irish confessor
"I am the priest whom he intends to prepare him for death."
The Last Will and Spiritual Testament of Louis XVI, King of France
"I finish by declaring before God and ready to appear before Him, that I do not reproach myself for any of the crimes which are brought against me." Image: Funerary monument of Louis XVI & Marie-Antoinette. Wiki Commons As many know, January 21st marks the anniversary of France’s regicide. King Louis XVI of France was …
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How should we behave towards those whom we think are in error? Fr A. Vermeersch, 1913
"Do not seek the malicious satisfaction of having discovered an additional enemy to the Church." Editors' Notes In his Apology, the early Christian writer Tertullian imagined pagans looking at Christians and marvelling at our mutual love: "'See,' they say, 'how they love one another' – for the pagans themselves are animated by mutual hatred. 'See …
The Holy Innocents – Liturgical Highlights
"Ye play with your palms and crowns beneath the very altar." There are many moments of beauty and pathos in the Church's year. But few are so equally filled with both bitterness and glory as the feast of the Holy Innocents. It is very noticeable that Christ's coming to the world is marked with blood …
Why ignorance and prejudice are a dangerous mix – Cardinal Newman and the British Constitution
"I am happy to make known its odious and shocking mysteries, known to few Britons." Image: John Bull, from Wiki Commons CC Editors' Notes Archbishop Fulton Sheen famously said: “There are not over a hundred people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions, however, who hate what they wrongly believe …