Helen Hoffner’s The Cross: A Universal Symbol is a remarkable exploration of one of humanity’s most enduring and profound symbols. From its ancient origins to its modern representations, this beautifully researched and richly detailed book provides a comprehensive overview of the cross, making it a treasure for anyone interested in history, faith, and culture. It…
CNA—Scientists recently named four asteroids after four Catholic religious sisters who helped catalog about 500,000 stars in the Vatican portion of the Carte du Ciel “Celestial Map” star atlas of the early 1900s. Sisters Emilia Ponzoni, Regina Colombo, Concetta Finardi, and Luigia Panceri expected to be working as nurses when they joined the Suore di…
VN—Excavation work in front of Vatican Radio’s main entrance continues with the dismantling of imperial-era fullonicas (ancient laundries), recently discovered during redevelopment efforts for the upcoming Jubilee. As work proceeds more hidden wonders are revealed. Vatican News—Careful excavations on Vatican Radio’s doorstep are being conducted alongside stratigraphic excavations that have uncovered significant remains, some dating…
In light of the soon-to-begin pilgrimage route from the West, named the Serra Route, that will end in Indianapolis at the National Eucharistic Convention, we re-post this important article on Fr. Serra penned by the Archbishop of San Francisco, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone: To the protesters who tore down his statue in Los Angeles [in July…
Faith at Work: This is such an eye-opening story. Not only does it showcase the vibrant integration of our Catholic faith and monasteries into the very heart of human history and communities throughout history — FOR CENTURIES UPON CENTURIES. It also showcases the intention and purpose-driven mission of Catholic-founded enterprises, masterfully founded and managed to…
After the death of Valens, the Roman Emperor Gratian realized he needed an able assistant. His choice was the young Spaniard, Theodosius. Theodosius was born in 346 near Toledo in the Roman province of Hispania. He was the son of Valentinian I’s leading general. A reputation for organization and bravery Theodosius’ reputation for organization and…
CNA—An historic prayer book belonging to the priest who protected King Charles II and helped save his life, has gone on public display at one of England’s famous stately homes. Father John Huddleston’s personal missal, which is almost 400 years old, is now on display at Moseley Old Hall, Wolverhampton which is situated in the…
CNA—King Charles III will be crowned on Saturday in Westminster Abbey in the first royal coronation since that of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, 70 years ago. The coronation will be a Christian service, centered on the celebration of holy communion in an Anglican (Church of England) liturgy. Originally centered on the Catholic Eucharist But…
St. Edward was born in 1003, the son of the Duke of Normandy and nephew of King Edmund Ironside of England. Grew up in exile He grew up in exile in Normandy from the age of 10, when the Danes gained control of England. The early experience of loss, coupled with his earnest religious piety,…
CNA, CBJ—“Most of us will never die a hero’s death… But all of us are called by the idea of faith, day in and day out, to give of ourselves,” said Newark Auxiliary Bishop Gregory J. Studerus, who presided over the Four Chaplains 80th Anniversary Mass at St. Stephen’s parish in Kearny, New Jersey, on…
Editor’s note — With news of Mikhail Gorbachev’s death, memories of the remarkable, historic actions of then-U.S. President Reagan, Russia’s leader at the time, Gorbachev, and England’s Margaret Thatcher come to mind…. especially the unlikely connection and even a level of friendship between Reagan and Gorbachev. For those living in Soviet Russia at the time,…
Those who fail to learn from history are destined to repeat it. Let’s make sure our children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews, are learning real history in school… so that we NEVER FORGET, Never take our freedoms for granted! Yes we are called to live in Christ-centered Courage, self-discipline, love, hope. We are called to…
154 years ago, on on July 1, 1867, Canada became a country—and was officially named by the country’s founding fathers as the Dominion of Canada, a name that was purposefully chosen as a recognition of the sovereignty of God, based on a reflection of Psalm 72:8 which proclaims “…and he shall have dominion from sea…
Popular culture holds a dismissive attitude toward history. Common headlines include “unprecedented times”, “worse than ever”, and “never before.” But how often is that really true? What do we face that is truly without precedent? This mindset—that all things have either escalated or de-escalated, that the present is always somehow more or less than the…
“Either the government will be given to us, or we will seize it by marching on Rome!” declared Mussolini. And his Fascists responded with the cry, Roma! Roma! Roma! The following text comes from the pre-eminent history textbook series for Catholic students, Volume: “Light to the Nations II: The Making of the Modern World.” The…
“God bless you and all with you,” wrote Lincoln to McClellan after the Battle of Sharpsburg (or Antietam). “Destroy the rebel army if possible.” But September passed, and McClellan still did not pursue Lee. On October 1, Lincoln ordered McClellan to pursue Lee. McClellan obeyed — but only after another 18-day delay. Though not a…
With war threatening the French empire, Napoleon backed off from dealing with the pope for awhile. At this point other matters occupied his mind, such as securing the crown of the Holy Roman Empire for himself. Pictured to the left (or above), the crown of the once-mighty Holy Roman Empire was in use from the…
Newsweek—(reporting includes a video that will make your heart cry—CBJ ed.) A California city council voted unanimously to remove a statue of a Spanish priest who Pope Francis had canonized. The Ventura City Council cast a 6–0 vote during its meeting Wednesday night to remove a statue of Father Junipero Serra from outside its city…
The following interview by Peter Robinson, conducted April 30, 1996, gets to the core of what’s going on in America right now regarding “racisim,” “black lives matter,” “white guilt” and more. Shelby Steele’s book “The Content of Our Character” nails it. See for yourself in this short interview below… ROBINSON: You argue in your book…
A Lament for Constantinople The fall of Constantinople in 1453 shocked Christians in the Latin West and Greek East alike. This piece, Lamentatio sanctae matris ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae (Lament of the Holy Mother, the Church of Constantinople) by the French composer Guillaume Dufay (1397-1474) depicts the Church of Constantinople lamenting before God’s throne for the fall…
