Loving the Unneighborly

Not every neighbor is lovable. When our Lord commanded us, “love thy neighbor as thyself,” he was himself addressing a gathering of neighbors—the Pharisees—who regarded him as an enemy (Mt. 22:34-46). “Hearing that he had silenced the Sadducees,” they might have paused to give thanks, but instead they took it as an opportunity to expose

Who’s Afraid of the Latin Mass?

To their credit, many of the world’s bishops, addressed in Francis’s recent missive as “Guardians of Tradition,” are scratching their head at its apparently senseless venom. “Upon reflection,” one faithful shepherd of souls observed, “it seems that in addressing the ‘problems’ of the traditional Latin Mass community—real or perceived—Pope Francis used a chainsaw when only

Infallible Arms

What is Lucifer? He is a brilliant intelligence, the most enlightened of all; but an intelligence discontented with God and his Order. Lucifer, as far as lies within his power, wishes to leave nothing in the state in which God has ordained and placed it. Wherever he penetrates, you will always find the work of

Broken to Pieces

No opposition to the prudence of the flesh is surer than the simplicity which eludes all the traps of worldly wisdom without thinking or even being aware of them. The divine action causes the soul to take such wise measures that she surprises those who are trying to make her stumble. She profits by all

Heaping Hot Coals

Though others do us evil, St. Paul teaches, we are not to render evil in return. “Providing good things, not only in the sight of God, but also in the sight of all men,” we are to “have peace with all men,” “if it be possible,” and as much as peace is in our power