A Treasure To Be Shared

The Church’s struggle to preserve authenticity often intensifies in particular eras, and in recent decades has surfaced as a tension between so‑called “progressives” and “conservatives.” These labels, borrowed from secular political discourse, obscure the deeper question Newman identified: whether a given proposal represents a genuine development of doctrine or a corruption of it. Political categories shed little light on this discernment, for authentic development preserves the type, principles, and living continuity of the Faith, while corruption either breaks from the apostolic deposit or refuses the Spirit’s ongoing deepening of it. When debate is framed in partisan terms, each camp is tempted to caricature the other, seeking adherents through opposition rather than through the careful, Spirit‑guided evaluation Newman saw as essential to the Church’s growth in understanding. Both the “trad” and “rad” orientations remain firmly entrenched in a polarizing debate, fueled by stereotype...

The Holy Eucharist, the Sacrament of Sacraments, is celebrated in many distinct and beautiful ways.  Catholics are familiar with the Ordinary Form (Novus Ordo). Fewer are familiar with the 1962 Latin Mass (Missa Antiquior). Our eastern Catholic brethren offer the Divine Liturgy (Byzantine, Ukrainian Greek), the Raza (Chaldean), the Holy Qurbono (Maronite, Syro-Malankara), the Holy Qurbāna (Syro-Malabar), the Badarak (Armenian), and more. In the personal ordinariates created by the apostolic constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus , the Mass is known as Divine Worship. The names we give to the sacred Liturgy say something about the nature of the Eucharist, our orientation to God, and the Church's mission. Of course, we also know the Liturgy as the Eucharist (εὐχαριστία), meaning 'thanksgiving'. 'Mass', a nickname of sorts derived from the Latin word for dismissal in the Mass—'ite missa est' (Go, it is the dismissal. Go, you are sent.)—refers to the mission of the ...

It used to be that people on the left of the political spectrum gave emphasis to social support systems but not to the detriment of assisting personal responsibility and positive business practices that empower people. Similarly, people to the right of the political spectrum, while giving emphasis to business and resilience did not turn away from the need to provide support for the less fortunate by enabling resources that funded social programs and responsible stewardship. The intellectuals and the young, booted and spurred, feel themselves born to ride us. —Eric Hoffer People on the left once demonstrated intellectual aptitude by being aware of diversity and dependencies while people on the right could see the need for unity in essentials and pragmatism. Right-sided people, while encouraging independence and resilience, did not marginalize interdependence to facilitate ideas that benefitted the common good. Left-sided people encouraged fairness and temperance to curb greed and exploi...

Rev. Thomas Byles The sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912, is one of the most famous tragedies in history, inspiring countless books and films. The disaster claimed 1,496 lives during the maiden voyage of a ship once thought to be unsinkable. Among the passengers was Fr. Thomas Byles, who spent his final moments offering comfort and spiritual support to others. After his death, Pope Saint Pius X is said to have called him a “martyr,” and a plaque at his former parish honors his “heroic death in the disaster” for his selfless devotion to fellow passengers. Sources https://saintoftitanic.org/ https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-victim/fr-byles.html https://catholicexchange.com/priest-on-titanic-the-last-voyage-of-fr-thomas-byles/ Thomas Roussel Davids Byles was born on 26 February 1870, Grosvenor Road in Headingley, England, to Alfred Holden Byles and Louisa Davids, the eldest of their seven children. His father, Reverend Dr. Alfred Holden Byles, was both a congregatio...

At  Coram Fratribus Intellexi , the site of His Excellency Erik Varden, Bishop of Trondheim, there is a reminder that challenges the powers that be. Despite popular attitudes and policies and powerful movements aiming to stifle conscientious objectors who resist the dehumanizing spirit of the age, there is indeed a better way. 17 April 2026 ‘Without [a] demanding educational effort, passive adaptation to dominant paradigms will be mistaken for competence, and the loss of freedom for progress. This is all the more true in light of the spread of artificial intelligence systems, which increasingly shape and permeate our mentality and social environments. Like every great historical transformation, this too calls not only for technical competence, but also for a humanistic formation capable of making visible the logic behind economics, embedded biases and forms of power that shape our perception of reality. Within digital environments — structured to persuade — interaction is optimized...

Exploded Head , 1982 | Salvador Dali The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love. There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread but there are many more dying for a little love. The poverty in the West is a different kind of poverty -- it is not only a poverty of loneliness but also of spirituality. There's a hunger for love, as there is a hunger for God. Saint Teresa of Calcutta Without honest and compassionate support, a vulnerable person could be trapped in a terrifying oxymoron, a maze of contradictions and deceptions that, in today's world, can and often does metastasize into a perpetual nightmare. If you hope for mercy, show mercy. If you look for kindness, show kindness. If you want to receive, give. St. Peter Chrysologus History's Child Young people are routinely conscripte...

O merciful God, fill our hearts, we pray Thee, with the graces of Thy Holy Spirit, with love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Teach us to love those who hate us, to pray for those who despitefully use us, that we may be the children of Thee our Father, who makest Thy sun to shine on the evil and on the good, and sendest rain on the just and on the unjust. In adversity grant us grace to be patient; in prosperity keep us humble; may we guard the door of our lips; may we lightly esteem the pleasures of this world, and thirst after heavenly things; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Saint Anselm Recent events remind us to live more meaningfully for God and for the good of others. Take the NDP leadership convention in Canada, for instance. Aside from being farcical to the Nth degree, the convention revealed people obsessed with gaining and wielding power, showing little regard for decency or the common good, and ultimately steering themselves...

Divine Worship: The Missal (2009) , the Mass of the Personal Ordinariates. Sometimes referred to as the Venerable English Mass. By whom and with whom and in whom, to thee, O Father Almighty, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory throughout all ages, world without end. R. Amen. The Ordinary Form of the Mass (Third Typical Edition 2002) in English Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, for ever and ever. R. Amen. The Extraordinary Form of the Mass Per ipsum, et cum ipso, et in ipso, est tibi Deo Patri omnipoténti, in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, omnis honor, et glória. R. Amen. (Through him, and with him, and in him, to you, God the Father almighty, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory.) The Ambrosian (or Milanese) Rite [Et est tibi Deo Patri omnipotenti] ex ipso, et per ipsum, et in ipso omnis honor, virtus, laus, et gloria, imperium, perpetuitas, et potestas in uni...

The Love of God Tactical retreats are necessary to attend to one's spiritual well being in the midst of the workaday world to better cooperate with God in the ongoing mission to share the Good News for the salvation of souls. Right Way The Way of Jesus is to take up one's cross and know that Jesus is wed to our lives, sharing our journey as the lover of our souls. Are we faithful to our spouse, the Lord? Asking of God the grace to enter into our wounds in order to grow closer to Christ makes a place in us for God, to grow in holiness and the love of God and neighbour. Without the mercy of God's grace, we might as well make of ourselves a hell in which we are never touched by love nor know the blessing of authentic freedom. As the saying goes: know Jesus, know peace; no Jesus, no peace. Likewise: know Jesus, know truth; etc. Saint John Henry Newman, Doctor of the Church, offers wise counsel for making the most of Lenten practices. The earnest disciple would do well to take i...

Cross Roads As we transition from Gesimatide into Lent, perhaps a brief visit with the fundamental requirement of receptivity to God's influence in our lives, and our commitment to collaborating with God to bring about the Kingdom, may provide a useful focus for the days ahead. St Luke 9:23 And he said to all, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Let us address approaches into the heart of God. That is, how can we better open ourselves to God's grace, His life, His truth, His love, His transforming Presence? Three Avenues - Liturgical, Works, Devotional Let us look at three ways in which we may be mindful of the Lord's invitation to accept His loving embrace for our formation in holiness and the salvation of souls. Liturgical Avenue St Luke 24:30-35 When (Jesus) was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanis...