For better or worse, others have imposed major decisions and their consequences on the lives of children. Nevertheless, even young people have made decisions that affected the rest of their lives. In Chronicles of Xan III: The Fire of Eden like Adam and Eve, most of the characters in this […]
The Chronicles of Xan II: The Haunted Cathedral, by Antony Barone Kolenc (published by OakTara, 2013)
How could a story about Xan, a twelfth century English orphan possibly relate to today’s youngsters? Xan was neither caped-crusader nor superhero. Violence destroyed his neighborhood and family. He was poor, undernourished, homeless, and the victim of bullies. His relationship with his girlfriend became very complicated. Xan had no real […]
Candles in the Dark: The Authorized Biography of Fr. Richard Ho Lung and the Missionaries of the Poor, by Joseph Pearce
Joseph Pearce writes that Father Richard Ho Lung, known as the “Reggae Priest,” the Ghetto Priest,” the “Dancing Priest” and the “Renegade Priest” would rather be known as a “practicing priest,” setting a high standard for all clergy. Pearce suggests that Fr. Ho Lung may be the happiest man in […]
Callista: A Tale of the Third Century, by John Henry Cardinal Newman
First published in 1855, Newman’s novel remains fresh. Its foundation is a comparison of hereditary Christians to converts and those who seek happiness in the comforts of the material world to those who can be satisfied only by union with God. Newman warmly and vividly details a story of death […]
The Chalice: A Novel
Those who enjoyed Nancy Bilyeau’s debut historical novel The Crown will find its sequel The Chalice even more heart-wrenching and suspenseful. Once again we follow the adventures of former Dominican novice Joanna Stafford as she is torn from her peaceful country life and thrust into the maelstrom of Tudor-era intrigue. […]
The Myth of Persecution
Te Martyrum candidatus laudat exercitus.~ from the Te Deum When I wrote to Dr. Moss requesting her latest work The Myth of Persecution, I received a prompt and gracious reply assuring me of a copy. Dr. Moss hoped that I would not see the book as an attack upon the […]
Marie-Antoinette and Freud: Why Careful Research is Important
“Her virtue is intact, she is even austere by nature rather than by reason.” —Joseph II to Archduke Leopold from Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette before the Revolution by Nesta Webster, p.158 The first decades of the twentieth century saw the rising popularity of the theories of Sigmund Freud. Freud believed […]
Scandal and the Queen
The other day I ran across an article entitled “Top 5 Marie-Antoinette Scandals” which was filled with errors. What an incredibly misleading portrayal of the Queen! Marie-Antoinette, in spite of being from a generation known for its fast pace of living, did not live in a manner which gave public […]
Marie-Antoinette and the Carmelite Order
The connection between the Carmelite Order and the Royal House of France originated in the Middle Ages, when St. Louis IX encountered the hermits on Mt. Carmel and brought them to France. When the Discalced Reform came to France from Spain in the early seventeenth century, the royal family assisted […]
Ad Alta Altare: Why Do We Have Altars in the First Place?
Editor’s note: Please welcome architect and catechist Christian LeBlanc, who has long practice teaching sixth graders about the connection between Scripture, art, and sacred architecture. He has graciously agreed to write a series for the Catholic Writer’s Guild. Enjoy! I was married 24 years ago last month; that’s right, 24 […]