Catholic Insight

This co-founder of the Adorno Fathers was born Ascanio dei Caracciolo Pisquizi, in the kingdom of Naples in the year 1563, just as the Protestant revolt was reaching its crescendo. Italy was largely spared its ravages, although other problems assailed the Church, which is semper reformanda est – always in need of reform. Ascanio was chosen by God to ...

There’s an old joke that asks what’s the difference between God and a doctor?

God doesn’t think He’s a doctor.

Sure, it’s hyperbolic and cynical, and many physicians do hidden work for their innumerable patients, for which we should be grateful. But as I’m wont to say, just as in vino veritas – in wine there is truth – so also in joco veritas –...

The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians (Tertullian, +220)

The post first appeared on Catholic Insight.

My Fair Lady is one of my darling bride’s favorite plays. I, on the other hand, am more a fan of the original play script Pygmallion, by George Bernard Shaw. On May 20, Eliza Doolittle Day Is celebrated, reminding us of a Cockney flower girl inside her own imagination; in Alan Jay Lerner’s lyric from My Fair Lady, Eliza dreams of the King de...

If the Church seems moribund in North America, there is hope in the vast continent of Africa, where there are untold millions of Catholics, fervent, joyful and full of life. This spiritual energy that was sown by those who came before, not least the countless martyrs and missionaries through the ages, from Saints Perpetua and Felicity in the third century, t...