Critics of Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin’s architecture—and even many of his admirers—often refer to his work as “romantic.” They paint him as a kind of refugee from the rapidly industrializing world where he spent his life leading, like Don Quixote, a gallant but fruitless charge into a Gothic past. Was Pugin a Romantic? The short … Read more
Roughly one-eighth of the world’s population suffers from some form of mental illness. When factoring in the parents, spouses, children, co-workers and friends of the sufferers, practically no one is entirely free from its effects. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) presents the challenge in stark terms. “Research shows that mental illnesses are common … Read more
This article is the ninth part of a series about Purgatory, a topic that is rarely discussed today. A knowledge of Purgatory is essential if souls are to avoid the pains of this place of expiation. The prior article can be found here. * * * When going to confession, the tendency is … Read more
The following article is the third of a four-part series that features the life of Augustus Pugin, the renowned English Catholic architect of the nineteenth century. The prior article is found here. Curiously, the word “ambience” is little used in today’s modern, materialist world. Ambience is a word frequently used to describe the “feel” and … Read more
On May 27, 2026, Vladimir Putin’s Russia signed a “military and security cooperation agreement” with the Taliban rulers of Afghanistan. In at least two ways, this appears to be a very unlikely fellowship. However, irony often accompanies desperation. A Pair of Significant Ironies The first irony is that the one-time KGB colonel in the Kremlin … Read more
This article is the seventh part of a series about Purgatory, a topic that is rarely discussed today. A knowledge of Purgatory is essential if souls are to avoid the pains of this place of expiation. The prior article can be found here. * * * About a half-hour’s drive southeast of Assisi … Read more
This article is the sixth part of a series about Purgatory, a topic that is rarely discussed today. A knowledge of Purgatory is essential if souls are to avoid the pains of this place of expiation. The prior article can be found here. * * * Most modern Catholics hear almost nothing of … Read more
Over the last three years, the Ford Motor Company did a very intelligent thing. It rehired human engineers to correct errors caused by its reliance on Artificial Intelligence (AI). The results have been remarkable. In 2025, according to the technology website Fast Company, Ford “set new records for the most safety recalls.” Conversely, in 2026, … Read more
This article is the eighth part of a series about Purgatory, a topic that is rarely discussed today. A knowledge of Purgatory is essential if souls are to avoid the pains of this place of expiation. The prior article can be found here. * * * Visions of Purgatory are seldom discussed, even … Read more
Since its inception, the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) has admired and promoted the ideals of chivalry. This rigorous code of conduct and way of life provides a much-needed model in a world without honor and virtue. Medieval knighthood still captures the American imagination. Youth are especially attracted to … Read more
