Most people think of nationalism in political or cultural terms. They define it simply as citizens making their country their primary focus. But nationalism has other manifestations. Focusing on the nation can lead to economic policies that prioritize protecting and leveraging national resources. The tariff, for example, is one measure nations use to protect their … Read more
When considering sublime things, Saint Louis IX’s Sainte-Chapelle naturally comes to mind. Indeed, the definition of the sublime is “that which overawes us by its grandeur and beauty.” When most people go to see this gem of civilization in Paris, they oftentimes see a reflection of this chapel before they even step through the grandiose … Read more
On April 22, 2026, Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma signed Senate Bill 1481, requiring that all elementary school students (grades kindergarten through five) receive at least forty minutes of recess daily over and above the amount of time they spend in Physical Education. The new law has two other requirements. “Recess shall consist of supervised, … Read more
It seemed like it was going to be another day of air travel as I waited to board Southwest flight 3968 out of Reagan Airport. Suddenly, I noticed several people walking with intention towards the plate-glass window behind me. A woman pulled out her phone to photograph something outside. When I turned around, I saw … Read more
The corruption of childhood innocence is one of the gravest evils a man can commit. In the Gospel of Saint Matthew, Our Lord warns: “But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it would be better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that … Read more
On April 21, 2026, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, adjudicating en banc, issued a narrow 9-8 ruling in Rabbi Nathan v. Alamo Heights Independent School District upholding the constitutionality of the Texas law (S.B. 10) mandating the posting of the Ten Commandents in Texas public school classrooms. The ACLU plans to appeal the … Read more
In 1917 at Fatima, Our Lady called Russia a scourge but also foretold its immense potential for a spiritual turnaround. Fast-forward to today, and Vladimir Putin’s attempt to demoralize Ukraine has ironically become the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church’s greatest cause for conversion in a century. Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kyiv notes that church affiliation … Read more
The synodal process inaugurated by Pope Francis is working toward the complete transformation of the Catholic Church that the Argentine Pope desired: “In this Church, as in an inverted pyramid, the top is located beneath the base.” In other words, Pope Francis’s “Synodal Church” will be an egalitarian church. But more than just Church structures—her … Read more
The dinner table was once a sacred space. The dining room was a domestic sanctuary where families and friends gathered to share meals, exchange ideas, and occasionally argue over politics and religion. Children learned first principles, manners and valuable life lessons from their parents that are rarely taught elsewhere. Today, however, this sacred space is … Read more
Reading the recent report of the Synod on Synodality’s Study Group No. 7 on the selection of bishops reminded me of a rather memorable, let us say, fairly tumultuous episode that took place in the parish of my adolescent years in Chile. It was May 1969, six months after the occupation of Santiago, Chile’s cathedral … Read more
