I suppose it is not a surprise to say that a writer loves words. Thinks words are powerful and important. Spends minutes and hours thinking up just the right way to express feelings and ideas with words. 

Peter Maurin, from the Catholic Worker movement, was known to proudly assert, “I am a peasant. I have roots.” Most would not share Peter’s pride. Thanks to the Middle Ages and Western pop culture’s treatment of it — the word is considered derogatory. That is something that needs to change. 

In 2013, I wrote a column for the National Post about Dr. Donald Low, a microbiologist at Mt. Sinai Hospital. He spoke about his cancer diagnosis, his fear of tremendous pain that might be looming and the loss of his dignity. He spoke without self-pity and urged Canada to make physician-assisted death legal. He died eight days later. 

People new to, or wishing to grow deeper in faith, often ask me to recommend good Catholic books. The height of understatement is to say coming up with such a list is a daunting challenge in a tradition that, beginning with the Holy Scriptures, has an almost inexhaustible treasury of books.

“As Democrats, Christians, Catholics, have an advantage on that score.” (The Catholic Register editorial Sept. 22, 2024.)

A report by Calgary’s Bishop William McGrattan, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, at the annual plenary meeting in Quebec City.

In the 12 months since Hamas murderers invaded Israel, the Holy Land tables have entirely turned on those behind the worst massacre of Jews after the Holocaust.

Pope Francis often speaks about how the elderly are a treasure and has dedicated much of his pontificate to promoting a culture of encounter between generations.Inspired by this emphasis, Bishop Hector Vila recently invited me to the Diocese of Whitehorse to deliver several workshops and presentations geared toward exploring the value of life at all stages.

The liturgical calendar turns briefly in late September and early October to the role of angels in salvation. First, there is the Sept. 29 feast of the messengers Gabriel, Raphael and Michael – not celebrated this year because the feast falls on a Sunday – and then the Oct. 2 memorial of guardian angels.

Glen Argan’s Aug. 20 Catholic Register column made excellent  use of Pope St John Paul II’s teaching about “the marriage of Mary and Joseph as more than a covenant, ‘an authentic communion according to the model of the Blessed Trinity.’” 

First impressions suggest to many that the Man of the Shroud of Turin is lying down, as Christ would be in His tomb before the Resurrection. However, a different perspective comes from the research of Dr. Gilbert Lavoie (“Jesus’ burial cloth,” The Catholic Register, Sept. 22).