Following the Light: An Epiphany Reflection
The feast of the Epiphany completes the Octave of Christmas and brings the mission of Christ full circle. The little Child Jesus came first to his own Jewish people, and to the Shepherds who first…
Category: Miscellaneous Nonfiction
Lovely Lady Dressed in Blue: Mary's Role in the Incarnation
It’s that time of year again; time to get out the tree and all the trimmings, time to brave the crowds for some great deals for presents, time to set up the train, the village,…
Misleading Labels: Pope Francis and the Political Quandary
Conservatism, in its purest form, should be based upon a mission to preserve that which is good, true, and beautiful for posterity. Hence, it should be, by its very nature, a creative force. And all…
The Diamond of England: The Mission and Martyrdom of St. Edmund Campion
St. Edmund Campion first became a major part of my life when I was assigned to read Edmund Campion: Hero of God’s Underground by Harold C. Gardiner, S.J. I was in 4th Grade at the…
Harvest Thanksgiving: A Trans-Atlantic Tradition
“Do you celebrate Thanksgiving in England?” a young American asked me at a suburban High School in Ohio. Difficult to answer, somehow: it sounded rude simply to make the obvious point that people were giving…
Champion of Liberty and Son of Freedom: The Life of Thaddeus Kosciuszko
In the struggle for liberty which was the American Revolution, there emerged a group of individuals whose selfless sacrifices and courage perpetuated their legacy. Most of these men are remembered as great heroes, lauded and…
A Hallowed Eve: The Spiritual and Cultural Traditions of Halloween
Halloween has always been a complicated holiday, laced together with many threads of different spiritual traditions and cultural customs. It has always stirred up controversy, morphing into an excuse for mischief and mayhem and a…
The Great Cabin: An Adventure on Board HMS Victory
In 2013, I had a very special and ever-memorable adventure on board the historic HMS Victory. But before telling my story, I’d like give a little background as to how I came to be a…
"Gentleman Johnny:" The Life and Times of General John Burgoyne
The Right Honorable General John Burgoyne, General in the British Army and MP for Preston, is probably most famous for commanding the losing Army at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777, during the American War…
Identity: What We Do Changes Who We Are
This thing about identity—there’s more here than meets the eye, more here than most psychologists talk about, more here than we can understand, and what I’m going to present is more questions than answers. But…