When I was 11 years old, I endured the process as a young Catholic to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. I never really understood why I had to do it at the time, as I can barely remember what I learned in Catechism classes due to my low attention span. I remember walking up the aisle lined up behind my peers, each one of us with our godparents at our sides. As we approached the archbishop in front of the altar, he… Read more
May 15, 2019
Has The Church Failed Persons With Developmental Disabilities?
May 15, 2019 By René Albert
Having a sibling with a developmental disability certainly gives you a different perspective of the world. Much of my early family life revolved around ensuring my brother with low-functioning autism was receiving adequate care and support through school and at home. Though the struggle to maintain his quality of life has been ongoing to this very day. Many of my peers in school considered my family to be somewhat abnormal. While some complained about fighting with their siblings, my relationship with my brother… Read more
May 9, 2019
Why I Choose To Pray The Rosary
May 9, 2019 By René Albert
A Terrifying Experience I remember playing with my cousin in my aunt’s basement when I was around 8 years old. We used to chase each other around and try to scare each other for fun. I hid around the corner at the bottom of the stairs after chasing her around the rooms. I peered around the corner for a split second. I was certain I saw a tall, scrawny, ghoulish figure nonchalantly passing directly in front of me. I remember… Read more
April 29, 2019
Why Purgatory Makes Sense
April 29, 2019 By René Albert
“If heaven is for clean people, it’s vacant.” — ‘Load Me Up’ by Matthew Good Band I remember when I was 21, I was going through a stressful time as a third-year apprentice carpenter. After leaving one job to start another, my former boss withheld my paycheque and continued to call and harass me for quitting. My mind was in a constant clutter while figuring out how to make ends meet with outstanding wages. While driving home one evening, I had… Read more
April 28, 2019
Rebuilding Notre Dame versus Caring For The Poor?
April 28, 2019 By René Albert
In the wake of the Notre Dame fire, it seems the internet has moved from the shock stage of grief to anger. Within 24 hours, some high-profile millionaires have already collectively pledged over $1 billion towards the restoration of the burned cathedral. But this move has not come without controversy. Catholics and non-Catholics alike, have been taking to social media about how people ought not to contribute to such causes like building restoration or beautification. Much of the virtue-signalling has especially… Read more
April 23, 2019
Reading Chronicles of Narnia During Easter
April 23, 2019 By René Albert
My kids have always loved listening to stories. Over the past year they have gotten old enough to appreciate more complex stories. Last year we read Tolkien’s The Hobbit. I watched as their imaginations took off skyward. Their playtime included hiking up the Lonely Mountain, lurking through spider-infested forests and slaying fire-breathing dragons. After finishing The Hobbit, the boys couldn’t wait to see where the next adventure would take them. They wanted to continue on to read The Lord of… Read more
April 16, 2019
The Fire of Notre Dame and the Theology of Architecture
April 16, 2019 By René Albert
In recent news, the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France had caught fire and sustained significant damage. Although tensions are high in France due to an increase in terrorist attacks and anti-Catholic church vandalism, initial reports believed the source of the fire came from the construction site of the building. The 860-year-old church had been undergoing long-overdue restoration as it began to show its age. This horrible event reminds me of an incident that hit close to home more than a decade… Read more
April 13, 2019
A Reflection on Palm Sunday and Election Season
April 13, 2019 By René Albert
As we near Easter weekend, my neck of the woods is in the midst of a provincial election. I’ve noticed many fellow Christians have grumbled about how the government cares little for religious days of obligation. But in reflection of Palm Sunday, it suddenly dawned on me the timing of the election couldn’t be more appropriate. For those unfamiliar with Catholic feast days, Palm Sunday celebrates the moment Jesus was welcomed by the people of Jerusalem. The passage in Scripture… Read more
April 12, 2019
Stop Treating Evangelism Like A Sales Pitch
April 12, 2019 By René Albert
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As a cradle Catholic, I made a number of friends in high school who were Evangelical Christians. This was a pivotal influence when I had abandoned Catholicism to become an Evangelical Protestant. What led me to make such a dramatic decision were the persuasive arguments from certain friends who believed the Catholic Church was an evil institution as well as following Jesus in a whole new, exciting way. Although some of these friendships lasted to this very day, a significant amount were… Read more
April 4, 2019
10 Christian Metal Bands Who Don’t Suck
April 4, 2019 By René Albert
I understand that some of my readers are probably not into the same music I enjoy. Rock and heavy metal aren’t everybody’s cup of coffee, and that’s totally fine with me. But given that my articles usually revolve around issues of morality, theology and politics, I think it’s time for me to break it up a little bit and talk about something different. I’ve written other articles about my critique of the Christian music industry and how Christian culture views rock and… Read more
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