The sixteenth century saw a plethora of new religious communities like the Jesuits and the Oratorians, along with the reform of several others, such as the Capuchin Franciscans and St. Teresa of Avila’s Discalced Carmelites. Today marks the founding of the Barnabites in 1533 by St. Antonio Maria Zaccaria (seen here). It’s often assumed that these communities were founded to combat Protestantism, but they were actually part of a much larger reform movement that long predated Luther. This was certainly... Read more

St. Patrick’s Day is one month away! Read more

The Awful Disclosures of Maria Monk was one of 19th century America’s best sellers. It sold 300,000 copies before the Civil War. It belongs to a particular genre, that of the “escaped nun.” In his highly recommended book, American Catholic, Charles Morris writes: The tales follow a consistent pattern: An innocent young girl, full of love for Christ, decides to enter a convent to dedicate her life to God. Her first days at the convent and her novitiate proceed as... Read more

The phrase “Catholic Action” was an all-encompassing term that came into wide usage at the turn of the century. It referred to various groups of lay people attempting to bring a Catholicimprint to bear upon society at large. In his book The Soul of the Apostolate, Dom Chautard recalls a conversation Pope St. Pius X had with a group of cardinals: “What is the thing we most need, today, to save society?” the Pope asked them. “Build Catholic schools”, one... Read more

Today in 1836 marks the founding of the Congregation of the Resurrection in France. The first three members were a layman, Bogdan Janski, and two priests, Peter Semenenko and Jerome Kajsiewicz. Living among Polish refugees in Paris, Janski was an intellectual who found in the Gospel’s message the answer to the world’s problems. In his writings he stressed the laity’s role in the life of the Church: It will be necessary to act in various closely linked ways to unite... Read more

Tomorrow marks the death of General James Rowan O’Beirne (1844-1917), Civil War general and public official. Born in Roscommon, he emigrated to America as a child and graduated from St. John’s College (now Fordham University) before the war. During the war he served in the Eastern Theater, winning the Medal of Honor for bravey at the Battle of Fair Oaks in 1862. Severe wounds at Chancellorsville the following years effectively ended his fighting days, and he was made Provost Marshal... Read more

In 1864, at the height of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary spent the Fourth of July at a parish fundraiser held on the White House lawn. A few weeks earlier Gabriel Coakley, an African-American Catholic, walked into the White House to see President about the picnic. Morris McGregor, the parish historian, writes: “What remains mysterious to modern Washingtonians is the relative ease with which an ordinary resident could approach an over-burdened and anxious Chief Executive... Read more

Today marks the death of Father Stephen Eckert (1869-1923), a Capuchin priest dedicated to working with the Black community. Born John Eckert to German immigrants in Ontario, he took the name Stephen when he joined the Capuchins in Detroit. He was ordained in 1896. Assigned to parishes in New York, he established a reputation for hard work and piety. One nun who knew him said that “an atmosphere of holiness and warmth surrounded this genuine priest.” Assigned to a parish... Read more

Today marks the death of Francis Hodur (1866-1953), who led the only large-scale schism in American Catholic history. Born in Poland, he emigrated to the United States and finished his priestly studies in Pennsylvania, where he was ordained in 1893. He was assigned to local parishes, and in 1895 he became a pastor in Nanicoke. As pastor he came into conflict with his bishop over his belief that parishioners should be able to control parish property and finances, and appoint... Read more

In 1789, America got its first President, George Washington, and its first R.C. Bishop, John Carroll. At the time of the former’s death in 1799, Bishop Caroll gave the following eulogy on the Founding Father’s passing: The last act of his supreme magistracy was to inculcate in most impressive language on his countrymen… his deliberate and solemn advice; to bear incessantly in their minds that nations and individuals are under the moral government of an infinitely wise and just Providence;... Read more