Into the Purple
Among my most vivid memories of my father is being with him in Toronto, nearly 40 years ago, in the moments before he delivered a speech to a design convention.
Among my most vivid memories of my father is being with him in Toronto, nearly 40 years ago, in the moments before he delivered a speech to a design convention.
William F. Buckley Jr. died 8 months ago, at the end of February, 2008. Today, November 24, is his birthday. He would have been 83.
In Israel, as in all countries that contain archeological sites of deep spiritual and religious significance, there tends to be three levels of authenticity and holiness.
Fr. Newmans parishioners came to Mass in large numbers this weekend and applauded so long when he began his homily that they only quieted down when he turned and knelt to the Blessed Sacrament.
I recently learned of the Cause of Canonization of the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. While I'm not and have never been a Catholic, nor even religious for that matter, I feel compelled to share a deeply personal story involving him that intrigues, puzzles and inspires me to this day.
Perhaps it has something to do with the King Arthur stories I read as a child, but I have always been fascinated with knights.
The story of a Catholic father dying to save his son started being told in a small town in Virginia. Then on the front page of the The Washington Post. Then it began to be repeated on blogs and in online discussions from coast to coast.
What I witnessed that day was one of the most remarkable moments of Christian reconciliation I am likely to ever see.
Someone should write the life of Margaret Beaufort, as an example of how a woman of strong beliefs can survive a traumatic childhood and become a credit and exemplar to society. She ought indeed to be canonised, and I commend her cause to the present Pope, who also loves good Christian academics.