Did you know that Madrid was not originally the capital of Spain? Toledo was the home of the royal court and thus the capital city. It was in 1561 when Phillip II moved the royal court to Madrid, making it the capital. With that move, new buildings were commissioned so that Madrid would have everything ...read more

The media have been turning our eyes to Egypt throughout these past few weeks. We have seen fiery images of shouting mobs, people climbing tanks and angry demonstrating. Just one month before all of this started, we heard about a bombing in Alexandria, the nation’s second largest city. The target? A Coptic (Christian) Church. Up ...read more

It was truly a glorious night of rejoicing and being among family and friends! Last night, St. Peter’s Seminary Foundation hosted the premiere of the first episode of Panes of Glory: The Windows of St. Peter’s Seminary — three times. At 3:00 pm, St. Peter’s Seminary staff and students gathered together to relish Fr. Prieur’s ...read more

Last week we told you about the plight of Sayed Musa, a Christian convert sentenced to die in Afghanistan. Apostasy remains a capital offense in that country. Writing on behalf of the Canadian bishops, as the chair of their Human Rights Committee, Archbishop Brendan O’Brien of Kingston asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs to intervene ...read more

In nearly six years at S+L, my most challenging film shoot was at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Widely considered the holiest shrine in the world, the church features prominently in the documentary Within Your Gates. Gaining access to film in the edicule—the small structure marking Jesus’ burial tomb—felt like a minor ...read more

Rosary? Check. Pilgrim’s booklet? Check. YouCat? Check. World Youth Day guidebook? Check. The pilgrim packs are being assembled for this year’s World Youth Day in Madrid. And just like when he became the first pilgrim to register for the August 2011 event, Pope Benedict became the first to receive the pilgrim pack. The Archbishop of ...read more

While some shake their head at seemingly lower number of vocations, the Holy Father says that the Lord still calls people today, and “at every stage of life to share in his mission and to serve the Church in the ordained ministry and in the consecrated life.” The Lord is calling — but we must ...read more

While the world is distracted by events in the middle East, first in Tunisia, then Egypt, followed by riots in Jordan, in Yemen, back to Egypt – let’s not forget the persecution of Christians in Iraq – and back to Egypt… not all is bad news in that part of the world. Well… sort of that part of the world. ...read more

It seems to me that the virtue of chastity is one of the most counter-cultural, radical aspects of being a Catholic Christian today. If this is true, then my choice to make a vow of celibate chastity as a woman religious should make a radical difference, shouldn’t it? That question has been the subject and ...read more

There’s nothing really around that can turn lead into gold, but by God’s grace we can turn trials into love. That line is one of many gems from Archbishop Thomas Collins in February’s Lectio Divina. This month Toronto’s chief shepherd begins a series of reflection on the Letter of St. James.  In this particular episode ...read more