“The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.” What does this mean? This proverb comes from an 1865 poem titled “What Rules the World” by William Ross Wallace. It means that a mother’s nurturing profoundly influences her child’s moral, spiritual, and intellectual development. Her child will, in turn, influence the future of the world. To quote the third stanza: Woman, how divine your mission Here upon our natal sod! Keep, oh, keep the young heart open Always to the breath

Malcolm Muggeridge, born to non-religious parents in a London suburb in 1903, was one of the great journalists and raconteurs of the last century. His father was an early member of the Fabian Society, a group who purpose was to create a socialist society through gradualist means. The logo of the Fabian Society, a tortoise, represented the group's predilection for a slow, imperceptible transition to socialism. Their coat of arms, “a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” symbolized their

In a talk titled “The Influence of Marxism in the United States,” Fr. John Hardon, S.J. defined Marxism as a “…godless religion in which its leaders believe… with a faith comparable to that of believing Christians.” He then said “The United States is the most powerful Marxist country in the world.” What did he mean by this? He meant that by excluding Divine Law from political discourse and legislation, the U.S. was subordinating Church to State, and spreading Marxism. Note

At the end of her autobiography, Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986), the French atheist and Marxist-feminist author of The Second Sex (1949), pondered her death, and wrote these terribly sad words: “ I loathe the thought of annihilating myself quite as much now as I ever did. I think with sadness of all the books I’ve read, all the places I’ve seen, all the knowledge I’ve amassed and that will be no more. All the music, all the paintings, all the culture, so many places: and sudd

In the debate over IVF (in vitro fertilization), we hear the remark “Contraception and IVF are two sides of the same coin.” What does this mean? It means that both contraception and IVF separate procreation from the marriage act. The marriage act has two essential qualities: the unitive (love giving, bonding), and the procreative (life giving). Contraception --- intercourse while using some physical or chemical means to prevent conception --- separates the unitive from the

What could cinnamon rolls and the Birth of Jesus have in common? I was about to find out. Over the years, I had tried my hand at making cinnamon rolls, but was never satisfied with the result. Then, in 2016, I was told that a woman who had won many ribbons at the Minnesota State Fair for her baking had come out with a cookbook that cost $30.00. I looked at her recipe for cinnamon rolls, but didn’t know if it was quite what I wanted, so I decided to contact Elaine Janas. I kne

In November, we celebrate the public holiday of Thanksgiving. This day was set aside by our nation’s founders that we might give thanks to God for all the blessings He has bestowed on our country, and on us personally. These blessings are both spiritual and material. Unfortunately, it’s easy to take these blessings for granted, so it behooves us to recall them and appreciate them, and express our gratitude to almighty God. A few years ago, in the southeastern Minnesota town o

What is in vitro fertilization? IVF (In vitro fertilization) is artificial conception: eggs are aspirated from the woman, and sperm is...

In the book of Genesis (3:15), we read that Adam and Eve lived in paradise--- a garden of delight created by God. There was no sickness,...

This year marks the 175th anniversary of the Diocese of St. Paul. We might benefit by knowing a bit of its early history. In 1680,...