Saint Joseph, Master of Contemplatives
There was no tension in Mary's spouse between the active and the contemplative life, for both were expressions of love. The example of his bride and the daily presence of Jesus helped him reach the heights of contemplation. And this is why saints exhort the faithful to take St. Joseph as the master of their own interior life.
Taliban now masters of Afghanistan, a victory for Pakistan
What sort of future awaits Afghanistan after the hasty retreat of Western forces and landslide victory of Taliban militias? The Kabul airport will remain open until Western civilians and a minority of Afghans have been evacuated. The Taliban promise tolerance and non-interference in the territories of their neighbours (China and Russia), but this may be just propaganda. Through its secret services, Pakistan has had the biggest victory by aiding and organising the Taliban offensive and by infiltrating government troops. It will now aim to exert its control over the forthcoming Afghan Islamic government.
WHO takes notice of African anti-Covid drug
The WHO has decided to include artesunate, a derivative of artemisinin, in the group of three medicines whose efficacy in treating Covid-19 patients it intends to test. It has long been in use in Madagascar and Cameroon, but is only now being considered by the WHO.
From Gay Pride to paedophilia: the Netherlands leads the way
Dutch Pride is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a photo competition. One prize has gone to a disturbing image of a two-year-old girl surrounded by S&M males. Why? Because of the usual litany about prejudice and diversity. This is the kind of "freedom" the LGBTI movement aspires to: a future of male bondage engaged in extreme and violent sex and their aspiring attention to the girl. On this matter, The European Commission is silent while voicing protest against Poland and Hungary for their strong opposition to homosexual ideologies in childhood. It says nothing about this widespread and ever less latent paedophilia.
The Virgin sleeps, before the glorious Assumption
An ancient theme linked to today’s solemnity is that of the Dormitio Virginis, with the Latin expression literally indicating the ‘Virgin’s Sleep’ before the Assumption. Among the most beautiful frescoes in this regard is the image of the Madonna del Transito of Canoscio (in the province of Perugia). In the solemn definition of the dogma of Mary assumed into Heaven in body and soul, Pius XII’s Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus does not use the term “death”, but the words “having completed the course of her earthly life”. And, in any case, the faithful have always believed that Mary’s sacred body was not subject to the “bonds of death”, such as the corruption of the tomb.
Tropez, a martyr who preferred Jesus to honours
According to tradition, Saint Tropez - also known as Torpetius, Torpè or Torpete - was the head of Nero's guard at the time of the martyrdom (in 67) of Saint Paul, who converted him. The same fate befell him just a year later. The place name Saint-Tropez originates from his cult. His head is kept and venerated in Pisa.
The tragedy of Afghan interpreters, who risk being abandoned
Thousands of Afghans have helped the Italian contingent in their country, either as interpreters or employees on our bases. The same applies for other allied contingents. As things stand now, if they were to remain in Afghanistan after NATO's withdrawal, they would risk being killed by the Taliban. General Battisti's appeal is straightforward: do something and do it in a hurry. Too much red tape slows down evacuation.
"Code red” UN climate alarm denied by facts
The IPCC's Sixth Report, published yesterday, is sounding climate emergency alarms with its usual catastrophic predictions, unless political and economic measures are not immediately taken. However, current data refute claims on the continuous rise in global temperatures. Meanwhile it is useful to remember that in 1989 the UN launched an alarm in which governments were given just ten years to reverse the trend. Thirty years later, those catastrophes have never come true.
Green pass: a matter of idolatry not vaccination
As restrictions escalate, so does the number of ordinary people who understand that what is at stake is not the freedom to go to the pub or the restaurant, nor even vaccination freedom: it is the freedom to exist as human beings worthy of the name, without kowtowing to Leviathan. It is a question of deciding who we want to worship, God or the dragon. Revelation comes to our aid.
Islam and China are the threat, but Christianity the future
The Daily Compass interviewed political scientist, Dominique Reyniém who said: "Islam and Chinese totalitarianism are waging two wars against the separation of politics and religion and against democracy. It is inevitable that Christians will be persecuted." However, according to Reyniém. the future is Christian: "The West is trying to win the favour of Muslim countries for geopolitical reasons with pitiful results."
“I survived Beirut; my faith helps me to forgive”
“I am still struggling between my faith, my religious convictions of loving and forgiving, and the reality I live every day. With Christ I will overcome any doubts I may have. With Christ I will rise again.” A year after the still unexplained explosion at the port of Beirut, which left more than 200 dead and 7000 injured, one of the survivors tells the Daily Compass about the difficult path of rebirth: “I don't remember anything, I am still undergoing operations today because of the consequences of the explosion, but I will not leave my country”, says Melvine M. Khoury. “We are still waiting for the truth about the presence of that quantity of ammonium nitrate, which could not have gone unnoticed”.
