Happy Feast of Fra Angelico/Blessed John of Fiesole, OP – 2025

Today is the Feast Day of Fra Angelico/Blessed John of Fiesole, one of my favorite Dominican saints/blesseds.(See my post for his feast day from 2022 on why, and for samples of his frescos.) The artist apparently had a devotion to his confrere, Saint Thomas Aquinas, as an early work of his is a portrait ofContinue reading “Happy Feast of Fra Angelico/Blessed John of Fiesole, OP – 2025”

An Sit Pater Natalis? (Whether there is a Father Christmas (aka Santa Claus)?)

It’s time once again for this annual Disputed Question of Thomistic humor: THE FIVE WAYS OF PROVING SANTA CLAUS* Whether Santa Clause Exists We proceed thus to the third article: Objections On the contrary, Kay Starr says: “I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus underneath the mistletoe last night.” I answer that, The existence of Santa ClausContinue reading “An Sit Pater Natalis? (Whether there is a Father Christmas (aka Santa Claus)?)”

Is Halloween a Pagan Festival? – Repost from 2021

I was not going to repost or promote my reflections on the origin of Halloween from 2021 as I did last year. I figured I had done what I could to set the record straight, and get the word out. Alas, this article from a generally trustworthy source continues to give the impression that theContinue reading “Is Halloween a Pagan Festival? – Repost from 2021”