Hugh Roe O’Donnell, Hugh O’Neill, and the Nine Years’ War: The Final Struggle of Gaelic Ireland
©2026 Victor R. Claveau, MJ Table of Contents Introduction The reign of Queen Elizabeth I marked the decisive phase of the English conquest of Ireland. During the second half of the sixteenth century, Tudor governments attempted to impose centralized royal authority over the island through military conquest, plantation colonization, religious conformity, and the destruction of […]
Thoughts on America, Age 250
The America emerging today is already much less friendly to the Christian faith than anything in our country’s past. It doesn’t need to be this way. January 15, 2026 Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, OFM Cap. (Image: Aaron Burden/Unsplash.com) Americans are bad at history. As the late Christopher Lasch and many other scholars have noted, we’re ambivalent […]
February is Black History Month –
Victor R. Claveau, MJ. Each Year Congress authorizes and the president signs an executive order honoring the contributions of various groups; African Americans, Latinos, Asians, Native Americans and women. February is Black History Month, March is Women’s History Month, May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Hispanic Heritage Month will last from Monday, September 15, […]
What Are One’s Responsibilities with Respect to Patriotism?
Answer: Patriotism is both a natural attachment and a moral obligation. Patriotism has significant emotional components, but centrally it should be a volitional love: the steady willing of the true good of one’s nation. The Catholic Church teaches that patriotism is a duty. People, of course, have an analogous duty to will the good of […]
Lessons from America’s first Jews
As we celebrate our nation’s 249th year, I can’t help but wonder what America’s early Jews could teach us about resilience and healing. Jan Lee (June 29, 2025 / JNS This Fourth of July marks an unprecedented time for American Jewry. For most of us, this day has always stood as the one golden date […]
CATHOLIC PATRIOTISM IN REVOLUTIONARY DAYS
Thomas P. Phelan, LL. D., Maryknoll Seminary, Ossining, N. Y. The Catholic Historical Review, Volume 7, April 1921 – January 1922 By American Catholic Historical Association That Catholics discovered and explored this continent and founded the first permanent settlements within the present limits of the Republic is one of the commonplaces of history. That Catholics […]
Saluting a Medal of Honor Recipient
Admiral Eric T. Olson salutes Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry at a ceremony at The Pentagon. Although not required by law or military regulation, members of the uniformed services are encouraged to render salutes to recipients of the Medal of Honor as a matter of respect and courtesy regardless of rank or status, whether or […]
Privileges and Courtesies for Medal of Honor Recipients
The Medal of Honor confers special privileges on its recipients. By law, recipients have several benefits: Most states (40) offer a special license plate for certain types of vehicles to recipients at little or no cost to the recipient. The states that do not offer Medal of Honor specific license plate offer special license plates […]
The Medal of Honor
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty, in action involving actual conflict with an opposing armed force. Presented by the President in the Name of the Congress, it is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon any American. The men who wear it call […]
Catholics and the American Revolution
That Catholics discovered and explored this continent and founded the first permanent settlements within the present limits of the Republic is one of the commonplaces of history. That Catholics played a prominent role in the revolutionary struggle is equally certain, although few recognize the fact. The year 1773, memorable in Church annals for the suppression […]