Rev. Gerard Lessard, OP | The Christian Review

Monsieur Vincent

Posted by Rev. Gerard Lessard, OP | Feb 15, 2023 | Catholic Church, Featured, Movies, Saint Vincent de Paul, Saints, Social Teaching |

Monsieur Vincent is not only a masterful work of art, but a truly edifying film that inspires charity. Indeed, Saint Vincent de Paul is the Patron of Charity. Is there anything greater?

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1982)

Posted by Rev. Gerard Lessard, OP | Feb 6, 2023 | Catholic Church, Featured, Literature, Movies |

This is not the best of the Hunchback movies, but it is well done by reason of the superb cast.

The Passion of Joan of Arc

Posted by Rev. Gerard Lessard, OP | Jan 30, 2023 | Catholic Church, Faith, Featured, History, Movies, Saints |

The Passion of Joan of Arc by Carl Theodor Dreyer is widely acclaimed as one of the greatest films ever produced. It is very sympathetic to Joan. Even though we see no miracles nor hear heavenly voices, we feel compassion for this victim who has been vindicated.

The Best and the Worst of 2022

Posted by Rev. Gerard Lessard, OP | Dec 11, 2022 | 2020 Election, abortion, Culture, Education, Family, Featured, Immigration, Politics, presidential election, Roe v. Wade, Social Teaching, Supreme Court |

When evil threatens little children, to whom the Kingdom of Heaven belongs (Mt.19:14), then either we fight to win the battle or expect the Lord Himself to come and settle affairs, for when the souls of children are at stake, the weeds have reached maturity and the harvest is near.

When the Wood is Dry

Posted by Rev. Gerard Lessard, OP | Apr 4, 2022 | Culture, Faith, Featured, Poetry, Saints, Scripture, Spirituality |

“Oh, daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep
Or beat your breasts for lo the wood is green,
But one day they will beg the mountains steep:
Fall and cover us who have no child to wean.”

Olympics, Bad Martyrs, Fake Meat and More

Posted by Rev. Gerard Lessard, OP | Jan 19, 2022 | 2020 Election, America, Featured, History, Politics, Saints, Sports, Trump |

This article is a hodgepodge of assorted topics, none of which is worth a full column, yet each deserves to be mentioned.

Blocks: An Infancy Narrative

Posted by Rev. Gerard Lessard, OP | Dec 18, 2021 | Catholic Church, Family, Featured, Saints |

An apocryphal infancy narrative of the Holy Family when Jesus was three-years old.

Christopher Columbus by David MacDonald (1949)

Posted by Rev. Gerard Lessard, OP | Oct 9, 2021 | America, Catholic Church, Culture, Evangelization, Featured, History, Movies |

Christopher Columbus knew that his fame would be undying, but he never foresaw how his reputation would be spoiled by the modern movement against Christian civilization.

Heroes Never Die! – A Book Review

Posted by Rev. Gerard Lessard, OP | Jun 18, 2021 | Books, Featured, Movies |

By transporting viewers to a mythological period when life was simpler, and where heroes always defeated villains and vindicated the oppressed, peplum provided hope and consolation in troubled times.