Were the persecutors or the writers more imaginative? — Christianity saw plenty of martyrs in its first several centuries. By definition, a martyr is someone who suffers death rather than denies his faith. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it, “Martyrdom is the supreme witness given to the truth of the faith: it means bearing witness even…

Where would history be without betrayal and murder? — The so-called fall of the Roman Empire is a milestone in western history. Yet the betrayals that often marked Rome’s transfer of power didn’t disappear. …

Early 13th-century events led members of Oxford University to flee — Although founded in the 12th and 13th centuries, the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge are among today’s most prestigious universities. Oxford is the oldest English-speaking university and Cambridge is the second oldest; they rank second and fourth among the world’s oldest universities. …

First and largest nuclear detonation in space played a role — On November 15, Russia fired an anti-satellite missile at one of its old satellites. When hit, the satellite shattered into hundreds of thousands of pieces, of which only 1,500 or so are trackable. The only international treaty governing humanity’s activities in outer space turns 55 this month. …

Clare Hollingworth scooped the world on the invasion of Poland — Any woman wanting to be a war correspondent faced plenty of obstacles. These included a belief they couldn’t handle the stress of warfare and the concerns regarding whether special facilities were necessary. Even if a woman gained access to a war zone, she often was limited to covering the “woman’s…

Lawsuit objects to teams playing home games in New Jersey — Each year brings bizarre lawsuits. And 2022 kicked off early. On January 4, Abdiell Suero sued the NFL, the New York Giants, and the New York Jets on behalf of himself and the teams’ fans in the State of New York. Why? Both teams play their home games at MetLife…

Scathing Treasury Department report prompted action by President Roosevelt — Antisemitism was an overt pillar of Adolf Hitler’s political philosophy and, from 1933, official German policy. Nevertheless, it still took years before America took tangible steps to help European Jews. In part, the change came about, thanks to the Department of Treasury accusing the State Department of obstructing rescue efforts.

Cluny Abbey’s original charters contained some remarkable provisions — Humble origins don’t preclude the accumulation of power, especially if accompanied by safeguards. The founding of Cluny Abbey in France proves this. It grew to become one of medieval Europe’s most influential religious institutions. St. Berno of Cluny was born to a wealthy noble family in Burgundy, France, around 850…

Tales about popes can tend toward the fantastic — Legends and history both tell stories of the past. Given its power and antiquity, the papacy has plenty of both. Some legends have a basis in fact; others are simply apocryphal. Here are four of the more offbeat. A Papal Tiara Shows the Pope is the Antichrist Although the Book of Revelation dates to the late 1st century, some…