Human Dignity Human dignity has fallen on hard times. Consider this. Suicide is a key image for our culture today. Our society is always looking for new ways to destroy itself. We seem intent on destroying our connections to our forebears, destroying their reputations and even tearing down their statues. Likewise, we reject the classic achievements in … Continue reading Human Dignity and Death
Giaochino Rossini: Agnus Dei
Disappearing Act Giaochino Rossini Giaochino Rossini, in his time, enjoyed a reputation as the most successful composer of operas in history. He created such enduring favorites as The Barber of Seville, La Cenerentola, and William Tell. Then, having composed an astounding 39 operas before his 37th birthday in 1829, he simply stopped. For the rest … Continue reading Giaochino Rossini: Agnus Dei
Living on the Edge – “The Heavens Are Telling” from Haydn’s The Creation
On the Edge Do you want to talk about living on the edge? “Few composers can boast on their curricula vitae,” wrote R.J. Stove in Catholic World Report, “a deliberate and successful avoidance of gelding. Haydn could.” Indeed he could. It was only through the timely and forceful intervention of his father that the young … Continue reading Living on the Edge – “The Heavens Are Telling” from Haydn’s The Creation
Lex Orandi: Has Tradition Become a Dirty Word?
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi Lex Orandi, "the law of praying," equals Lex Credendi, "the law of believing." I'll explore the practical application of this old aphorism in a moment. First, picture Sunday Mass in a typical parish. A mother comes up for communion holding a small child in her arms. As she approaches the priest, … Continue reading Lex Orandi: Has Tradition Become a Dirty Word?
We Came, We Saw . . . God Conquered
We need to bear in mind that this was really a struggle not simply of peoples or of nations, but between Christendom and Islam. In other words, between radically different visions of God.
Be Sober and Vigilant: You-Know-Who is Prowling
Jesus is not at all hesitant about reminding his followers that discipleship is not a warm and fuzzy business. On the contrary, he says: “Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” (Matthew 5:11) It’s going to happen.
‘Dark Night of the Soul’ by Ola Gjeilo
Dark Night of the Soul My Monday Music selections are usually compositions from the treasury of Catholic sacred music, some of them centuries old. There are still some composers even today, however, who are composing music worthy of that tradition. A couple months ago I posted a setting to the "Te Deum" by Pedro Camacho. … Continue reading ‘Dark Night of the Soul’ by Ola Gjeilo
A Dynamic Trio: St. Augustine, St. Monica & St. Ambrose
St. Monica softened Augustine’s heart, and prepared the ground to receive the seeds of his conversion, but she herself was not able to plant those seeds: she could not convince her son to change his life.
A Brief Visit to Hell
First of all, there is simply no way for a believing Christian to get around the reality of Hell. Jesus Christ himself is quite explicit about it, as we saw above. The Church has taught it as a foundational doctrine from the very beginning.
Not far from the Tree: Scarlatti’s “Te Deum” and Raphael’s “Disputation of the Holy Sacrament”
Last month we heard Alessandro Scarlatti's magnificent Exsultante Deo. Today we have anequally inspiring Te Deum from his son, Domenico Scarlatti (1685 - 1757). This apple didn't far fall at all.