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
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?
Full of Sorrows: Rossini’s Stabat Mater
In addition to its traditional chant setting, the Stabat Mater has appeared in a large number of musical settings. In fact, starting with Josquin des Prez in the 16th century, Wikipedia list sixty-six composers. I posted Pergolesi's setting this past Lent. As it happens, eighteen of those have been since 1985.
Slavery in Rationalia
Slavery in Rationalia? Does the title "Slavery in Rationalia" leave you puzzled? You've probably never heard of the place, much less considered the issue of servitude there. It's a curious topic. I'll get to it. I'd like to start, however, with a visit I once made a small local fish store. As I was paying for … Continue reading Slavery in Rationalia
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.
What Would You Do? St. Maximilian Kolbe and the Gospel of Love
In the end, he gave the ultimate gift: his own life. When his jailers chose ten men at random to be starved to death in retaliation for an escape, St. Maximilian, who had not been chosen, volunteered to take the place of one of the ten.
Spiritual Warfare, the Chain of Command, and St. Equitius
Spiritual Warfare The concept of spiritual warfare reminds me of a quote widely attributed to Leon Trotsky. To wit: "You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you." Now, there's no evidence that the old Bolshevik actually said it, but it's true. There's a battle raging, and we're all part of … Continue reading Spiritual Warfare, the Chain of Command, and St. Equitius
A Successful Failure? St. Bridget of Sweden
St. Bridget's success, and our “success” as Christians, consists in fidelity to Christ and in nothing else.
The Latin Mass is Not Going Away
The Latin Mass is Not Going Away No, the Latin Mass is not going away anytime soon. I say, this, by the way, not as a regular attendee of the pre-Vatican II liturgy. In fact, I've participated in a pre-Vatican II liturgy at most three times over the past nine years. My point is, I'm … Continue reading The Latin Mass is Not Going Away