In March of 1964, two years before he was himself to die on Easter Sunday of 1966 (10 April), Evelyn Waugh wrote a moving review of two books touching upon the poet Rudyard Kipling, who had died in January of … Continue reading
Category: Literature and Poetry
Reconquest Episode 28. Saint Robert Southwell: The Truth, the Beauty, and the Gore. Guest: Charles Coulombe
For my next Reconquest, I will be joined by Charles Coulombe. Charles and I will discuss “Saint Robert Southwell: The Truth, the Beauty, and the Gore.” Topics will include a brief biological sketch of the missionary-martyr-poet, the purpose of his … Continue reading
Advent Hymn: Drop Your Dew, Ye Clouds of Heaven
While I’m on the subject of Advent hymns, here is one written by Michael Denis in 1774 (the music that goes with is was probably written by Michael Haydn). The text is drawn from Holy Scripture, Old and New Testaments: … Continue reading
Maria Walks Amid the Thorn
Here is one of our favorite Advent hymns. It is sung in two parts, one of which is a haunting counterpoint. The carol comes from sixteenth century Germany (although it is probably much older) and commemorates the barrenness of the … Continue reading
Bella Mercedes (May 14, 2013 – August 5, 2013)
O Beauty’s mercy, Mercy’s beauty sweet, A ray of light from God our Father’s dawn: So brief your stay, so soon was your retreat; O Bella! O Mercedes! Now you’re gone. The man who sired you grieves his Beauty’s loss, … Continue reading
Evelyn Waugh’s The Loved One
While recently re-reading—after almost forty-five years—Evelyn Waugh’s The Loved One, his piercing 1948 novel set in the United States—in Southern California, in and around Los Angeles and Hollywood—I gratefully came to realize for the first time the deep and purifying … Continue reading
‘The Bells of Nagasaki’ by Catholic Convert Nagai Takashi
Nippon.com: “Comforting, cheering, the bells of Nagasaki ring!” The song “The Bells of Nagasaki,” sung by Fujiyama Ichirō, was a tremendous hit in 1949, not long after the end of World War II. This year, 2015, marks the seventieth anniversary … Continue reading
An Invitation to The Modern Traveller (1898): Hilaire Belloc’s Satirical and Youthful Narrative Verse
If we would want to appreciate the comic genius of Hilaire Belloc, and especially the inimitable comic cadence and comic syntax which mark and unmistakably pervade his 1898 narrative verse satire, The Modern Traveller, we should first consider the larger … Continue reading
Longfellow and the Faith
And in despair I bowed my head “There is no peace on earth,” I said, “For hate is strong and mocks the song Of peace on earth, good will to men.” Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God … Continue reading
Dostoievsky’s Prince Myshkin, “The Idiot”
After reading together with my wife last night our Austrian friend Friedrich Romig’s carefully crafted and profound review of a 2013 book in German by Botho Strauss, we even started to consider, in light of Dostoievsky’s presentation of Prince Myshkin, … Continue reading
Espying Salvation
As Moses lifted up the cross on high With brazen serpent ’round its frame entwined So was the Son of Man ‘twixt earth and sky On Holy Rood fix’d fast for men to mind. To smitten Hebrews Moses gave the … Continue reading
Nails
Whenever the bright blue nails would drop Down on the floor of his carpenter shop, Saint Joseph, prince of carpenter men, Would stoop to gather them up again; For he feared for two little sandals sweet, And very easy to … Continue reading
The Feckless Fathers
As feckless fathers watch the game Their wives attempt to be the men. But woman’s heart and woman’s frame Cannot be truly masculine. As feckless fathers say the Mass, From ministers in mini-skirts Epistle sounds, Communions pass To hapless boys … Continue reading
The Disadvantages of Comfort
When an inspiring Scottish friend recently teased me with a trenchant quote from John Henry Newman’s sermon, entitled “Religious Cowardice,” I deployed my resourcefulness promptly to find, if I could, the entire homily and to read it. Gratefully, I did. … Continue reading
Bishop Conley’s Reflections on the Educator John Senior
“Wonder is the beginning of knowledge,” said Professor John Senior, “the reverent fear that beauty strikes within us.” Professor Senior built his life around wonder – he reveled in the mysteries of this universe, and in the Mystery – that … Continue reading
