In his 1908 book, entitled Orthodoxy — published fourteen years before he was received into the Catholic Church in the summer of 1922 — G.K. Chesterton speaks politely and acutely about the all-too-pervasive lunacy (and the somewhat diminished sanity) of … Continue reading
Category: Literature and Poetry
The Vocation of the Prophet
This is a lighthearted imitation of the more serious poem by the South African Catholic poet, Roy Campbell, “The Making of a Poet.” There is something virile and muscular in Campbell’s poetry that makes it very attractive (which was not … Continue reading
Leo Rugiens
This was written in imitation of the poem, “The Hound of Hell,” by Father Leonard Feeney. Its name and theme are derived from I Peter 5:8, which is sung every night in the office of Compline. WATCH for the roaring … Continue reading
Justly Afflicted
This poem was inspired by the collect for Septuagesima Sunday. It follows the rhyme and meter scheme (but not the subject or mood) of a well known poem by a great American poet. The comments section is open for those … Continue reading
Poem: The Immaculate Conception
On this beautiful Feast of the Immaculate Conception, we had our first-ever Solemn Mass at Saint Benedict Center in Richmond. The snow on the ground reminded me of the lines of this poem speaking of the snowy “surplice” worn by earth … Continue reading
Autumn Reveries
Mellow-faced, with eyes of faery, wistful clad in tinted leaves, See the brown October tarry by the golden rows of sheaves; Oak & acorn in his garland, fruit & wineskin in his hands, Mystic pilgrim from a far land down … Continue reading
Waugh on Kipling and Mexico
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
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