Philosophers tell us that the essence of a relation is to be ad aliquid — “towards another.” In considering our own relationships, the most important ones we can speak of are those we have with the Holy Trinity and Our … Continue reading
Category: Spiritual Life
Modern Noise and Man’s Ingrained Inattentiveness
This brief essay proposes to consider how two eloquent Catholic authors, Hilaire Belloc and Evelyn Waugh, describe and deal with the phenomenon of noise, an unmistakable mark of the intrusive modern world even in times of putative peace. The first … Continue reading
Divine Relationships
A fallen-away Catholic once told me, “I gave up that religion for a relationship.” What she was saying is that Catholicism, with all its ceremonies, doctrines, and other “formalities,” did not give her a relationship with Jesus, which is exactly … Continue reading
Pope Warns About Narcissism in the Church
CNA’s Elise Harris: In listening to the words of the Holy Father in his many different homilies, audiences and speeches since his election, there is one incredibly clear message he is sending to us: the Church is narcissistic. We are a … Continue reading
Pope Francis: To Be Ashamed Is To Be Humble
Vatican Radio: “But Jesus in the confessional is not a dry cleaner: it is an encounter with Jesus, but with this Jesus who waits for us, who waits for us just as we are. “But, Lord, look … this is … Continue reading
Evil and Control
These thoughts came to me this morning as I had in my mind the residue of a Gary Potter article I read last night (it will be published soon): Control that which was given to you to control. Where an … Continue reading
A Simile for Grace
While I was explaining the doctrine of grace in a tertiary conference last week, a simile came to mind. It is nothing I have ever read or heard before, so I hope that I am not inventing my very own … Continue reading
We Need Grace!
Here we find ourselves past the midway mark of Lent, and we may have to renew our sense of purpose in this holy endeavor. One of the best ways to do this might be to focus not on our own … Continue reading
Methods of Mental Prayer Handout
“Methods of Mental Prayer” is another handout I prepared to go with the lectures on mental prayer. Below, you will find it on Scribd. Its two pages are in landscape form, and page two shows up first. If you can … Continue reading
Man’s Edifice, Natural and Supernatural
“The Natural and Supernatural Edifice of Man” is a handout I prepared to go with the lectures on mental prayer. (There is also a single stand-alone lecture available on this important subject, “The Practice of Mental Prayer,” available in CD … Continue reading
The Carthusian Tattoo and the Papal Conclave
Within the last week, I renewed my acquaintance with an Australian journalist I met a couple of years ago. She is a convert from Anglicanism who has taken very nicely to the traditional Mass and the integral Catholic culture that … Continue reading
The Contemplative and the Toyota
A couple of weeks ago, a wonderful coincidence struck me as I reviewed two articles for our site hours apart on the same day: Robert Hickson’s Complacent Sentries and the Sloth of Roaming Unrest and Gary Potter’s Glittering Images. The … Continue reading
Rome: Cardinal Retreat Master Calls TV ‘Great Moloch’
CWN: Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, who is leading the annual Lenten retreat for the Pope and leaders of the Roman Curia, preached on February 20 on Psalms 131 and 39. More here.
Let Us Do Penance
There is a venerable tradition in the Church, going back at least to the time of Saint Jerome (+420), of referring to Penance as the “second plank.” The sacrament of Penance is here meant, and this explains the capitalization. This … Continue reading
Patriarchy and the Defenseless
On January 25, 500,000 pro-lifers marched on the Mall in Washington D.C. in defense of unborn human life. Four days before that, the most progressivist, pro-abortion, homosexualist president in American history gave his second inaugural address. In that address, Mr. … Continue reading
