“I know mine, and mine know me.” With these mysterious words, the Lord gives evidence of his credentials as Good Shepherd—the One fit to rule his sheep because he is willing to lay down his soul for them. In these days when false Christs abound, we may well wonder how precisely the Shepherd and hisContinue reading “Without Guile”
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Guarding the Gates of Hell
Thou art Peter;and upon this rock I will build my church,and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18 Blogger’s note: The following was originally posted in February of 2021. Though the author makes no pretension to the power of prophesy, subsequent events seem to support the theological premise on which theContinue reading “Guarding the Gates of Hell”
Being a Good Liberal
In his classic work, The Framework of a Christian State, the Reverend E. Cahill, S. J. identifies three meanings of the term “liberal.” Most properly, the term is “derived from the Latin word liber (free),” referring to “such personal qualities or style of acting and thinking as may be thought worthy of a freeman.” InContinue reading “Being a Good Liberal”
Advice for the True Taking of the Old Faith
In times of doctrinal confusion, how are we to know what God will have us believe? Some advice from St. Thomas More: I will advise you therefore, good readers, for the true taking of the old faith, and for the discerning thereof from all new, to stand to the common, well-known belief of the common-knownContinue reading “Advice for the True Taking of the Old Faith”
Good Tom Truth
A cautionary tale, by St. Thomas More: If we, because we know our cause so good, bear ourselves thereupon so bold that we make light and slight of our adversaries—it may happen to fare between the Catholics and heretics at length as it fareth sometimes in a suit at the law by some good manContinue reading “Good Tom Truth”
Ask Such Things
Let the ears of thy mercy, O Lord, be open to the prayers of thy suppliant people: and that thou mayest grant the desires of those who pray, make them ask such things as please thee. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Whether it Be of God
And the Jews wondered, saying: How doth this man know letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them, and said: My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do the will of him; he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.Continue reading “Whether it Be of God”
Committed in a Holy Place
As we reach back into the section of our spiritual wardrobe where sackcloth and ashes are providently stored, this blogger would like to impart a friendly word, spoken in Christian mercy, to those who fancy that occupying a place somewhat loftier than their fellow mortals, not yet deceased, equips them with an alchemical power toContinue reading “Committed in a Holy Place”
Frivolous People
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Luke 8:11 Scatterbrained frivolous peoplerob themselves of the Word’s power.Belial with his childrenanyhow seeks to obstruct itso that it produces nothing useful. Cantata BWV 181 For your (non-frivolous) delectation & meditation, here is a link to a marvelous performance of this Cantata forContinue reading “Frivolous People”
Ratio as Remedy
According to Eric Voegelin, the “spiritual disorder of our time” is driven by the prevalence of ideologies whose aim “is to destroy the order of being, which is experienced as defective and unjust, and through man’s creative power to replace it with a perfect and just order.” Since this last bit is an absurdity—as theContinue reading “Ratio as Remedy”
"His Tongue shall Speak Judgment" 