A Living Gospel

All the actions, all the moments of the saints make up the gospel of the Holy Spirit. Their holy souls are the paper, their sufferings and their actions are the ink. The Holy Spirit, with his own action for pen, writes a living gospel, but it will not be readable until the day of glory,

I Have Found David, My Servant

Do not forget to do good, and to impart; for by such sacrifices God’s favor is obtained. Hebrews 13:16 If you enjoy this blog, please share with friends!

Before Red State/Blue State

Long before the distribution of votes illustrated above became a familiar feature of political geography, America’s first partisan divide began with a debate between members of George Washington’s cabinet. In his Notes on the State of Virginia (1787), Thomas Jefferson makes a startlingly conservative argument. As much as possible, he insists, American citizens ought to

The Spirit of (Genuine) Disputation

[Genuine disputation] has as its sole purpose the clarification of objective substance. Clarifying speech in particular is animated by respect for the adversary. He is respected as a fellow seeker after truth. Disputing, conducting genuine debate, means expressly granting the other the right both to understand what we mean and critically to examine our statements

Carrying Cross and Candle

That to profane eyes was contemptible, which the hearts of saints would afterwards glory in: Christ displaying his own cross on his shoulders, and bearing that which was not to be put under a bushel, the candlestick of that candle which was now about to burn. st augustine Christ bids us light our candles and

The Life of Faith

The life of faith is nothing less than the continued pursuit of God through all that disguises, disfigures, destroys and, so to say, annihilates Him. God hides beneath veils of darkness and illusive appearances which make His will difficult to recognize; but in spite of every obstacle faithful souls follow Him and love Him even

Too Late to Retreat!

The trumpet’s loud clangor excites us to arms, with shrill notes of anger, and mortal alarms. The double double double beat of the thundering drum cries hark! the foes come; charge, charge, ’tis too late to retreat! John dryden, a song for st. cecilia’s day If you enjoy this blog, please share with friends!

His Soul is His Own

Every subject’s duty is the king’s; but every subject’s soul is his own. Henry V, Act 4, Scene 1 According to St. Thomas Aquinas, the purpose of authority is to help each and every member of a community achieve happiness. For human beings, happiness consists in a life tending toward the perfection of a nature

A Blessed New Year!

Come, Jesus, come to your church, and grant us a blessed new year! Increase the honor of your name, preserve sound teaching, and bless pulpit and altar! J.S. Bach, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (text)

Praiseworthy by Nature

If sanctity consists in doing our duty and leaving the rest to God, how are we to know our duty? Though divine law instructs us in this matter, its counsels and injunctions are addressed to men already blessed with the light of reason. At their best, St. Paul tells us, “The Gentiles, who have not