Men put the grandeur of the idea of unity in the means; God, in the end; the result is that this idea of grandeur leads us to a thousand petty things. To force all men to march with the same step, toward the same purpose, that is a human idea. To introduce an infinite varietyContinue reading “The Grandeur of Unity”
Tag Archives: authority
On Keeping One’s Head (Part II)
And if thy hand, or thy foot scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee. . . . And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee. Matthew 18:8-9 These words, metaphorical though they be, and no matter how one interprets them, are among the many hard sayingsContinue reading “On Keeping One’s Head (Part II)”
Countering Social Injustice
In one of the great ironies of history, the term “social justice” was coined (in the 19th century) by a conservative Italian priest, in opposition to attempts to unite his country under a centralized (and therefore despotic) “liberal” regime. Luigi Taparelli D’Azeglio, S. J. (1793-1862) laid the foundations for neo-Thomism, and for modern Catholic SocialContinue reading “Countering Social Injustice”
Thankworthy Suffering
Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, Not only to the good and gentle, But also to the perverse. For this is thankworthy: If for conscience toward God, A man endure sorrows, suffering wrongfully. 1 Peter 2:17-19 St. Peter’s teaching that thoseContinue reading “Thankworthy Suffering”
Questioning Authority
They found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions. Luke 2:46 One of the many prejudices masquerading as enlightenment in modern times is the notion that reason and religion are antithetical modes of confronting reality. How many voices call for “dialogue,” when they really meanContinue reading “Questioning Authority”
God is the Supreme Ruler
It had escaped my notice that today is the 850th anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Thomas Becket. Remarkably, the courageous stand this statesman, scholar, and priest took in defense of religious liberty is recounted, admired, and related to current affairs in this proclamation from the President of the United States. When the furious KingContinue reading “God is the Supreme Ruler”
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 natureContinue reading “His Soul is His Own”
"His Tongue shall Speak Judgment" 