What does it mean to be conservative? The modern ideal of conservatism arose as a rejection of Enlightenment principles and their instantiation in political revolution, particularly the French Revolution. Conservatives such as Burke and de Maistre defended the centrality of Read more…
God is not calling us to become a version of ourselves. Although we are made in his image, he seeks to recreate us in the likeness of Christ. The goal of the spiritual life is move beyond the self and Read more…
On the surface, Advent and Lent are liturgical seasons expressed by the color violet, which prepare for a major feast. It is common to hear one explanation of the difference, that only Lent (and not Advent) is a penitential season, Read more…
In my last post, I looked at some things that went wrong for Spencer Trappist Brewery in Massachusets. Remarkably, a Catholic bishop in Norway (of the territorial prelature of Trondheim to be precise), Bishop Erik Varden, OSCO, is a Trappist, Read more…
Many of us were excited for the first American Trappist brewery back in 2014 at St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts. I was inspired to write The Beer Option: Brewing a Catholic Culture Yesterday & Today by the long tradition Read more…
Classical music speaks to us, even if much of it is wordless. It communicates to us, nonetheless, through its powerful and complex melody, rhythm, and harmony, employing a beautiful and mathematical language that enchants, agitates at times, inspires, sooths, and Read more…
English is a very odd, though interesting, language. It has its roots in the Germanic family of languages, with very minor influences from Celtic and Norse languages, and experienced a major overhaul through the influence of French after the Norman Read more…
My last post focused on the background of the Divine Mercy devotion and St. Faustina’s Diary was actually the first Catholic book I ever read, back in 1995. I went on to read John Paul II’s Crossing the Threshold of Read more…
Good Friday through the Second Sunday of Easter is the time of mercy, the time when Jesus redeemed us from sin and established new life in his Resurrection. This is why it is the time Jesus asked us to pray Read more…
A few years ago I read to my kids the first few volumes of the The Green Ember series, written by S.D. Smith, and immediately I was struck by one of its central themes: betrayal. It stood out pretty starkly Read more…