It might seem perverse to describe the death of a painfully frail 95-year-old man as a uniquely sad event. But in the case of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI we have to consider the poignant and unsettling circumstances in which he died. I was in St Peter’s Square on 10 April, 2005, when the words “Josephum… The …
The Country Where Merit is Run Down, Part IV: High Schools Take it Literally
Well, at least one did: Last fall, along with about 1.5 million U.S. high school juniors, the Yashar teen took the PSAT, which determines whether a student qualifies as a prestigious National Merit scholar. When it came time to submit his college applications this fall, he didn’t have a National Merit honor to report—but it …
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Humanism is a heresy
“There is nothing particular about man. He is but a part of this world.” This observation on the pretensions of humanity — cool, disillusioned, …Humanism is a heresy
Christmas: The Beginning of the Gospel
Again from Bossuet's Elevations on the Mysteries: The beginning of the Gospel is in these words of the Angel to the shepherds: I announce to you, word for word, I evangelize you, I bring you the good news, which will be the subject of great joy, and it is is that of the birth of …
The Song of the Angels
From Bossuet's Elevations on the Mysteries: Glory to God, the highest of the heavens, and peace on earth to men of good will. Peace is proclaimed throughout the earth: the peace of man with God through the remission of sins; the peace of men among themselves; the peace of man with himself, by the concurrence …
Britain is haunted by Dickensian ghosts — UnHerd
In the Celtic fringes of Europe, the idea of “thin places” persists — locations where the boundary between this reality and others is claimed to be at its most fragile, even permeable. 1,952 more words Britain is haunted by Dickensian ghosts — UnHerd
The Baptism of John and the Baptism of Jesus Christ
In the Communion Gospel this Sunday from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, we have this in part: And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom …
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Georg Cantor and infinity
On 03 March 1845, the German mathematician Georg Cantor was born in St. Petersburg. In 1862, he entered the Federal Polytechnic Institute in Zurich, eventually becoming a member of the mathematics department. At the death of his father, he left Zurich for Berlin where, in addition to his mathematical interests, he began to study philosophy …
A Lesson for Anglicans: The Rt. Rev. Brian Barnett
It seems I'm linking to quite a few obits these days. But those who have passed on have lessons for us who are left behind, and this is another one of those lessons. I knew Brian for many years, especially when he was Administrative Pastor of the North Cleveland Church of God and I was …
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Daniel Vassell: The Man Who Took the Celebration to the People Now Celebrates in Glory
Daniel Vassell, dean of Mobilize in the Church of God Division of Education, has gone to glory: Dr. Daniel J. Vassell Sr., 64, was many things — a husband, father, grandfather and reverend — but one thing was certain: he was a visible representation of joy. You could always feel his presence in the way …
Positive Infinity 