Sailing the Last Voyage with Newton and Pascal
Today is Ascension Day, when we celebrate Our Lord's bodily ascension into heaven. The Acts of the Apostles describe the "aftermath" on earth as follows: While they were still gazing up into the heavens, as he went, suddenly two men, clothed in white, stood beside them, And said: "Men of Galilee, why are you standing …
Continue reading "You Could Just Stand There and Look Stupid: An Ascension Day Reflection"
With Holy Week behind us, I'd like to stop and note an interesting email dialogue. My persistent (well, sometimes) Canadian commenter took a catty swipe at my translations of Bossuet's Elevations on the Mysteries, which is an ongoing project of mine. Evidently someone else thinks highly of the effort. I received this from Dr. Mitchell …
Continue reading "Translating Bossuet was Really Worth It After All"
Recently I was speaking with a Nigerian pastor about current attitudes towards adversity in life. I have seen many concerned about the effect of prosperity teaching on African Christians, and this pastor certainly practices an approach to ministry that is full of faith. But he also accepts the reality that there will be adversity in …
On his or her own initiative, as was the case with Bossuet. From R. de la Broise's Bossuet and the Bible, pp. xiv-xv: He was fifteen years old when a happy coincidence came to mind. His father, who returned to Dijon from time to time, led him (Bossuet) to his office. There the young man …
Continue reading "The Way You'd Really Like a Young Person to Start Bible Study"
From Philo Judaeus, On the Creation of the World, LXI: And in his before mentioned account of the creation of the world, Moses teaches us also many other things, and especially five most beautiful lessons which are superior to all others. In the first place, for the sake of convicting the atheists, he teaches us …
FEL S-092 (1967) The ink (printed or handwritten) had barely dried on the Second Vatican Council's documents when Catholic composers and artists began to write songs for what we call the "old folk Mass" but what was revolutionary then. Leading the pack (in quantity at least) was Paul Quinlan, S.J., who produced an enormous number …
Believe it or not, that's how it got started: The 1960s were early days for McDonald’s and Groen was struggling to make ends meet. So he cast around for a new idea, and spotted that another restaurant was pulling his missing Catholic customers in selling fish. So he put some fried fish in a bun, …
A pithy summary from R. de la Broise, Bossuet and the Bible, 1890, pp. 160-1: "To preach the word of God, to go hear the word of God," these are the expressive words of the Christian language. They neatly outline one of the distinct characteristics of preaching, one of the points which make the genre …
World Library WLSM-36-SM (1968) Jack Miffleton started out at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. That shouldn't be strange to regulars on this blog: it was also the starting point of the trio who produced Songs for the Masses. It's a pedigree that has largely been forgotten. And that's sad; this is a good folk production …
This is one in a series from Bossuet’s Elevations on the Mysteries. The previous post is here. More information on the Bossuet Project is here. We no longer count the admirable singularities of the creation of man, so great are the number. But the last is immortality. O God, what a marvel! All the animals …
Positive Infinity 