Though the approach to the mountain Weathertop is only one scene in “The Lord of the Rings,” it is a telling one. Through romance, imagery of light and color, the voluptuousness of his landscapes, and the holiness of song and poetry, J.R.R. Tolkien brilliantly reveals himself as a master of the English language and, especially, [...]
If suffering seems to mock at life, death’s mockery of life is more blatant still. It is very curious that any man constructing either a way of life for himself or a larger system of life for society should ignore death altogether. Death, after all, is a fact. It was not invented by the Catholic [...]
Daniel McInerny’s "Beauty & Imitation" is a superb reactivation not only of Aristotle’s understanding of mimesis but also with an Aquinas enhancement. From the first page forward, in fine prose, McInerny surveys with sincerity and depth the Catholic understanding of the arts, beauty, and sublimity. Despite, or perhaps in part because of its importance and [...]
Two great works of republican literature, though separated by almost exactly a century, give us an important insight into the republican mind. The first, Joseph Addison’s play “Cato,” found a receptive and devoted audience among American founders such as George Washington, Nathan Hale, and Patrick Henry. During his famous and well-attended University of Pennsylvania lectures [...]
The purpose of education has not remained the same over the course of roughly four centuries. By the early 20th century, education for Protestantization and Americanization began to give way to something called "progressive education.” Not surprisingly, it is progressive education that Richard Weaver targets. Published in 1964, Richard Weaver’s Visions of Order: The Cultural [...]
The book donation program at my library is not just a means of receiving books; it has also become, even more, a mechanism for disposing of excess. As a volunteer, you think of yourself as cultivating a neat little garden, not unlike that small monastic library of the Middle Ages. Every Wednesday I head over [...]
One looks forward to the completion of Pat Buchanan's memoirs, especially the insider tales of the Nixon and Reagan years. He has always been courageous and compelling in debate and unflappable in his commitment to conservative populist principles. He, perhaps more than any public figure, waged the culture wars with grit, determination, and eloquence. Patrick [...]
Were the actions of Thomas Jefferson as president consistent with his constitutional theory? David N. Mayer’s account raises fundamental but unanswered questions. The Constitutional Thought of Thomas Jefferson by David N. Mayer (416 pages, University of Virginia Press, 1995) Thomas Jefferson continues to fascinate scholars. A voluminous literature examines his long public career and extensive comments on [...]
Whatever other methods of prayer we may at times find helpful, we must never forget and always turn back to the Scriptures as the Christian prayer book par excellence. Lectio Divina – Divine Reading In vocal prayer, despite the time given to brief moments of silence, we have been doing most of the talking. However, [...]
Death must come some time; this world isn’t our home, only a kind of hotel where our rooms will be wanted sooner or later for somebody else; life is meant to be only a span of time, and a comparatively short one. When I say it’s meant to be, I am, of course, assuming the [...]
If you are unfamiliar with theological classics and want an easeful entryway, here is what you should do: run to On the Incarnation, a short treatise written by St. Athanasius of Alexandria in the fourth century, in the English translation done by Sister Penelope Lawson in 1944. It features an introduction by C S. Lewis, [...]
Often placed, more or less justifiably, in the lineage of John Courtney Murray S.J. (1904–1967), Michael Novak (1933–2017) distinguished himself through systematic efforts in the direction of building a theology of economics. At the risk of making a statement that may seem too daring, I believe that Michael Novak’s work can be considered one of [...]
Jesus Christ revealed none of the scientific knowledge that it is possible for man to acquire by the use of his own reason. He confirmed the truth of that which reason can attain concerning God and the human soul, besides enlightening us regarding that sphere of truth which is inaccessible to reason, that is to [...]
If Scott Hahn’s "Catholic Study Bible" is a monument to the contribution that converts from Protestantism have made, Daniel Gonzalez’ "Mass Explained" is a monument to the solid, reliable, and deep faith of lifelong Catholics. Both books are magnificent accomplishments. A few years after I was received into the Catholic Church, my older brother and [...]