… our whole soul should have at every moment a clear eye, able to watch and notice the thoughts entering our heart from the evil one and repel them. The heart must be always burning with faith, humility, and love. Do not fear the conflict, and do not flee from it: where there is no…
Every day is a pop quiz.
Dante Alighieri, born in 1265 in Florence, is perhaps the greatest non-religious, technical poet to have ever lived. Not a single poet has been capable of replicating the Commedia’s hendecasyllable metre.* Dante’s Commedia takes us on an encyclopedic journey to see God face to face and return to tell the story. Commedia is a journey….
“Once the Fathers of the Scetis were holding a council to reprimand a monk who had committed a fault. St. Moses was invited, but he refused to attend. The priest went to him, and said, “Come, for the people are expecting you.” St. Moses arose, took a basket filled with sand that had a hole…
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. – 2 Peter 1:20
If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don’t deal in…
“The Lord reigns, let the peoples rage;” (Ps 98/99: 1, Septuagint-translation) Re-focus on His judgment and kingship. “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no help.” (Ps. 146:3)
Take are hard stone with sharp corners. Knock it and rub it against other stones, until its sharpness and hardness are crushed by the knocking and rubbing and, at last, it is made round. So too, take a soul that is rough and abrupt. Put it into the community and company of tough short-tempered men….
“You, however, have not been appointed to decree vengeance upon men’s deeds and works, but rather to ask for mercy for the world, to keep vigil for salvation of all, and to partake in every man’s suffering, both the just and sinner’s. “Instead of an avenger, be a deliverer. Instead of a faultfinder, be a…
“The best witness of our faith – not the best gift, but the best witness of its scandalous truth . . . . It is the crucified and risen Christ.” Anthony Esolen