Why look back to the Ancients: Aurelius, Seneca, and the Stoics? Why would we want to return to one of the last Roman Emperors and Greek philosophers who personified rigorous self-denial, extreme fortitude and emotional indifference? Perhaps because we live in an age characterized by self-indulgence, cowardice, and untrammeled emotion? One of the very first […]
Why Look Back to the Ancients? Read More »
Fatima: A new and magnificent film Most of us know the story, or at least its outline. But for me, it was history, Fatima statues and primarily warnings from the Mother of God. The recently released film, produced by Origin Entertainment, highlights the oldest of the three visionaries, Lucia. with an astounding and mesmerizing performance by
Fatima: A New and Magnificent Film Read More »
He Made Adam First It’s almost fall and I am behind in the writing of Plausible Liars. Way behind, for I had intended that the first draft be completed by the end of October. Although it is true that we have sold and moved from our beautiful northern Nevada home of eighteen years and my eight-year-old laptop finally
He Made Adam First Read More »
It’s just a little incense-Saints Cornelius and Cyprian In the Christian liturgy, Wednesday, September 16, was celebrated as the feast of two early martyrs: Saints Cornelius and Cyprian. It was fourth-century Rome and therefore irrelevant to us seventeen hundred centuries later. But that is because I never bothered to learn anything about these two men.
It’s Just a Little Incense: Saints Cornelius and Cyprian Read More »
Thomas More- A Man For All Seasons Most of us know the movie, and not the play, a misfortune. The film, although excellent, is incapable of conveying the complexities, nuances, and timeless relevance of the two-act play, A Man For All Seasons. It’s a starkly written drama about the most important battle any of us face:
Thomas More-A Man For All Seasons Read More »
I live in my head until suddenly something happens to vault me down to my heart. Naturally, I’m a writer. And am therefore constantly conjuring plots and characters. Or working on an article. So this move from our Nevada home for the last eighteen years merely consisted of jumping through the hoops of keeping the house
I Live in My Head Until Suddenly Read More »
The Things I’ll Miss constitute a very long list. So I will share only the top few. The items on my list of the things I’ll miss competed with one another for top priority as the boys (Shadow and Seymour) and I hiked to the top of Pipeline for what may be the last time.
The Things I’ll Miss: Ode to the High Desert of Northern Nevada Read More »
Penitent Mary Magdalene-wooded sculpture Donatello Mary Called Magdalene is a woman alternately thought to be prostitute, mystic, secret lover of Jesus, and the apostle who reached higher levels than did any of the male apostles. Throughout the ages, Mary beckons both believers and non. Her relationship with Jesus is a curious one, implying an intimacy
Mary Called Magdalene: A Portrait Read More »
Sanctify the mess: relearning old lessons Ever had a week that looked like this? Several days during this past week seemed, virtually anyway, like a humongous pile of dirty dishes that kept replenishing themselves, independent of me. Meaning that my productive intentions for the day were cast aside and piling up. That there was very
Sanctify The Mess: Relearning Old Lessons Read More »
Real Poverty-Not knowing what we lack. We hear the phrase a lot: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” St. Mark qualifies St. Luke’s with two words: “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Until hearing this morning’s EWTN daily mass and homily by Fr. Mark Mary, I’d not given any thought to the qualifier,
Our Real Poverty-Not Knowing What We Lack Read More »