Paying Close Attention
Francis showed great tenderness for all of God’s creatures, however humble. Remembering the Psalmist’s words: As for me, I am a worm and no man, he would pick up any earth-worms he found in his…
Category: Catholicism
Why We Need the Saints
We don’t escape mimesis, we can only observe it—and in observing it, loosen the grip that envy has on us. And while we may be doomed to mimesis, we have, at least, a choice between…
Today’s One-Liner (#265)
Peter’s denial is a spectacular example: as soon as he finds himself surrounded by people hostile to Jesus, he imitates their hostility. — René Girard, All Desire Is a Desire for Being: Essential Writings Selected by…
Inviting the Fury of the Devils
Brother Angelo was much afraid of evil spirits and asked Francis to let a brother sleep in his cell and keep him company at night. Francis said to him: Why fear weak and feeble foes…
The “D” Word
When you get right down to it, every death is disaster. Death is a total, utter negation of everything that leads up to it. Many nonbelievers, in their more honest moments, admit the unmentionable: death…
Today’s One-Liner (#263)
People are often unreasonable, illogical, self-centered, and some even murderous; forgive them anyway. –Prayer of St. Teresa of Calcutta, Adapted
Today’s One-Liner (#262)
Following Christ had to take over my entire life. –Lila Rose, Fighting for Life: Becoming a Force for Change in a Wounded World
The Rules of Memorizing
St. Thomas proposes four rules: (1) To set in order what one wants to rememberbach; (2) to apply the mind deeply to it; (3) to think over it often; (4) when one wants to recollect…
Today’s One-Liner (#262)
What is necessary every moment is to be where we ought to be and to do the thing that matters. –AG Sertillanges, O.P., The Intellectual Life: Its Spirit, Conditions, Methods, trans. Mary Ryan, 242
Selective Appreciation
We usually like prophets when they say what we want to hear. They are especially welcome if they heap indictments on our enemies. When they get close to home, it is a different matter. –John…