Long before his final illness, he’d asked his rabbi to conduct his burial service entirely in Hebrew, as though Hebrew were the strongest answer that could be accorded death.–Philip Roth, Everyman Read more

THE BONFIRE MOTETS. Beautiful–a must-read post, really. Read more

THE NUPTIAL MEANING OF THE MIND:…What has always struck readers of the Continental Rationalists from Descartes to Kant is how all these Rationalists divide reason from desire (usually called by them, tellingly, the passions, meaning feelings that overwhelm us rather than longings that express our inmost nature). De Lubac, on the contrary, sees reason and desire as parts of the same whole, subsumed under the wider image of “heart,” encompassing them both. And because desire is inherently outward in its... Read more

It may come as a surprise to some, but today–Monday, January 22–is a day of penance according to the particular law of the Latin rite in the United States. This is why. Read more

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGAINST PROHIBITION. Small, basic profile article. Reminded me of the excellent 2002 Reason piece, “Battlefield Conversions: Reason talks with three ex-warriors who now fight against the War on Drugs.” Read more

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOLLY PARTON. I got nothin’ else. Just, you know, go listen to The Essential Dolly Parton. Because she is so thoroughly awesome; and it’s her birthday. Read more

Blog and watch,Time and space– Disputed Mutability: What does a Christian owe the lover to whom he’s made a vow? –powerful discussion. And this is just one of those American things, like the vulture in As I Lay Dying–just because it shuffles its feet all over my country doesn’t mean I have to agree with it. “Of course, Jack does not exhibit all of Christ’s traits. He embraces the efficacy of violence, and how horrific means can be justified by... Read more

AN INTERESTING THING I HAVEN’T READ: Oasis, new magazine on living the Christian faith in Arabic societies. Via Amy Welborn. (For some reason the text on the website is huge on my screen–this happens with a few other sites too–so I will have to wait until I’m at a different computer to check it out. If anyone knows how to fix this problem, let me know….) Read more

But strength still goes out from your thornsand from your abysses the sound of music.Your shadows lie on my heart like rosesand your nights are like strong wine.–Gertrude von le Fort via Claw of the Conciliator Read more

BLOG OF IRAQI JOURNALISTS WORKING FOR THE MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPER GROUP. Via Unqualified Offerings, who excerpts here. (FWIW–at this point, I really don’t think I deserve an opinion on Iraq; the only informed political decision I could make is prayer, which is probably all I should ever have done. Anyway, go away and read the journalists’ blog.) Read more