This is delightful, really, and sad, too, in a way -a travelogue film of London, in 1927. Found at New Advent, who notes that this film was taken “five years after Chesterton’s conversion and thirteen years before the blitz.” Fascinating, and a little melancholy to consider. Wonderful to see how London had recovered from “the war to end all wars,” and to see the promise inherent in all of those new forms of travel and communication. Melancholy because “promise” seems... Read more
As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of its fall, the ‘nets are abuzz over this interesting column in the Guardian, UK; it is written by a woman named Bruni de la Motte, who kind of misses that old Berlin Wall and her East German existence: On 9 November 1989 when the Berlin Wall came down I realised German unification would soon follow, which it did a year later. This meant the end of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), the country... Read more
I have only just begun to read news about The Ghastly Mrs. Pelosi’s machinations, or the single-mindedness of the president who flinches at the slightest criticism but seems not to care about the CIC part of his job, and the passing of the monster bill, and also about some of the troubling rumbles coming out of Europe. While reading, I had the overwhelming image of the shadow of a jackboot, poised just above our nation. Socialism is an opportunistic infection... Read more
Photosource Abba Lot visited Abba Joseph and summarized his religious life this way: “Abba, I recite the liturgy the best I can, sometimes I fast, I pray and meditate, I try to live peacefully with others, and I attempt to cleanse my thoughts. What more can I do?” The old man Joseph stood up, stretching his hands toward heaven. His fingers seemed to be ten lamps of fire. He said to Lot, “If you will, you can become all flame.”... Read more
I’m trying to watch the celebration in NY – the Yankees going down the Canyon of Heroes amid a couple million fans and a lot of shredded paper – and this is the most unsatisfying experience. Why? Because television broadcasters -and apparently whoever is directing them- have gone completely hyperactive. I want to see the parade. That’s all I want to see. I don’t want to see silly female reporters screaming into their microphones about “the love and positive energy”... Read more
Amma Theodora lists these qualities for a teacher: – Have no desire to dominate – Have no interest in vanity or pride – Never be distracted by flattery or gifts – Be in control of the stomach – Be slow to become angry – Be as patient, gentle and humble as possible – Be properly examined and without political ties – Be a lover of souls You, then, that teach others, will you not teach yourselves? – Romans, 2:21 (Source,... Read more
This is a rather remarkable story of one couple’s journey. (Source) It was January 2006 and she was living in Singapore with her husband, Kumar, and her son, Karthi. In her dream she saw a “very humble lady” surrounded by candles. She and Kumar were devout Hindus and they knew the lady in Uma’s dreams was not a Hindu god. They knew little of Christianity, but they thought this lady might be the Blessed Mother. Still, because they came from... Read more
There is so much out there, let’s take a quick look around, shall we? Students in Iran, just wanna know: “Obama, are you with us, or with the regime”. Oh, don’t ask Obama; he really doesn’t know. All he knows is, if Bush was for you (and he was), Obama must be against you. He’d really like to help you, but it’s the rules. Sorry. Keith Hennessy: Enough already, with the ‘inherited debt’ lies. Ed Morrissey agrees and writes: …bear... Read more
Our Passionist friends at St. Joseph’s Monastery in Kentucky invite us to make a retreat with them. I would love to be there right, when their lovely grounds are in splendid autumn, offering hope in the vivid colors that accompany approaching silence; promise of renewal. But, since I am nowhere near Kentucky (and like a bad wine, I do not travel well) I will content myself, for now, with enjoying the lovely photos which the sisters have posted on their... Read more
Read this. The internet chapter of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, a secret copyright treaty whose text Obama’s administration refused to disclose due to “national security” concerns, has leaked. It’s bad. …ISPs have to cut off the Internet access of accused copyright infringers or face liability. This means that your entire family could be denied to the internet — and hence to civic participation, health information, education, communications, and their means of earning a living — if one member is accused... Read more
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