An America Magazine Org Interview of Fr. James Schall S.J.
Any last thoughts?
We live in a time in which the very essence of our republic and our reason are being overturned in the public order. They are replaced by the voluntarism of which Pope Benedict spoke so clearly. All turmoil in the public order begins in the hearts and minds of the dons, clerical and academic. My last thoughts are those of Chesterton concluding Heretics in 1905, that in the end, the only ones left to uphold reason in the modern world will be the believers. We are seeing this happen before our very eyes, but few notice because few want to know.
Showing posts with label GK Chesterton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GK Chesterton. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Saturday, June 21, 2014
GK Chesterton and the Diabolic
Excerpt from G.K. Chesterton, the Diabolist & “The Most Terrible Thing”
And it was the most terrible thing.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Courage of Papa Bene
Humility is the often used adjective to describe Pope Benedict XVI/ Papa Bene. Indeed, there is that humble and gentle spirit that pervades him. The anecdotes of those around him and have met him paint a man who is truly simple, accomodating, and patient.
Yet, I see in him another virtue and that is courage. It is not like the self-righteous, self-centered courage that wants attention to one's self and snaps at anyone that distracts.. It is not a firy kind of courage that guns at those who disagree. It is not an imposing kind of courage that wants to shove himself right into your face. It is not an aggressive, fearless kind of courage of muggers, rapists, smugglers. Neither is it a vociferous courage that tries to drown a fear of being found out.
Papa Bene, now Papa Ratzi, has courage. And it is no wonder how some people are so angry at him. He lends voice to their questions and gives a proposition that will bring them to question themselves. Unsettling, indeed.
Papa Ritzi has courage to be where he is also vulnerable. A position where he can be subjected to adulation and ridicule alike. He goes into Twitter, grants interviews, was a guest writer for Wall Street Journal, was on BBC radio. He has Q&A with the youth, the prisoners and others.. He met with the sex abused victims. He has a vulnerability borne of a courage that is not afraid to love. That knows love.
Papa Ritzi has a courage that confronts the realities of life. Such courage cultivated when he was a Prefect. He knows the ills of Christendom and the world, at large. Yet, he can fearlessly face it and do what he can do to correct. This is the courage borne of faithfulness to the Truth. He is convicted of the Truth and became a co-worker of Truth and this has given him the courage to be out in the storm and yet, never loses hope.
Papa Ratzi's renunciation of the papacy was a hallmark of courage. It is a courage to face who he is, even if it displeases other people. It is a courage that even makes him all the more vulnerable. The courage of facing who he is brings forth a strength to continue to live a faithful and purposeful life.
Most of all, Papa Ratzi has a gentle, quiet courage that comes from holiness. His personal relationship with God, his personal encounter with Jesus was the source of his courage. He believes, loves, and trusts this Person of Jesus and that was all there is for him to do what he must do.
“Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die.” GK Chesterton
Yet, I see in him another virtue and that is courage. It is not like the self-righteous, self-centered courage that wants attention to one's self and snaps at anyone that distracts.. It is not a firy kind of courage that guns at those who disagree. It is not an imposing kind of courage that wants to shove himself right into your face. It is not an aggressive, fearless kind of courage of muggers, rapists, smugglers. Neither is it a vociferous courage that tries to drown a fear of being found out.
Papa Bene, now Papa Ratzi, has courage. And it is no wonder how some people are so angry at him. He lends voice to their questions and gives a proposition that will bring them to question themselves. Unsettling, indeed.
Papa Ritzi has courage to be where he is also vulnerable. A position where he can be subjected to adulation and ridicule alike. He goes into Twitter, grants interviews, was a guest writer for Wall Street Journal, was on BBC radio. He has Q&A with the youth, the prisoners and others.. He met with the sex abused victims. He has a vulnerability borne of a courage that is not afraid to love. That knows love.
Papa Ritzi has a courage that confronts the realities of life. Such courage cultivated when he was a Prefect. He knows the ills of Christendom and the world, at large. Yet, he can fearlessly face it and do what he can do to correct. This is the courage borne of faithfulness to the Truth. He is convicted of the Truth and became a co-worker of Truth and this has given him the courage to be out in the storm and yet, never loses hope.
Papa Ratzi's renunciation of the papacy was a hallmark of courage. It is a courage to face who he is, even if it displeases other people. It is a courage that even makes him all the more vulnerable. The courage of facing who he is brings forth a strength to continue to live a faithful and purposeful life.
Most of all, Papa Ratzi has a gentle, quiet courage that comes from holiness. His personal relationship with God, his personal encounter with Jesus was the source of his courage. He believes, loves, and trusts this Person of Jesus and that was all there is for him to do what he must do.
“Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die.” GK Chesterton
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Holy Week: Living and Dying
Sometimes we hold on too much to life and there are times when we seem to use death as an escape route - a false solution to our problems. But what is it that makes life worth living and at the same time worth dying for.
“How can we describe that moment in which we experience what life truly is? It is the MOMENT of LOVE, a moment which is simultaneously the moment of truth when life is discovered for what it is. The DESIRE for IMMORTALITY does not arise from the fundamentally unsatisfying enclosed existence of the isolated self, but from the experience of love, of communion, of the Thou." - Joseph Ratzimger, Eschatology: Death and Eternal Life
Death is the door to eternity. With a life lived in love and truth, death becomes its fullness. It is fulfilment of what we are living for.
“I have not so lived amongst you, that I need be ASHAMED to LIVE; nor do I FEAR to DIE, for we have a GOOD LORD”. -St. Ambrose
“Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong DESIRE to LIVE taking the form of a READINESS to DIE.” - GK Chesterton
“How can we describe that moment in which we experience what life truly is? It is the MOMENT of LOVE, a moment which is simultaneously the moment of truth when life is discovered for what it is. The DESIRE for IMMORTALITY does not arise from the fundamentally unsatisfying enclosed existence of the isolated self, but from the experience of love, of communion, of the Thou." - Joseph Ratzimger, Eschatology: Death and Eternal Life
Death is the door to eternity. With a life lived in love and truth, death becomes its fullness. It is fulfilment of what we are living for.
“I have not so lived amongst you, that I need be ASHAMED to LIVE; nor do I FEAR to DIE, for we have a GOOD LORD”. -St. Ambrose
“Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong DESIRE to LIVE taking the form of a READINESS to DIE.” - GK Chesterton
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