Saturday, July 31, 2021

For Pascal, diversion is not only useful, but (under the conditions imposed by the Fall) necessary

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      "Thus Pascal doesn’t condemn divertissement, because he notes the utility of it, and even the necessity.  It would be a misinterp...

Ps 119 (118):148

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קִדְּמ֣וּ עֵ֭ינַי אַשְׁמֻרֹ֑ות RSV:  My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on thy promise NRSV:  My eyes ar...
Friday, July 30, 2021

Mark the seasons [(tous kairous)]. Await him that is above every season [(kairon)].

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πλέον σπουδαῖος γίνου οὗ εἶ.  τοὺς καιροὺς καταμάνθανε.  τὸν ὑπὲρ καιρὸν προσδόκα, τὸν ἄχρονον, τὸν ἀόρατον, τὸν δι' ἡμᾶς ὁρατόν, τὸν ἀψ...
Thursday, July 29, 2021

The dangers of an (understandable) obsession with the challenges posed by Entsittlichung

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      "As in German Protestantism generally, so also in Hamburg [the] political 'rebirth' of Germany and [the] religious as wel...
Tuesday, July 27, 2021

"Where no binding relation to the truth exists, the Word dies."

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"Wo kein bindendes Verhältnis zur Wahrheit besteht, stirbt das Wort."      Reinhold Schneider, as quoted without a citation in Hei...
Monday, July 26, 2021

"it seemed important to me then, as it does now, to take the person out of the cover of office and expect a real personal testimony of faith from the spokesmen of the Church."

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      Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, in "Benedict XVI laments lack of faith within Church institutions in Germany," Catholic News Age...
Sunday, July 25, 2021

God isn't in the business of "sanctify[ing] our present way of life"

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"Accept, O Lord, we pray, the offerings which we bring from the abundance of your gifts, that through the powerful working of your grac...