“Something there is that doesn’t love a wall,” wrote poet Robert Frost. In the opening line to his famous poem, “Mending Wall,” Frost explores one of the mysteries of fallen human nature. Everyone feels both a need and aversion for order. His questioning of the role of walls tries to explain this … Read more
The doctrine of Our Lord Jesus Christ is full of seemingly antagonistic truths which nevertheless when examined closely, far from mutually denying one another actually complement one another, forming a truly marvelous harmony. This is the case, for example, with the seeming contradiction between Divine justice and goodness. God is at the … Read more
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Pauperist Heresies Heresies requiring material poverty for eternal salvation have sprung up since the dawn of Christianity. Here we refer more particularly to medieval miserabilists. Under the influence of the Cathars or Albigensians, who adopted the Manichean principle that … Read more
I believe that the patriarchal society, like everything that exists in this valley of tears, becomes stronger over time, in proportion to its existence and production. However, at the same time, it grows older and older. Both institutions and families age. And, gradually, glory itself becomes a burden under which these institutions, … Read more
In the placid waters of this canal of the Belgian city of Ghent, the facades of some buildings typical of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance have been reflected for centuries. These buildings create a singular architectural impression of balance because of the harmonious contrast between their imposing, serious and solid mass, … Read more
Calmness is the rarest quality in human life. It is the poise of a great nature, in harmony with itself and its ideals. It is the moral atmosphere of a life self-reliant and self-controlled. Calmness is singleness of purpose, absolute confidence, and conscious power — ready to be focused in an instant … Read more
Contemporary man feels very much attracted to God’s mercy, more so than his forerunners in bygone eras. Man’s Smallness, God’s Infinity Is this attraction due to the countless wars that marked the last century and still mark the present? Or is it an effect of the continuing series of natural disasters that … Read more
Part I An Ill-Disguised Dictatorship Why do most people feel uncomfortable talking about equality? Is it fear of being “different?” Fear of being ridiculed? Fear of rejection? Political correctness? Peer pressure? No one admits it, but everyone is aware of an ill-disguised dictatorship of equality that creates uneasiness at the sole … Read more
Data Without Wisdom Most of the architecture at Yale University is strikingly similar to the hallowed halls of ancient European universities such as Oxford or Cambridge. Much of its Gothic Revival or Georgian style buildings are simply awe-inspiring, providing an uplifting ambience for serious, scholarly study. However, the architectural harmony on campus … Read more
With the aid of a portable keyboard, TFP member Philip Calder gave a presentation called “The Power of Music,” to audiences in Topeka and Kansas City over the February 2-3 weekend. The topic awakened great interest as Mr. Calder took the audience through the great periods of music starting with Gregorian chant … Read more