Refinement without Weakness, Strength without Brutality

Refinement without Weakness, Strength without Brutality 1

Public opinion in the Romantic era was attracted by refined, subtle and fragile souls. We would say exaggeratedly fragile, if fragility was not already in itself a defect and an exaggeration. In our days, when the struggle for survival of body and soul requires ceaseless effort, people’s admiration turns more frequently to … Read more

Two Ways of Looking at Country Life

Two Ways of Looking at Country Life

It is six o’clock in the evening. The toil of the day has come to an end. The noble tranquility of the atmosphere envelops the vastitude of the fields, inviting one to repose and meditation. Nature is transfigured by a golden twilight, making everything glow with a remote and suave reflection of … Read more

Regionalism, Tradition and Good Taste

Regionalism, Tradition and Good Taste 1

In the field of art, two equally erroneous extremes should be avoided. One is cosmopolitanism, which strives to establish only one art form for the whole world without considering the characteristics proper to each people and each region. The other is nationalism, which rejects any outside influence, even when legitimate and necessary, … Read more

The Termite Man

The Termite Man 2

I know the case of an old farmer of São Paulo, the master of a vast coffee plantation and of a spacious mansion, square-shaped with two floors, a door in the center and windows of equal size throughout the facade. No external decoration. The farmer, as is traditionally the case in Brazil, … Read more

Reflections on a Café

Reflections on a Café

For a long time, a very long time, I have wanted to convey an impression about the development of Brazil. “Development” is a term I use here in a sense only remotely related to what is usually understood by that word. I am not referring to economic-financial development. This is the supreme … Read more

Private Property

Private Property 1

Today I fulfill a longstanding promise of providing my readers with a collection of pontifical texts concerning private property. The tumultuous situation of the times had led me to other themes. Now, however, I have the satisfaction of making these golden teachings – so neglected in certain Catholic publications – shine once … Read more

The Month of Mary

The Month of Mary 2

During the month of May – the month of Mary – we feel a special protection of Our Lady that extends to all the faithful; we feel a special joy that shines and illuminates our hearts expressing the universal certainty of Catholics that the indispensable patronage of our heavenly mother becomes even … Read more

The True Devotion Trilogy I

The True Devotion Trilogy I

To you, Dear Atheist In 1980, Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira wrote three articles explaining the timeliness of Saint Louis de Montfort’s “slavery of love” to Jesus Christ through Mary. Indeed, nothing could be so contrary to the spirit of our age, and yet, nothing can truly provide such a complete solution. … Read more

The True Devotion Trilogy II

The True Devotion Trilogy II

Service, a Joy Imagine then that to your spirit – bruised by life, calloused or even wounded, hot with fever – one of those figures appears about which your childhood innocence, dead now for many years, used to dream. A queen, all majestic and smiling, leads you by the hand into the … Read more