April 30th, 2007
The First Things blog has the text of a talk given by Archbishop Chaput of Denver at the John Cardinal Krol Conference in Philadelphia on April 21. I was especially taken with what he says–sounds very Tolkienish–about Bernanos’ last essays on our modern fascination for toys and machines, and how they can distract us from [...]
April 27th, 2007
Along with “Put money in thy purse!” the following two items nicely fit into the new posting category we’ve added to The Idyllist, “Arts Community”. As things like this cross our desks, we’ll pass them on to y’all in the Christian writers and arts community.
First, The Trinity Arts Conference is sponsoring its multidsciplary conference on [...]
April 24th, 2007
In the context of a Delaware senate bill currently being debated, our friend Rae Stabosz has posted an important article on the appalling implications of wanting to use ferilized human eggs for scientific research in search of medical cures. The upshot: While white college girls are getting paid thousands to undergo risky procedures to donate [...]
April 24th, 2007
The folks over at Critical Mass, the National Book Critics Circle blog, are leading a charge to protest the dwindling space given to books in our nation’s newspapers. This includes the increasing tendency of local rags to drop their local critics, who tend to keep a closer eye on local and regional book news, in [...]
April 23rd, 2007
I’ve just posted a new review up on Catholic Movies Online of the TV biopic of the life of John Paul II starring Jon Voight.
It was very well done, you should check it out if you haven’t seen it.
The review is here.
Debra Murphy on Reviving Christianity’s Artistic Tradition
Kelly Hatzenbihler on Reviving Christianity’s Artistic Tradition
Rach on Nessun Dorma, As You’ve Never Heard it Before
Kathleen Lundquist on Reviving Christianity’s Artistic Tradition Debra Murphy on Reviving Christianity’s Artistic Tradition
The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: A Shocking Murder and the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective by Kate Summerscale
Joan of Arc: A Life (Penguin Lives) by Mary Gordon
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There is a sense of insignificance which is trying and discouraging and leads to envy of the rich and great. It leads also to a certain selfishness even amid poverty and absolute want. The absence of the ideal of the self as potentially great and capable of great deeds keeps it small and self-centred….The greatness of the Church, coupled with a true sense of the dignity of the individual human soul, if looked at as a Christian should look at it, is the true antidote.
— Wilfrid Ward