At the first coming he was wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger. At his second coming he will be clothed in light as in a garment. In the first coming he endured the cross, despising the shame; in the second coming he will be in glory, escorted by an army of angels. (Saint Cyril[…]
Month: November 2024
ChatGPT and the Purpose of Education
S.A. Dance makes a good case for true education, on the second anniversary of the release of ChatGPT, the ‘artificial intelligence’ software – which is in essence just an algorithm collating the repertoire of the collective knowledge of humans. As Dunce puts it: Two years ago, on November 30, OpenAI made their text generator software[…]
Britain Chooses Death
Tragic, but not a suprise, that the House of Commons yesterday voted by quite a wide margin – 330 to 275 – to legalize physician-assisted murder-suicide, known by the euphemism ‘euthanasia’. This literally means ‘good death’, which this most definitely is not. Not a surprise, since in a nation that has lost God, to paraphrase[…]
Life and Death in Britain
Britain votes tomorrow – or today if you’re reading this on Friday – on euthanasia, or more properly the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) legislation, which would permit the ‘terminally ill’ to be helped to commit suicide. The bill itself, of course, is suicidal, the thin edge of the wedge towards health care turning[…]
The Popes and the Miraculous medal
November 27th is the traditional Feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, which offers great hope for our shattered world. It was on this day in 1830 that the Blessed Mother appeared to St Catherine Laboure in the Motherhouse Chapel of the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity in Paris, France. Catherine was still[…]
One must see God in everyone. (Saint Catherine, +1876)
St Leonard of Port Maurice: Servant of the Cross of Christ
On November 26th, the Franciscan family celebrates one of its great saints: St Leonard of Port Maurice, who performed an amazing number of missions, by which he has received the title of the Apostle of Rome and of Italy as well as the Apostle of the Most Holy Sacrament and of the Sacred Heart of[…]
Homily of Pope John Paul: Christ’s Spiritual Kingdom
EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION FOR THE FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING HOMILY OF POPE JOHN PAUL II Sunday, 23 November 1997 1. On this Sunday which closes the liturgical year, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. In the Gospel we listened to Pontius Pilate’s question to Jesus: “Are you the[…]
He must reign in our minds, which should assent with perfect submission and firm belief to revealed truths and to the doctrines of Christ. He must reign in our wills, which should obey the laws and precepts of God. He must reign in our hearts, which should spurn natural desires and love God above all[…]
Beloved, how blessed and wonderful are God’s gifts! There is life everlasting, joy in righteousness, truth in freedom, faith, confidence, and self-control in holiness. And these are the gifts that we can comprehend; what of all the others that are being prepared for those who look to him? (Pope Saint Clement I, +99)