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“This blog is like a fusion of the Baroque ‘salon’ with its well-tuned harpsichord around which polite society gathered for entertainment and edification and, on the other hand, a Wild West “saloon” with its out-of-tune piano and swinging doors, where everyone has a gun and something to say. Nevertheless, we try to point our discussions back to what it is to be Catholic in this increasingly difficult age, to love God, and how to get to heaven.” – Fr. Z
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Category Archives: Patristiblogging
“A pledge of eternal life”: Augustine on “dew”
I am sure you are really scratching your head about what “dew” could possibly mean in the Second Eucharistic Prayer: “Hæc ergo dona, quæsumus, Spiritus tui rore sanctifica, ut nobis Corpus et Sanguis fiant Domini nostri Iesu Christi… literally… Therefore, … Read More
Newman, hard words, and dew
I have been reading a wide circle and a narrow about the issue of "dew" and "precious chalice" and all these words which some people think are too hard for us dopes to grasp. My peregrinations brought me today to … Read More
Who sings well prays twice… NOT!
We had a look at the phrase "In necessitatibus unitas…", etc. often but falsely attributed to St. Augustine of Hippo. Someone asked about another famous phrase attributed to the Bishop of Hippo, "He who sings, prays twice". Augustine didn’t write … Read More
The Thunderer: Jerome
Good comments came from the entry about St. Jerome’s dim view of St. Ambrose, whom he likened to a croaking black raven and an upstart. Among them was a reminder from fellow patristiblogger and charter member of NAPALM Mike Aquilina … Read More
“In necessary things unity…”
Over at Pontifications o{]:¬) there was a useful post clarifying something patristibloggers are familiar with, namely, that Augustine of Hippo did not write or say a famous phrase often attributed to him: In necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus … Read More
Jerome on Ambrose: “the black croaking raven”
I mentioned in another post that St. Jerome didn’t like St. Ambrose. He really didn’t like him. This needs an explanation. Why? Do you ever get the sense these days that many think the chief role of a priest is … Read More
“Let the feet of our minds be stretched out”: Ambrose on “dew”
I understand that “dew”, the moisture we find on the grass each morning, a long treasured figure used for the Holy Spirit’s gentle action in our lives, is apparently so difficult to grasp that some bishops today won’t even try … Read More
People who blab in church – an ancient view
NAPALM ALERT! The other day I posted a groovy little poem by Commodianus about people who blab or gossip in church. I noticed something else about this poem when I was correcting my all too fast rendering into the English. … Read More
Augustine on enemies
Listening to some folks crow about the demise of the monstrous Al-Zarqawi made me think. What can be our attitude about enemies? Can we enjoy the death or defeat of an enemy? Must we pray for them? Can we pray … Read More
