My latest post at The Everyman is up, comparing our present world to Austria in the 1930s. It's depressingly apt. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: A virulent ideological movement is spreading through a nation’s institutions. It presents itself as the wave of the future, elevating those who have been beaten down, and … Continue reading History and Compromise at ‘The Everyman’
History
Thoughts on ‘Midway’
The other night I got out to see 'Midway,' wanting to catch while it was still in theaters. I must say, despite the overuse of CGI and some melodramatic touches, I was very impressed. The film is of a type that was never very common and is almost non-existent now; a simple and straightforward depiction … Continue reading Thoughts on ‘Midway’
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place, and in the sky, The larks, still bravely singing, fly, Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the dead; short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In … Continue reading In Flanders Fields
Saint John Henry Newman
It's rare that we get good news from the Church these days, so cherish it when it comes! Cardinal Newman, the great English convert of the 19th century, whose return to Rome sparked something of a Catholic renaissance in that noble, yet obstinate island kingdom, is now declared a Saint. Cardinal Newman is one of … Continue reading Saint John Henry Newman
It Came From Rifftrax: ‘Flying Stewardess’
This is one of those shorts that's as fascinating as a window into the past as it is amusing. In this case, a look at air travel in the 1940s. I do not recommend watching this short just before taking a trip, as thinking of the roomy seating, tasty-looking four-course meals, and sleeper berths of … Continue reading It Came From Rifftrax: ‘Flying Stewardess’
Fun Facts
Bishop Sheen on the Three Confessions
Broadcasted 1957: Ven. Bishop Fulton Sheen traces the course of human sentiment through three great 'Confessions:' those of St. Augustine, of Abelard, and of Jean-Jacque Rousseau: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGGSxxuBtMk Money quote: "Jean-Jacque, therefore, gave birth to an entirely new concept of how to handle a conflict: namely, give way to it and call it right."
A Record of the Past
One way or another, I watch a lot of old films, whether old TV shows, old movies, or even old instructional videos. It’s informative, and not just in the way the original filmmakers intended. As C.S. Lewis pointed out, consuming work produced in a different time doesn’t just tell you what the work is about, … Continue reading A Record of the Past
Picture of the Day
Hat-tip: Church Pop John Wayne and his son, Patrick, venerate a statue of the Blessed Virgin in Cong, Ireland in 1950 during filming of The Quiet Man. For those who don't know, the great John Wayne, though far from perfect (especially regarding marital fidelity), was a devout believer his whole life, and throughout his life was … Continue reading Picture of the Day
Veni, Vidi, Deus Vicit
For September 12, recalling the charge of King Jan Sobieski of Poland that saved Vienna and Christendom from the invading Turks. Until recently, that was the high water mark of the Muslim invasion of Europe and started the liberation of eastern Europe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75zmIj_4LFQ
Serpent's Den 