In the last Advancing the Kingdom article I wrote about St. Luke’s Productions and commented on how rare and yet critical the sacred arts are for the renewal of culture. Since then I have learned of another “oasis” (in, in this case, literally an island)…
Category: Advancing the Kingdom
Renewing culture through the arts
Entertainment being what it is today, it is understandable that many are incredulous, or even unaware, that for the better part of the last millennium the preponderance of popular art was religious in nature. Whether performing, visual or theatrical, artistic enterprises – especially but not…
…. the march of goodness…
Not only do these minds of ours expand life in ideal directions and go beyond what is, but at their best these ideals of ours correlate and correspond with some sort of objective reality. They advance truth. They set forward the march of goodness.
Discover Hope
Even if most of us never come up with one, we know what a tagline is: “Just Do It.” “That Was Easy.” “It’s All Inside.” Taglines synthesize values, express company commitment, and ensure brand recognition. For this reason corporations pour millions into clinching the mother…
‘gallantry and intrepidity’
These words were included in the Medal of Honor citation offered posthumously in January, 1969 to Vincent Robert Capodanno in recognition of the selfless sacrifice which ended his life in Vietnam during the war there. Thirty some years later, in 2002, the cause of canonization…
Where the rich require the poor
One day last week on the car radio I heard an interview between a well known commentator and a writer who had recently published a biography of a famous politician known for his religious conviction. What struck me about the interview was the surprise –…
Patrimonial surprise
Would it be fair to say that when most Catholics in the United States reflect on the third “mark” of the Church (one, holy, catholic, and apostolic) they understand the term to mean universal? Is their idea of universality that with the exception of linguistic…
Pursuit requires discipline
Words can take on different meanings for different people over time. For some the word ‘discipline’ has a negative connotation, one which implies punishing correction, while the word ‘magisterium’ suggests a controlling authority. People with this stultified understanding are deprived of the full, rich significance…
When service becomes mission
A French Jesuit once explained to my siblings and me that a fruitful grasp of Scripture requires an appreciation for paradox: for example, the cross being a symbol of shame and triumph, or self fulfillment for free-willed individuals being possible only on God’s terms.
"……enthusiasm and joy"
“If this is the work of men it will be overthrown, but if it is of God you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God.” This advice given by the Pharisee Gamaliel to his…