Emmanuel L. Di Rossetti
-
What kind of death for the West?
It is increasingly pleasing to me to hear these speeches from Westerners reveling in the death of Catholicism, the death of this old religious hide, or even the death of God himself. Continue reading
-
Book reviews about Japan
I just finished reading "The Mask of the Samurai," an essay by Aude Fieschi (Philippe Picquier Publishers). It's an informative, well-written book that presents the different facets of the samurai throughout medieval Japan, up to its decline with the advent of modern Japan. Continue reading
-
Emmanuel Todd or intellectual vulgarity
Emmanuel Todd was on France Culture the other morning to deliver his gospel. Emmanuel Todd is a prophet. He has the eloquence. He has the pretension, above all. He lacks the honesty. Indeed, one cannot be both a prophet and an ideologue. Continue reading
-
Tribute to Jean-Marie Domenach
Rereading notes I took years ago while reading Jean-Marie Domenach's *The Return of the Tragic*, I remember our meeting. I see him arriving at my small studio in La Fourche, asking me for a glass of wine, and me beginning to explain in detail the direction I… Continue reading
-
God's path leads through our humanity…
An extraordinary passage from Blessed Cardinal Newman: By sinning, by suffering, by correcting ourselves, by improving ourselves, we advance toward truth through the experience of error; we achieve success through failure. We do not know how to act rightly except after having acted wrongly. […] We know what is right not by… Continue reading
-
The Breath of Tibhirine
It's an intelligent film. And saying that is already saying a lot. In an age where stupidity reigns supreme, making an intelligent film about faith allows us to rise above the waters and fill our lungs; to find sustenance. Of Gods and Men exemplifies the lives of monks. What… Continue reading
-
Philia, agape and other little things…
The Greeks used three words to describe love: eros, carnal love; philia, friendship; and agape, mature and fulfilled love. Is love only there to comfort us? Shouldn't we seek to give meaning to love, as to every event in life? Only meaning saves the human condition. Meaning… The… Continue reading
-
The columnist's hatred
I've titled this article "The Hatred of the Columnist." The French columnist—because it truly is a French affliction—is such that he invents himself as master of time, of the world, and above all, of how it's doing. It's unbearable. Purge the columnists and pluck out the buds! All these columnists gathered together are nothing more than a pub talk.… Continue reading
-
Haiku Lessons
To write a haiku, one must absolutely respect four qualities: Sabi: simplicity and awareness of the passage of time and its alteration of things and beings; Shōri: the ability to suggest a love for humble things; Hosomi: the discovery of the beauty of everyday life; Karumi: humor that lightens the… Continue reading
-
One more stopover…
Alvaro Mutis is a truly great writer and, what's more, one of my dearest friends. Since he hasn't published any books for a few years now, I thought I'd pay him a small tribute through quotes from "The Last Stop of the Tramp Steamer," this short novel brimming with… Continue reading
-
Confession of a Player (His Life as Told by Maradona)
The life of Diego Armando Maradona is a fairy tale. Because Maradona always remained a child. It is therefore a children's story, and as such, it is edifying. Those who say that Maradona wasn't exemplary enough for an athlete of his caliber are wrong. It's… Continue reading
-
What Mr. Ouine says in our time…
Monsieur Ouine, one of the greatest French novels of the 20th century, offers many answers to the modern world as it is. The following quotes provide a glimpse into the evil that insinuates itself everywhere. Continue reading
-
The virtues of boredom
In a short, acerbic book (On France, translated by Alain Paruit, L'Herne), Emil Cioran offered an answer to the French malaise. He explained how much he valued boredom, but he distinguished between two kinds: the kind that opens "its doors to infinity," "as a spiritual extension of an immanent void of being," and the kind that… Continue reading
-
Notes on The Child of Pleasure
Notes on Gabriele D'Annunzio's *The Child of Pleasure*. P. 58. Between the Trinity obelisk and the Conception column, I hung my Catholic and pagan heart as a votive offering. She laughed at his remark. He had a madrigal on his lips about his suspended heart; but he didn't utter it, for… Continue reading