Emmanuel L. Di Rossetti
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A short history of Envy, from hero to scapegoat
The modern world constantly presents us with scapegoats. Lance Armstrong, Richard Millet, Jérôme Kerviel, John Galliano, to name just a few, each in their own field, with completely different causes and reasons, have recently embodied the scapegoat, the justly punished culprit, the troublemaker put in their place. The… Continue reading
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Christian testimony
When I started this blog, the idea of writing about the liturgy came to me very quickly. Not to claim the status of an expert, but to share my experience about what represents the heart of a Christian's life. So there were two paths that had to converge: I had to tell the story of… Continue reading
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In the heart of darkness, life
After seeing "The Tree of Life," I long forbade myself from writing about the film. Two forces clashed within me. Captivated by its poetry, by the state of bliss I was immersed in, I was afraid of disturbing the surface of this work. I became so enveloped in the mystery of this film that… Continue reading
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What does Steve Jobs stand for?
“Steve Jobs 1955-2011,” read Apple’s website on October 5, 2011. Right to the end, that unique, minimalist, elegant, and effective signature. His signature. The shock of this American business leader’s death took the world by surprise. A little, and the comparison was made, as with Lady… Continue reading
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Another year comes to an end…
As the year draws to a close, we often cast only a fleeting glance. We shouldn't dwell on it too much. We never know how many things we've forced ourselves to bury might resurface, like those impromptu, rude, and irritating pop-up windows on the internet. One exercise we can try is to… Continue reading
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In the shadow of Ernesto Sabato
When Ernesto Sabato passed away on April 30th at the age of 99, he repeated to himself the words of Maria Zambrano: "To die, this elusive act which is accomplished through obedience, takes place beyond reality, in another realm." In his home in Santos Lugarès ("Holy Places" near Buenos Aires), Ernesto Sabato obeyed this final injunction. He… Continue reading
Argentina , stupidity , Catholicism , counter-revolution , Ernesto Sabato , war , history , forgiveness -
Monsignor Centène…
The people of Vannes are fortunate indeed. Bishop Centène's homily at Saint-Pierre Cathedral in Vannes last Sunday was truly uplifting. This isn't the first time Bishop Centène's homilies have been mentioned on Catholic websites, and given their quality, this is unlikely to change anytime soon. Continue reading
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Priest of the "Benedict XVI generation"
Dear Father, It is with great pleasure that I bid you farewell. Not that I am happy that you are leaving the Chapel of Our Lady of the Lily, but because I am happy to have met you and that you are continuing your priesthood, setting an example of the priest according to Benedict XVI. Yesterday, for the feast of… Continue reading
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Newman and Socrates
The links between ancient Greek philosophy and Christianity are numerous. The most famous of the Greek precepts, Gnothi Seauton, "Know thyself," inscribed at Delphi, retains a certain mystery. Another fragment of the phrase has remained with us: "But not too much"... Know thyself... But not too much! Plato leads Socrates to reflect on the Delphic formula in... Continue reading
Catholicism , ethics , ancient Greece , history , Newman , Our Lady of the Lily , Plato , political correctness , priest , religion , Socrates , Zenit -
Commemorative phrase
A friend contacted me to ask for the exact quote from Ernst Jünger (from Storm of Steel) that we officers of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment liked to repeat. I'm posting it on this blog because I remember that General Antoine Lecerf was fond of this quote and that it suits him perfectly: He… Continue reading
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And by Saint Anthony… (Death of General Antoine Lecerf)
Antoine is no more. He passed away on Good Friday, April 22, 2011. He is in the house of the Father. Antoine is Antoine Lecerf. Lieutenant General Antoine Lecerf. A master of war. A brilliant leader of men. One of the most extraordinary men I have ever known. When you first met Antoine Lecerf… Continue reading
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Emotion at Notre-Dame du Lys
A profound emotion was felt by all the faithful of Notre-Dame du Lys this morning at the 11:15 am Holy Mass. A delegation of Iraqi Christians from Baghdad was present, as well as an Iraqi priest who spoke simply and movingly about the massacre of last October in… Continue reading
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Original fault
Despite Shûsaku Endo's doubts about the true Christianity of the Japanese, as expressed in the admirable "Silence," it also seems to me that the Japanese share a fundamental trait with Christians: their ability to empathize. Isn't this one of the cornerstones of Christianity, one… Continue reading
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Forgive me, something will always remain…
In this brief reflection on forgiveness, I simply wanted to revisit the inadequacy of saying "sorry." Forgiving is sometimes extremely difficult. I confess I still harbor some resentment deep in my heart. I constantly confess it and ask for a little grace to soften the hardness of my heart, but no… Continue reading