modern world
-
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 part 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 , Notre-Dame du Lys , Plato , politically correct , priest , religion , Socrates , Zenit -
Commemorative phrase
A friend contacted me to ask for the exact quote from Ernst Jünger (from Storms of Steel) that we liked to repeat among officers of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment. I am posting it on this blog as I remember that General Antoine Lecerf was fond of this quote and that it fits him like a glove: He Continue reading
-
And by Saint Antoine… (Death of General Antoine Lecerf)
Antoine is no more. He left on Good Friday. April 22, 2011. He is in the Father's house. Antoine is Antoine Lecerf. Army Corps 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
-
original fault
Despite Shûsaku Endo's doubts about the true Christianity of the Japanese, as evoked in the admirable "Silence," it also seems to me that the Japanese have a real fundamental point in common with the Christian in the ease with which they put themselves in the place of the other. Is this not one of the founding bases of Christianity, one Continue reading
-
Forgive me, there will always be something left...
In this little reflection on forgiveness, I just wanted to come back to the inadequacy of saying sorry. Forgiving is sometimes extremely difficult. I admit that I still hold some grudges deep in my heart. I constantly confess them and ask for a little grace to soften the hardness of my heart, but no, Continue reading
-
What death for the West?
It is increasingly sweet to me to hear these speeches from Westerners gargling about the death of Catholicism, the death of this old skin of religion, when it is not simply the death of God. Continue reading
-
Emmanuel Todd or intellectual vulgarity
Emmanuel Todd was on France Culture the other morning to deliver his good word. Emmanuel Todd is a prophet. He has the eloquence. He has the pretension, above all. He lacks the honesty. Indeed, one cannot be a prophet and an ideologue. Continue reading
-
Tribute to Jean-Marie Domenach
Rereading notes taken 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 starting to explain to him in detail the direction I'm taking. Continue reading
-
The path of God passes through our humanity…
Extraordinary passage from Blessed Cardinal Newman: By sinning, by suffering, by correcting ourselves, by improving ourselves, we advance toward the truth through the experience of error; we obtain success through failure. We do not know how to act well except after having acted badly. […] We know what is good not from Continue reading
-
Tibhirine's breath
It's an intelligent film. And in saying that, a lot has already been said. In an age where stupidity reigns supreme, making an intelligent film about faith allows you to get your head above water and inflate your lungs; to be satisfied. Of Gods and Men exemplifies the life of monks. What Continue reading
-
Philia, agapê and other little things…
The Greeks used three words to describe love: eros, carnal love; philia, friendship; and agape, mature, accomplished 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... Continue reading
-
The chronicler's hatred
I call this article "The Hatred of the Columnist." The French columnist—because it is indeed a French evil—is how he invents himself master of time, of the world, and above all of how it is. It is unbearable. Expunge the columnists and pluck the buds! All these columnists gathered together form nothing other than a Café du Commerce. Continue reading
-
Another stopover...
Alvaro Mutis is a great writer and, what's more, one of my dearest friends. Since he hasn't published any books for a few years, I thought I'd pay him a little tribute with quotes from "The Last Stop of the Tramp Steamer," a short novel full of Continue reading
-
Confession of a player (his life told by Maradona)
The life of Diego Armando Maradona is a tale. Because Maradona always remained a child. It is therefore a children's tale and as such it is edifying. We must tell all those who say that Maradona was not exemplary enough for an athlete of his caliber that they are wrong. It is Continue reading