Spiritual advice from the Desert Fathers (as reported by Saint John Cassian) no. 4: Abba Sarapion on eight principal vices
“(…) don’t start a war without wise advice.“ “A sage can scale a garrisoned city and shutter the rampart on…
virtues over vices
Spiritual advice from the Desert Fathers (as reported by Saint John Cassian) no. 3: Abba Daniel on Judges 3: 1-4
“One who walks with the wise becomes wise, one who mixes with fools is fooled.“ “Better gain wisdom than gold,…
Spiritual advice from the Desert Fathers (as reported by Saint John Cassian) no. 2: Abba Paphnutius on the beauty of a soul filled with virtue
“Is not Wisdom calling? Is not Understanding raising her voice? On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossways, she…
Spiritual advice from the Desert Fathers (as reported by Saint John Cassian) no. 1: Abba Moses the Ethiopian on the gift of discretion and on moderate fasting
Having had the pleasure recently, on the 4th February, to visit the Abbey of Saint Victor in Marseille, which was…
A man for all seasons with a hair shirt: Saint Thomas More
The gifted layman Saint Thomas More was beheaded on the 6th July 1535 in London, England, for his loyalty to…
On running the race with courage and joy
“Let us run with endurance the race set before us“ Reading a lot in the book of Deuteronomy these days…
The case for “civil disobedience“: Henry David Thoreau, Saint Thomas More, and the prophet Daniel
The “anarchist“ streak in Henry David Thoreau “I think that we should be men first, and subjects afterward. It is…
The good life? – “Aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands“
Saint Paul‘s advice to the Church at Thessalonica and to us on how to live one‘s life in this world…
Virtues we barely understand: Temperance
The meaning and the fruits of temperance The last of the four cardinal virtues is the virtue of temperance –…
Virtues we barely understand: Fortitude
Who‘s a hero, Novalis? There is a lot of talk about “heroes“ these days, isn‘t there? Is anyone who simply…