What are you currently reading?

Started by Francisco Suárez, December 26, 2012, 09:48:56 PM

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Josephine87

I am concurrently reading Bellarmine's and Aquinas' commentaries and I prefer the latter. Bellarmine is more engaging and lively but Aquinas provides a lot more detail and instruction and tons of scripture references. He has helped me understand more of what is meant in the psalm.
"Begin again." -St. Teresa of Avila

"My present trial seems to me a somewhat painful one, and I have the humiliation of knowing how badly I bore it at first. I now want to accept and to carry this little cross joyfully, to carry it silently, with a smile in my heart and on my lips, in union with the Cross of Christ. My God, blessed be Thou; accept from me each day the embarrassment, inconvenience, and pain this misery causes me. May it become a prayer and an act of reparation." -Elisabeth Leseur

Sempronius

By Joseph Addison. Sir Roger is a fictional character in his Spectator.
A COUNTRY SUNDAY.

I am always very well pleased with a country Sunday, and think, if keeping holy the seventh day were only a human institution, it would be the best method that could have been thought of for the polishing and civilizing of mankind. It is certain the country people would soon degenerate into a kind of savages and barbarians, were there not such frequent returns of a stated time, in which the whole village meet together with their best faces, and in their cleanliest habits, to converse with one another upon indifferent subjects, hear their duties explained to them, and join together in adoration of the Supreme Being. Sunday clears away the rust of the whole week, not only as it refreshes in their minds the notions of religion, but as it puts both the sexes upon appearing in their most agreeable forms, and exerting all such qualities as are apt to give them a figure in the eye of the village. A country-fellow distinguishes himself as much in the Church-yard, as a citizen does upon the Change, the whole parish-politicks being generally discussed in that place either after sermon or before the bell rings.
My friend Sir Roger, being a good churchman, has beautified the inside of his church with several texts of his own choosing. He has likewise given a handsome pulpit-cloth, and railed in the communion-table at his own expense. He has often told me, that at his coming to his estate he found his parishioners very irregular; and that in order to make them kneel and join in their responses, he gave every one of them a hassock and a common prayer-book: and at the same time employed an itinerant singing-master, who goes about the country for that purpose, to instruct them rightly in the tunes of the psalms; upon which they now very much value themselves, and indeed outdo most of the country churches that I have ever heard.
As Sir Roger is landlord to the whole congregation, he keeps them in very good order, and will suffer nobody to sleep in it besides himself; for if by chance he has been surprised into a short nap at sermon, upon recovering out of it he stands up and looks about him, and if he sees any body else nodding, either wakes them himself, or sends his servants to them. Several other of the old Knight's particularities break out upon these occasions. Sometimes he will be lengthening out a verse in the singing-psalms, half a minute after the rest of the congregation have done with it; sometimes, when he is pleased with the matter of his devotion, he pronounces Amen three or four times to the same prayer; and sometimes stands up when every body else is upon their knees, to count the congregation, or see if any of his tenants are missing.
I was yesterday very much surprised to hear my old friend, in the midst of the service, calling out to one John Mathews to mind what he was about, and not disturb the congregation. This John Mathews it seems is remarkable for being an idle fellow, and at that time was kicking his heels for his diversion. This authority of the Knight, though exerted in that odd manner which accompanies him in all circumstances of life, has a very good effect upon the parish, who are not polite enough to see anything ridiculous in his behaviour; besides that the general good sense and worthiness of his character makes his friends observe these little singularities as foils that rather set off than blemish his good qualities.
As soon as the sermon is finished, no body presumes to stir till Sir Roger is gone out of the church. The Knight walks down from his seat in the chancel between a double row of his tenants, that stand bowing to him on each side; and every now and then enquires how such an one's wife, or mother, or son, or father do, whom he does not see at church; which is understood as a secret reprimand to the person that is absent.
The chaplain has often told me, that upon a catechising day, when Sir Roger has been pleased with a boy that answers well, he has ordered a Bible to be given him next day for his encouragement; and sometimes accompanies it with a flitch of bacon to his mother. Sir Roger has likewise added five pounds a year to the clerk's place; and that he may encourage the young fellows to make themselves perfect in the church service, has promised upon the death of the present incumbent, who is very old, to bestow it according to merit.
The fair understanding between Sir Roger and his chaplain, and their mutual concurrence in doing good, is the more remarkable, because the very next village is famous for the differences and contentions that rise between the parson and the 'squire, who live in a perpetual state of war. The parson is always preaching at the 'squire, and the 'squire to be revenged on the parson never comes to church. The 'squire has made all his tenants atheists and tithe-stealers; while the Parson instructs them every Sunday in the dignity of his order, and insinuates to them in almost every sermon, that he is a better man than his patron. In short, matters are come to such an extremity, that the 'squire has not said his prayers either in publick or private this half year; and that the parson threatens him, if he does not mend his manners, to pray for him in the face of the whole congregation.
Feuds of this nature, though too frequent in the country, are very fatal to the ordinary people; who are so used to be dazzled with riches, that they pay as much deference to the understanding of a man of an estate, as of a man of learning; and are very hardly brought to regard any truth, how important soever it may be, that is preached to them, when they know there are several men of five hundred a year who do not believe it.

Maximilian

Quote from: Sempronius on May 17, 2019, 01:57:34 PM

the ordinary people; who are so used to be dazzled with riches, that they pay as much deference to the understanding of a man of an estate, as of a man of learning; and are very hardly brought to regard any truth, how important soever it may be, that is preached to them, when they know there are several men of five hundred a year who do not believe it.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Josephine87

Quoteand at the same time employed an itinerant singing-master, who goes about the country for that purpose, to instruct them rightly in the tunes of the psalms

We need one of these in every parish.
"Begin again." -St. Teresa of Avila

"My present trial seems to me a somewhat painful one, and I have the humiliation of knowing how badly I bore it at first. I now want to accept and to carry this little cross joyfully, to carry it silently, with a smile in my heart and on my lips, in union with the Cross of Christ. My God, blessed be Thou; accept from me each day the embarrassment, inconvenience, and pain this misery causes me. May it become a prayer and an act of reparation." -Elisabeth Leseur

Bernadette

Currently reading Les Miserables, the Julie Rose translation (and skipping the boring parts); and The Old Curiosity Shop. Not one of my favorite Dickens novels, but it has its good points.
My Lord and my God.

Michael Wilson

"Jesus All Good", Fr. Alexander Galleriani, S.J. (1908)Nice little book 254 pgs. All about the goodness an mercy of Our Lord:
Quote...Many Christians, even devout and religious souls, are unable to conceive a filial and tender trust in Jesus. They are full of trembling reverence and fear, and stand in His presence with hearts constrained and ill at ease. These lowly feelings are not to be be altogether blamed; they are justly due to the Majesty of so great a Lord. But they are too often like an icy wind freezing the spirit of devotion, or like a chill mist, nipping the opening buds of piety as they form in the soul. Would that this fear were accompanied by Hope, namely, that He will do us good, and also Charity, flowing naturally from Faith and Hope, it being impossible not to love the Being who can, who will help us. It thus contains the three theological virtues.
Order from Mother of Our Savior Refuge of Sinners Catalog. 
"The World Must Conform to Our Lord and not He to it." Rev. Dennis Fahey CSSP

"My brothers, all of you, if you are condemned to see the triumph of evil, never applaud it. Never say to evil: you are good; to decadence: you are progess; to death: you are life. Sanctify yourselves in the times wherein God has placed you; bewail the evils and the disorders which God tolerates; oppose them with the energy of your works and your efforts, your life uncontaminated by error, free from being led astray, in such a way that having lived here below, united with the Spirit of the Lord, you will be admitted to be made but one with Him forever and ever: But he who is joined to the Lord is one in spirit." Cardinal Pie of Potiers

Josephine87

Quote from: Bernadette on May 21, 2019, 06:17:54 AM
Currently reading Les Miserables, the Julie Rose translation (and skipping the boring parts); and The Old Curiosity Shop. Not one of my favorite Dickens novels, but it has its good points.

What are the boring parts? I haven't read it.
"Begin again." -St. Teresa of Avila

"My present trial seems to me a somewhat painful one, and I have the humiliation of knowing how badly I bore it at first. I now want to accept and to carry this little cross joyfully, to carry it silently, with a smile in my heart and on my lips, in union with the Cross of Christ. My God, blessed be Thou; accept from me each day the embarrassment, inconvenience, and pain this misery causes me. May it become a prayer and an act of reparation." -Elisabeth Leseur

Bernadette

Quote from: Josephine87 on May 21, 2019, 09:41:25 AM
Quote from: Bernadette on May 21, 2019, 06:17:54 AM
Currently reading Les Miserables, the Julie Rose translation (and skipping the boring parts); and The Old Curiosity Shop. Not one of my favorite Dickens novels, but it has its good points.

What are the boring parts? I haven't read it.

The history of the Paris sewer system; the contemplation of Waterloo; and I'm pretty sure he ruminates on the Church somewhere in there, but I can't remember (probably because I skipped it  :P).
My Lord and my God.

Habitual_Ritual

Recently bought several E Michael Jones books. Gonna be a lot of reading this summer
" There exists now an enormous religious ignorance. In the times since the Council it is evident we have failed to pass on the content of the Faith."

(Pope Benedict XVI speaking in October 2002.)

Gardener

I think I'd find the history of the Paris sewers more interesting than a bunch of Enlightenment hooey
"If anyone does not wish to have Mary Immaculate for his Mother, he will not have Christ for his Brother." - St. Maximilian Kolbe

Bernadette

Quote from: Gardener on May 21, 2019, 10:31:53 AM
I think I'd find the history of the Paris sewers more interesting than a bunch of Enlightenment hooey

Honestly, I just read the actual plot. With the characters.  ;)
My Lord and my God.

Prayerful

Finished Dena Hunt's evocative Treason set in Elizabethan England when a Rescusant community tries to survive. Also continuing with Franz Schmidt's Hangman's Diary which is a translation of a diary detailing the work of Nuremburg's public executioner. Meister Franz's career started when he was picked out of a crowd in his home town of Hof. Interested in dissection of the executed, ready enough to give prisoners the relative mercy of beheading, and seems to have taken some role to substitute drowning for that penalty, where drowning was a common penalty for women sentenced to death. Also seemed willing to allow prisoners the benefit of either Catholic or heretic Lutheran sacraments before death. Also Eamonn Duffy's Fires of Faith: Catholic England under Mary Tudor. It is saddening to think that so many were to be lost to heresy later as Mary could not have a child. All slowly as time allows.
Padre Pio: Pray, hope, and don't worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer.

Gardener

Quote from: Prayerful on May 21, 2019, 12:52:53 PM
Finished Dena Hunt's evocative Treason set in Elizabethan England when a Rescusant community tries to survive. Also continuing with Franz Schmidt's Hangman's Diary which is a translation of a diary detailing the work of Nuremburg's public executioner. Meister Franz's career started when he was picked out of a crowd in his home town of Hof. Interested in dissection of the executed, ready enough to give prisoners the relative mercy of beheading, and seems to have taken some role to substitute drowning for that penalty, where drowning was a common penalty for women sentenced to death. Also seemed willing to allow prisoners the benefit of either Catholic or heretic Lutheran sacraments before death. Also Eamonn Duffy's Fires of Faith: Catholic England under Mary Tudor. It is saddening to think that so many were to be lost to heresy later as Mary could not have a child. All slowly as time allows.

I enjoyed Treason, though I felt it tended to wrap things up a little more quickly than I care for.

Compared to something like Macken's Seek the Fair Land, it was at best a B- grade novel. But on its own, having not read Macken, I think a person would thoroughly enjoy it.
"If anyone does not wish to have Mary Immaculate for his Mother, he will not have Christ for his Brother." - St. Maximilian Kolbe

Prayerful

Quote from: Gardener on May 21, 2019, 12:55:18 PM
Quote from: Prayerful on May 21, 2019, 12:52:53 PM
Finished Dena Hunt's evocative Treason set in Elizabethan England when a Rescusant community tries to survive. Also continuing with Franz Schmidt's Hangman's Diary which is a translation of a diary detailing the work of Nuremburg's public executioner. Meister Franz's career started when he was picked out of a crowd in his home town of Hof. Interested in dissection of the executed, ready enough to give prisoners the relative mercy of beheading, and seems to have taken some role to substitute drowning for that penalty, where drowning was a common penalty for women sentenced to death. Also seemed willing to allow prisoners the benefit of either Catholic or heretic Lutheran sacraments before death. Also Eamonn Duffy's Fires of Faith: Catholic England under Mary Tudor. It is saddening to think that so many were to be lost to heresy later as Mary could not have a child. All slowly as time allows.

I enjoyed Treason, though I felt it tended to wrap things up a little more quickly than I care for.

Compared to something like Macken's Seek the Fair Land, it was at best a B- grade novel. But on its own, having not read Macken, I think a person would thoroughly enjoy it.

That was a flaw of Treason, certain characters could also also have been developed a little more, but surely a fine first outing for her. The real descendants of Coote only recently sold Coote Hall which gave its name to the Co. Cavan town.
Padre Pio: Pray, hope, and don't worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer.

red solo cup

Sailing Alone Around the World by Captain Joshua Slocum.
non impediti ratione cogitationis