“Consider the diversity of the Middle Ages: on the one hand, there is the razing of cities, the fall of empires, the struggle between races, the confusion of peoples, violence and lamentations; there is corruption, barbarianism; institutions fall and institutions rise, Men disperse and make nations, whole peoples are led to unknown destinations, and yet … Read more
In times of acute danger and hardship, we must always fly into the arms of the most powerful Mother of God and turn to the recitation of the Rosary. The Battle of Lepanto is a great lesson of confidence for us today. When Saint Pius V ascended to Saint Peter’s throne, Christendom faced perils perhaps … Read more
There was a time when the role of Congresses and Parliaments was not to come up with massive programs or interfere in the lives of the people. Rather their function was to judge the merit of cases and provide simple solutions to the problems of daily life. Those were simpler times but they reflected a … Read more
Many believe that Christendom was a rigid and brutal order. In medieval times, we are told that tyranny ruled, and the Church and the nascent State were constant rivals in the pursuit of dominance. So many modern historians have cynically reduced this period when Christianity prevailed to a time of cultural darkness and violent power … Read more
What should be thought of the quotes below? “Whereas the interest in and tendency toward maximum productivity continue to be dominant and absolute, private property has ceased to be a projection of the individual, a kind of necessary support of his individuality in the world of things, to become – this is something Christians especially … Read more
Sainte Chapelle: Masterpiece of Temperance Built by Saint Louis IX of France, this chapel reflects an extraordinary innocence of soul. We could call this chapel the Chapel of Innocence. Because a soul must be profoundly innocent to conceive this. Free Book: Return to Order: From a Frenzied Economy to an Organic Christian Society—Where We’ve Been, … Read more
Augustus Welby Pugin was the son of a French noble and architect who went to England during the French Revolution of 1789. Born in London on March 1, 1812, his mother reared him in strict Calvinist fashion. In 1834, at the age of 19, Augustus discovered medieval art and became a Catholic. He wrote: “I … Read more
Architecture leads to heaven or hell In our most recent article about Augustus Pugin, we saw how the famous architect converted from a strict brand of Calvinism to Roman Catholicism, due to his studies of medieval Catholic architecture when he was 19 years old. Free Book: Return to Order: From a Frenzied Economy to an … Read more
Compared to other cathedrals, Notre Dame stands out. The three doorways have beautiful deep ogives, which show how thick the walls are. On the facade and sides of the cathedral, episodes of Sacred Scripture are illustrated in stone. Free Book: Return to Order: From a Frenzied Economy to an Organic Christian Society—Where We’ve Been, … Read more
No discussion about the healthy state of the American imagination would be complete without talking about castles. Americans love castles and everything associated with them. In nearly every locale across the country, there are those who dream beyond the classic mansion or manor and build the medieval castle of their dreams. Such dream castles are … Read more
