For once we saw through a glass, darkly; but now, not at all. ✟ These insights will, perhaps, be least surprising to the bespectacled among us, for they alone have cultivated the habit of seeing the world through non-reflective glass. That is, they see through their glasses, rather than the mere reflections of their pupils;Continue reading “Upon Reflection”
Author Archives: counterblaster
Against Modernism
“It is incomprehensible to me that any thinker can calmly call himself a modernist. He might as well call himself a Thursdayite.” – G. K. Chesterton, The Case for the Ephemeral, 1908 “[The Catholic Church] is the only thing that frees a man from the degrading slavery of being a child of his age.” –Continue reading “Against Modernism”
Against Feminism
“The paradox of … chivalry [is] that the weaker a thing is the more it should be respected, that the more indefensible a thing is the more it should appeal to us for a certain kind of defence.” – G. K. Chesterton, Heretics ✟ It was Pope Leo XIII who famously wrote, “the world hasContinue reading “Against Feminism”
Left Brain
Now the faith is old and the Devil bold Exceedingly bold indeed. And the masses of doubt that are floating about Would smother a mortal creed. – Hilaire Belloc, Pelagian Drinking Song ✟ If you are like me (which I hope you aren’t, for it is becoming an increasingly unenviable position), you cannot help butContinue reading “Left Brain”
Pavlov’s God
But lo, within that ancient place Science had reared her iron crown, And the great cloud of steam went up That telleth where she takes a town. Modern Elfland, G.K. Chesterton, 1927 ✟ I’m sure we are all familiar with Pavlov’s dog. I’m also sure that we have all missed its meaning. The truth ofContinue reading “Pavlov’s God”
Against Moral Relativism
It is apparent, I think, that in our time, truth is a concept very much under attack. And I do not mean the sense in which it has always been under attack, among the ancients or the medievals. In the great debates of the past, every man stood for the truth; he was very oftenContinue reading “Against Moral Relativism”
Against Pacifism
Likelier the barricades shall blare Slaughter below and smoke above, And death and hate and hell declare That men have found a thing to love. – G. K. Chesterton, The Napoleon of Notting Hill, 1904 ✟ When men really love a thing, they will sacrifice themselves for it. Otherwise, it is no love at all,Continue reading “Against Pacifism”
Brief History of England in Verse
O, heightsome hills that fill my sight,The elder of all mortal might —Ere druid walked in gloomy nightOr ever wingèd bird took flight;Before was hewn the henge that standsTo frame the sun in Angle-land,Still steadfast stood and upward shot,Like Icarus on wings too hot,Toward the æther, day and night,While judging neither wrong nor right,The mountainsContinue reading “Brief History of England in Verse”
Six Days
Six days to men are given, but one for God reserved, Whose throne is in the heavens high, but chose to walk the earth. One-seventh of the days we live, one-tenth of all we make — O, he is a gen’rous king who doth so little take! The kings of men are greedy, the wickedContinue reading “Six Days”
Felix Culpa
O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam, which gained for us so great a Redeemer ! ✟ Thus descending, thus amending loss of man’s first innocence, Born-of-Heaven born of woman-led-astray-by-Satan’s-jest, Abdicating throne of glory now to don man’s dying flesh, Lamb of God who chose to die to bring us to eternal rest. Thus ascending,Continue reading “Felix Culpa”
A Counterblaste 