Peter Maurin - on Secularism

Secularism

When religion has nothing to do with
education,
education is only information,
plenty of facts
and no understanding.
When religion has nothing to do with
politics,
politics is only factionalism–
“Let’s turn the rascals out
so our good friends can get in.”
When religion has nothing to do with
business
business is only commercialism.
And when religion has nothing to do with
either education, politics or business,
you have the religion of business taking the
place of the business of religion.

Pax et bonum

Peter Maurin - Easy Essay on business and selfishness

Classes And Clashes

1. Business men say
     that because everybody is selfish
     business must necessarily
     be based on selfishness.

2. But when business
     is based on selfishness
     everbody is busy
     becoming more selfish.

3. And when everybody is busy
     becoming more selfish,
     you have classes and clashes.

4. Business men create problems;
     they do not solve them.

Pax et bonum

Catholic Historical Fiction - A list in progress

Shusaku Endo

Silence *

Dena Hunt

Treason

Father Michael Giesler

Junia *
Marcus
Grain of Wheat

Louis de Wohl

The Living Wood
Throne of the World
Imperial Renegade 
The Restless Flame
The Golden Thread
Set All Afire 
The Spear 
Saint Joan: The Girl Soldier
Citadel of God 
David of Jerusalem 
The Glorious Folly 
The Joyful Beggar *
The Last Crusader *
Lay Siege to Heaven 
The Quiet Light *

Susan Peek

Crusader King: A Novel of Baldwin IV and the Crusades
A Soldier Surrenders: The Conversion of Saint Camillus de Lellis
Saint Magnus, The Last Viking

Michael D. O'Brien

Theophilos

* designates ones I've read



Pax et bonum

So, if I was writing Catholic historical fiction ...

If I were to turn my hand to writing Catholic historical novels or plays, about whom or what would I write?

St. Francis of Assisi has been tackled by various people. Maybe from the perspective of a follower?
First generation Franciscans
Dorothy Day.
Peter Maurin
G. K. Chesterton
The Groundlings
John Henry Newman.
Gerard Manley Hopkins
Irish Catholics in 1840s-60s Central New York
St. Thomas More (ah, but then there's A Man for All Seasons)
Solanus Casey

And would I go adult or YA? Novels or plays?

What would be marketable?

Typical me - getting caught up in the nit-picky details and never finishing. Sort of like that Catholic mystery novel idea I had.

I think I need to compile a list of Catholic fiction as well. A reading list for me - and another way to waste time. 

Pax et bonum

Louis de Wohl - Catholic novels

I'm currently reading-  and enjoying -  The Quiet Light (a novelized treatment of the life of St. Thomas Aquinas) by Louis de Wohl.

 I've previously read a couple of other books by de Wohl - his St. Francis (The Joyful Beggar) and his account of the Battle of Lepanto (The Last Crusader).

I find it interesting that he went from a secular novelist - and astrologer??-  to writing Catholic fiction. He seems to have undergone some kind of spiritual awakening during World War II.

I've always enjoyed historical novels such as Lincoln by Gore Vidal. Even as a child I absorbed my school library's collection of biographical novels. Come to think of it, my most successful play, The Beau Ideal, was historical fiction.

I find historical fiction brings both history and the personalities of the people involved to life. They become easier to understand, as do their struggles, than is often possible through straight history. This kind of writing when religiously based can bring faith to life. Silence, by Shusaku Endo, is a recent  example that I've enjoyed.

I think we need more such fiction. Such books might capture some hearts and minds in a way that preaching and direct evangelization might not. We need both - the artistic, and the direct - to spread the faith.

Perhaps that's were I need to spend my time?

Pax et bonum

We all need music in our lives

Pax et bonum

Trump is impacting my life!

I have to admit it: President Donald Trump is having a negative impact on my life.

No, it's not because his orders are giving me visa problems. Nor have I been a target of any of his tweets.

Technically, it's not because of anything he has done that is directly affecting me.

It's because people who hate him and his policies are so passionate about their views.

If you dare say anything positive about him, they often go on the attack and question your morals or your sanity. Or they avoid you.

And then many otherwise nice people are now spouting or posting such intemperate - and sometimes grossly inaccurate - comments about him. Normally rational people have become reactionary, some resorting to insults and foul language.

Mind you, I didn't support him or vote for him. I am opposed to some of the things he has done or has proposed. I have no problem with criticism of his words and actions, but I do with intemperate castigation of them, or with personal attacks.

What all this has done is cause me regularly to back off commenting when I'm tempted to do so. And I've had to bite my tongue (or typing fingers) when I see or hear unfair and inaccurate comments from others. This is hard, because I tend to be an outspoken sort. I enjoy a healthy give-and-take.

I've even unfriended or unfollowed some people on social media because of the nature of their remarks, or to avoid becoming uncharitable in my responses and losing friends.

Further, this has led me to avoid gatherings where I know certain topics will come up. When I think about going to an event, a folk concert or coffee house or music swap just to name a few, I weigh the risks of having the event ruined because others must vent, and so I choose not to attend or tune in.  The same goes for some of the public affairs programs I often watch. I now don't tune in, or change the channel.

I'm discovering there are some great shows of the Food Channel.

Or maybe they just seem great these days.

I don't mind political humor or friendly debates. There are some people - Rob Cullivan, for example - who can carry on debates in a respectful and entertaining manner.

Part of the problem is that so many of my friends are of a liberal or artistic ilk. The painters and poets and musicians and social activists and educators I number among my friends tend to oppose him. And the passion that inspires them in their creativity seems to be focused on him now.

Maybe this is for the best. I waste too much time on politics. I should spend more on prayer, or school work, or good reading.

These days it IS a curse to live in interesting times!

Pax et bonum