August 2020 – Talking to Wildflowers

From My Commonplace: Stranger Than Fiction

Posted on August 18, 2020 by Trinity in Reading

Happy Tuesday! For this edition of From My Commonplace, I submit this quote, a gem from Chesterton’s delightful book The Club of Queer Trades (which you can read for free online here!), for your consideration. I think that what Chesterton calls the “congeniality” of fiction is perhaps one explanation for mankind’s long-enduring fascination with stories–especially stories that spring entirely from the imagination of their authors–and our sometimes mulish unwillingness to accept hard truths.

“So far from paradox,” said his brother, with something rather like a sneer, “you seem to be going in for journalese proverbs. Do you believe that truth is stranger than fiction?”
“Truth must of necessity be stranger than fiction,” said Basil placidly. “For fiction is the creation of the human mind, and therefore congenial to it.”
The Club of Queer Trades, by G.K. Chesterton

Panis Angelicus: Why a Beautiful Liturgy is Important

Posted on August 14, 2020 by Trinity in Catholicism, Liturgical year, Saints

I’ve heard this point made time and time again in homilies: “You shouldn’t be coming to Mass just because of the choir or the church architecture, because those things aren’t really important.” This statement isn’t necessarily untrue. The most important part of a Catholic Mass–the transformation of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ–occurs no matter where Mass takes place or what kind of music is playing in the background. A deficiency of beautiful churches and skilled choirs should not keep the faithful from participating in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. With that being said, the intent of this post is to make an argument for why Mass should be beautiful.

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Monday Miscellany: At Summer’s End

Posted on August 3, 2020 by Trinity in Catholicism, Reading, Saints

Welcome to this week’s edition of Monday Miscellany! It’s been a busy few months for me and, as a result, this blog has been sadly neglected. I feel like I’m just getting into a good summer routine and now SUMMER IS ALMOST OVER! Hopefully I’ll be able to get back to posting semi-regularly soon. In the meantime, I’ve been collecting some interesting tidbits to share with you.

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Last Friday, July 31st was the feast day of this powerhouse saint and founder of the Society of Jesus, a.k.a. the Jesuits, who is most well known for his Spiritual Exercises and Examen (a wonderful bedtime prayer habit!). I discovered two exquisite prayers penned by St. Ignatius and immediately fell in love with them. Perhaps they will be as helpful and inspiring to you as they’ve been to me.

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