2018 | Reflections on Morality, Philosophy, and History

Seneca, Moral Epistles, Blog 3, Loving Philosophy, Loving God, Loving our Neighbor

04/11/2018 Bruce Strom 2

If Seneca would be writing today, perhaps he would title this essay, Encouragements to the Budding Blogger. It is good to read the works of wise men, Seneca says, but men long dead cannot think for you, you need to think for yourself, reading the classics for inspiration, not duplication. Seneca advises us, “Take command, and utter some word prosperity will remember.” Why only memorize maxims from dusty tomes? Make some maxims yourself. It is one thing to remember maxims, quite another to know the true meaning of the maxims. […]

Seneca, Moral Epistles, Blog 2, Stoicism and Living a Godly Life

04/10/2018 Bruce Strom 4

Philosophy is the study of wisdom, for as Seneca writes, “no man can live a happy life without the study of wisdom,” and “life is endurable even when we first begin our study of wisdom.” You must study philosophy every day, “you must persevere, you must develop new strength by continuous study, until that which is only a good inclination becomes a good habit.” “Philosophy molds and constructs the soul; it orders our life, guides our conduct, shows us what we should do and what we should leave undone; philosophy sits at the helm of our ship and directs our course as we waver amid the uncertainties of life. Without philosophy, no one can live fearlessly or in peace of mind. Countless occurrences every hour call for advice, and such advice is to be found in philosophy.” […]

St Evagrios, On Asceticism and Stillness in the Solitary Life

04/09/2018 Bruce Strom 5

Evagrios begins by quoting Jeremiah, “You shall not take a wife in this place.” The primary meaning of this verse is advice not to bear sons and daughters in time of war and troubles, but Evagrios interprets this allegorically, that we should not bear worldly thoughts and desires in our heart. These worldly thoughts and desires are weak and sickly and lead to death, and “have no place in heavenly life.” […]

Life of St Anthony, Blog 2, Living a monastic life

04/06/2018 Bruce Strom 2

St Anthony compares those who follow evil spirits to those who follow Christ. Those who follow the evil spirits show “tumult and confusion of thought, defection, hatred towards them who live a life of discipline, indifference, grief, fear of death, and disregard virtue.” But those who follow Christ have “joy unspeakable, cheerfulness, courage, renewed strength, calmness of thought, and boldness and love toward God.” […]

Life of St Anthony, Blog 1, Sell all you have and give to the poor

04/02/2018 Bruce Strom 1

One day St Anthony went into church as this Gospel verse was being read:
Jesus said, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

Anthony perceived that this verse was directed at him, so he IMMEDIATELY gave the family land, his inheritance, and his other possessions to the poor, leaving some money for his younger sister.

Anthony was able to do this because his parents had departed. His younger sister was put in a convent to be raised, and we can surmise the convent was where she wanted to go, because if this was not the best place for her Anthony would have taken another path. No degree on saintliness on his part would have been worth the price of her unhappiness and her soul.

Immediately is a word you see quite often in the first Gospel of Mark. When should you repent and live a godly life? When should you start caring for your neighbor? When should you follow the way of the Lord? IMMEDIATELY. […]

Introduction to the Philokalia, the Love of the Beautiful

03/23/2018 Bruce Strom 2

When the Russian pilgrim in the spiritual classic, “The Way of a Pilgrim,” hears the Scriptures being read that exhorts us to pray without ceasing. He asks a monk in a monastery how he can pray without ceasing, and the simple answer is he can start on his path by each day praying more. He selling all he has, giving it to the poor, to embark on a spiritual pilgrimage, trudging through the forests of Siberia. His only possessions in his travel bag are the Holy Scriptures and the Philokalia, the treasured writings of the early Greek Church Fathers. […]

Biblical Interpretation in the Catholic Church, the 1994 Pontifical Biblical Commission Decree

03/16/2018 Bruce Strom 1

Historically, the Catholic Church has defended itself from attacks, both real and imagined, from enemies of the faith, and this defensiveness also extended to Biblical studies. The twentieth century saw a relaxing of this defensiveness, culminating in the decree Dei Verbum pronounced by Vatican II, encouraging Catholic scholars to use more modern methods of interpreting the Scriptures, under the guidance of the Vatican office, the Pontifical Biblical Commission. […]

Who Should Study the Catechism?

03/13/2018 Bruce Strom 3

Who should study the Catechism? Everyone! Everyone who is Catholic? No, everyone who wants to live a godly life should study the Catechism. The Catechism was reviewed by thousands of bishops before publication, many thousands of suggestions were pondered, more thought and care was invested in the editing of the Catholic Catechism than probably any modern book in print. You ignore this wisdom at your moral peril. These teachings are not merely preachings, they are annotated by thousands of footnotes to both Scripture verses and the writings of the Church Fathers and the decrees of Vatican II, Trent, and the other councils, so you can go back to the sources yourself. […]

Seneca, Stoic Philosopher, Moral Epistles, Blog 1, Living Well, Dying Well

03/11/2018 Bruce Strom 6

Seneca discusses our most precious possession, our possession that we can never really possess, that continually slips through our fingers, the loan we can never repay, the gift we waste through carelessness, the treasure we should not waste, our most precious possession, time.

Seneca asks, “What man can you show me who places any value on his time, who reckons the worth of each day, who understands that he is dying daily? For we are mistaken when we look forward to death; the major portion of death has already passed. What years be behind us are in death’s hands?” Nothing in life is ours except time, while we postpone life speeds by, so let us live well, not wasting time. […]

Odyssey, Blog 4, The Slaughter of the Suitors

02/28/2018 Bruce Strom 4

When Odysseus had seen his departed mother in Hades she said from the shades, “your father stays among the fields, and comes to town no more. Bed he has none, no robes, no bright-hued rugs. Through the winter he sleeps in the house where the servants sleep, in the dust besides the fire, and wears upon his body sorry clothes. . . . There he lies in distress, woe waxing strong within him, longing for your return; and hard old age comes on. Even so I also died and met my doom. . . . longing for you, your wise ways, glorious Odysseus, and your tenderness, took joyous life away.” […]