Articles by Bruce Strom

About Bruce Strom
I was born and baptized and confirmed as a Lutheran. I made the mistake of reading works written by Luther, he has a bad habit of writing seemingly brilliant theology, but then every few pages he stops and calls the Pope often very vulgar names, what sort of Christian does that? Currently I am a seeker, studying church history and the writings of the Church Fathers. I am involved in the Catholic divorce ministries in our diocese, and have finished the diocese two-year Catholic Lay Ministry program. Also I took a year of Orthodox off-campus seminary courses. This blog explores the beauty of the Early Church and the writings and history of the Church through the centuries. I am a member of a faith community, for as St Augustine notes in his Confessions, you cannot truly be a Christian unless you worship God in the walls of the Church, unless persecution prevents this. This blog is non-polemical, so I really would rather not reveal my denomination here.
Plutarch’s Life of Cicero: Incorruptible Statesman and Stoic Philosopher in a Corrupt Roman Republic
Greek and Roman History

Plutarch’s Life of Cicero: Incorruptible Statesman and Stoic Philosopher in a Corrupt Roman Republic

08/14/2026 Bruce Strom 0

COMPARING AND CONTRASTING CICERO AND CATO THE YOUNGER
When Cicero served as consul, the top political office in Rome, for a year, he thwarted the Catiline Conspiracy that threatened to overthrow the government. Previously, he served in other important annual offices that often preceded holding the consulship. But like Cato the Younger, Cicero was not a leading figure in the Civil Wars that led to the breakdown of the Roman Republic and the founding of the Roman Empire.
Likewise, Cato the Younger was a prominent senator who also earned renown and a Plutarch biography. Both Cato and Cicero were unique: they were morally incorruptible when blatant, rampant corruption was increasing. As consul, Cicero succumbed to violence when he summarily executed the conspirators without a trial. Although he praised the moral qualities of both, Plutarch offered greater praise for Cato the Younger.
Cicero lived during a transition. Class tensions had resulted in the Agrarian Revolt and Social War when the politics in the Roman Republic became increasingly violent. In Cicero’s youth, General Sulla had marched on Rome with his army, and although his dictatorship was not permanent, he did execute many of his political rivals, setting dangerous precedents. […]

St John Climacus on Mad Pride and Vainglory : Ladder of Divine Ascent, Steps 22-23
Ladder of Divine Ascent

St John Climacus on Mad Pride and Vainglory: Ladder of Divine Ascent, Steps 22-23

08/12/2026 Bruce Strom 0

What is the difference between vainglory and pride? Today, vainglory is an archaic word that has not been replaced in common usage, so we usually consider them to be synonymous. Although St John Climacus concedes they are similar, except vainglory progresses to mad pride. He examines vainglory in Step 22, and mad pride in Step 23.
Let us compare the definitions:
Step 22.1. “Some like to distinguish vainglory from pride, and to give it a special place and chapter.” “The only difference between them” is like the difference “between a child and a man, between wheat and bread: for the one is the beginning and the other the end.”
Step 22.2. “With regard to its form, vainglory is a change of nature, a perversion of character, a note of blame. With regard to its quality, it is a dissipation of labors, a waste of sweat, a betrayal of treasure, a child of unbelief, the precursor of pride, shipwreck in harbor, an ant on the threshing floor which, though small, has designs upon all one’s labor and fruit. The ant waits for the gathering of the wheat, and vainglory for the gathering of the riches of virtue: for the one loves to steal and the other to squander.” […]

What Spiritual Advice Can Fathers Suggest at Their Daughter’s Wedding Reception
Marriage and Divorce

What Beneficial Advice Can Fathers Suggest in Their Speech at Their Daughter’s Wedding?

08/07/2026 Bruce Strom 0

For all our close friendships, and our marriages, we need to ask ourselves: Do we bring out the best in each other? Or, do we bring out the worst in each other? Our marriage should be a monastic calling: our marriage should be for our children. The prospective bride should ask herself the key question: Will he be a good father? Will he be good with our children? We cannot love some and hate others, hatred infects all our relationships. […]

FDR’s Inaugural Address and St John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent, on Fear & Cowardice, Step 21
Ladder of Divine Ascent

FDR’s First Inaugural Address and St John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent, on Fear & Cowardice, Step 21

08/06/2026 Bruce Strom 0

The chapter on fear is both one of the shortest and one of the most puzzling chapters of St John Climacus’ Ladder of Divine Ascent. In part, that is because there are many flavors of fears that spring from our most basal fears: the fear of the dark, the distressing, the dangerous.
More common are those fears that cause us to hesitate. Perhaps we fear what others think of us when we champion the good others do not see. Perhaps we fear rejection and failure. Perhaps we fear that past failures will rob us of future success. Perhaps we fear to do good when we are not encouraged. […]

Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Prayer For Allied Soldiers Landing on the Beaches of Normandy
History

Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Prayer For Allied Soldiers Landing on the Beaches of Normandy

08/05/2026 Bruce Strom 0

We now assume that our victory over the Nazis in this invasion of France was inevitable, but like many military battles, the battle could have gone either way. How were the Allies able to land enough troops and tanks, plus sufficient food, water, gasoline, and ammunition, on the Normandy beaches to overwhelm the German forces and push forward, first to Paris, and then to Germany itself? Why were the Allied forces not thrown back into the sea?
The historian William Manchester tells us that “Hitler’s intuition had told him from the first that the landings would come in Normandy. Then he listened to his advisors and changed his mind.” They advised him that the Allies would land in Calais in Northern France, which was a short distance from Dover in England. “The main force will land near Calais; Normandy was just a feint.” […]

Pope Francis on the Healthy Fear of God
Morality

Pope Francis on the Healthy Fear of God

08/04/2026 Bruce Strom 1

Referring to the fear of the Lord as an “alarm” that awakens us “to the presence of sin in our lives” and reminds us that one day we will “be held accountable to the just Judge,” the pontiff stated that when we start to sin, this spiritual gift can help direct the faithful back on the right path.” “When a person is not on the right path, he settles himself in evil.” “When he distances himself from God, when he takes advantage of everyone, when he lives attached to money, to vanity, to power or pride, then the holy fear of God draws his attention: You will not be happy like this, this way you will end badly.” […]

Plutarch’s Life and Works, Including His Greek and Roman Lives, and Moralia, His Stoic Sayings
Book Reviews and Miscellaneous

Plutarch’s Life and Works, Including His Noble Greek and Roman Lives, and Moralia, His Stoic Sayings

07/17/2026 Bruce Strom 0

Over half of Plutarch’s Lives of Noble Romans influenced the history of the corrupt and violent last years of the Roman Republic, and the rise of the Roman Empire under Julius Caesar. Plutarch paired Greek and Roman lives based on their personalities and accomplishments. For example, Julius Caesar is paired with Alexander the Great, and the Greek companion to Cicero is Demosthenes, the renowned Greek orator who opposed Alexander the Great’s conquest of Greece. Plutarch used Xenophon as one of his sources for his lives of the Spartan Kings Agis and Agesilaus, Alcibiades, the lost life of Epaminondas of Thebes, and possibly Lycurgus of Sparta. The majority of Plutarch’s Roman lives featured the strivings of great men during the breakdown of the Roman Republic, and the subsequent struggles and civil wars that culminated in the reign of the first two emperors of the Roman Empire, Julius Caesar and Caesar Augustus, or Octavian.
Plutarch is more interested in highlighting the moral and character strengths and weaknesses of the famous men of history than he is in revealing how these great men influenced historical events. For this reason, you cannot consult only Plutarch for a complete historical review. We also consulted Will Durant’s account in his Story of Civilization, Volume 3, Caesar and Christ. Will Durant often quotes Cicero directly, and Plutarch is his primary source out of necessity. We also consulted the Wikipedia article on Cicero to fill in some background and details. […]

St John Climacus on Insensibility, Sleep, Prayer, and Vigil: Ladder of Divine Ascent, Steps 18-20
Ladder of Divine Ascent

St John Climacus on Insensibility, Sleep, Prayer, and Vigil: Ladder of Divine Ascent, Steps 18-20

07/10/2026 Bruce Strom 1

Father John Mack teaches us: “The labor of prayer is a labor with the thoughts. Our minds are far too lazy and undisciplined. Instead of directing our thoughts and controlling them, we allow them to run free, here and there, wherever they wish to go. So, during prayer, we find ourselves thinking about all kinds of other things.”
We are called to prayer during Divine Liturgy. Do we complain that the service is over an hour? Do we watch our watch rather than our soul? Are we attentive in prayer, are we attentive during Divine Liturgy, paying attention to our prayers, not letting our mind wander, trying not to let our mind wander? We are bidden by Jesus in his Agony of the Garden of Gethsemane to stay awake and pray. […]

History of Hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty
Hymns and Their Inspirations

History of Hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty

06/23/2026 Bruce Strom 0

This hymn was written by the Anglican Bishop Reginald Heber. This is one of the most beloved of the roughly hundred hymns that he penned in the early 1800s, when the Anglican authorities frowned on singing hymns in church, except for the metrical chanting of Psalms. By closely reflecting the biblical verses, he sought to avoid the excessive emotionalism that Anglican authorities hoped to discourage. The Brightest and Best is another of his acclaimed hymns.
Heber pursued his literary interests, including composing hymns, while serving as a parish priest for many years. Later in life, he was appointed as bishop of Calcutta, India, seeking to improve the spiritual life and living conditions of his flock. He traveled the countryside, but due to his workload, the hostile climate, and his poor health, he passed away three years after his appointment in India. […]

Why are we starting an advocacy group for the mentally ill, elderly, and community associations?
and Community Associations

Why Are We Starting Advocates For Mental Health, Elderly, and Community Associations?

06/20/2026 Bruce Strom 0

The overall theme of our Advocacy Group is: How To Love Your Neighbor, and the corollary: How To Love Your Neighbor, even when they suffer from dementia, autism, or mental illness. SUMMARY of purpose:
Conduct educational and lobbying efforts under 501c6. Also, conduct programs and activities; raise funds to reimburse advocacy efforts; and raise funds separately for 501c3 charities and political action committees.
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