Author Archives: Matthew Phillips

Mercy

“O man, if you consider carefully the mercy of God, you can possess in yourself the image of mercy.  What made Christ become incarnate, except mercy? What subjected him to our wretchedness, except his clemency? This is man’s only way … Continue reading

Posted in Alan of Lille, gospel, medieval, theology | Leave a comment

No Word Sounds Sweeter

“Your word pierced me like the sharp arrow of the Mighty. As a result, I began to compare your statements with the passages of Scripture which speak of poenitentia [repentance]. And behold — what a most pleasant scene! Biblical words … Continue reading

Posted in Martin Luther, Reformation, theology | Leave a comment

Some Criminals Receive Correction

“However, when it was already late at night there came to Sulla’s camp messengers from Crassus to fetch food for Crassus himself and for his soldiers. For they had defeated the enemy, pursued them to Antennae, and were now in … Continue reading

Posted in Plutarch, Rome | Leave a comment

Unto Us A Child Is Born

“Show us, Lord, your mercy, cloaked in our misery and working the cure of the miserable by a new kind mercy drawn from our very misery. For this, the art of mercy, has blended God’s beatitude and man’s misery in … Continue reading

Posted in Christ, Christmas, Cistercian, theology | Leave a comment

The Test

“In private life, if you wish to pass judgement on the characters of good or of bad men, you would not, assuming that your opinion is to be subjected to a genuine test, examine their actions only at periods of … Continue reading

Posted in Polybius, Rome | Leave a comment

Gluttony Over Glosses

“For clerks of our own day follow more readily the schools of Antichrist than Christ, are rather given to gluttony than glosses; they collect pounds rather than read books…now all learning goes cheap, all reading is half-hearted; there is no-one … Continue reading

Posted in Alan of Lille, education, liberal arts, medieval, teaching, theology | Leave a comment

Legislation Abounded

“Hence arose demagogues like the Gracchi and Lucius Appuleius Saturnis – and the senate’s partisans such as Marcus Livius Drusus with their equally comprehensive offers.  By these, Italian hopes were raised, only to be dashed by the tribunes’ vetoes.  Even … Continue reading

Posted in Politics, Rome, Tacitus | Leave a comment

Imitate the Martyr

“It is the passion of the most blessed martyr Cyprian that has made this day into a feast for us, and the celebration of his triumph that has brought us together in such a spirit of devotion. But the right … Continue reading

Posted in Augustine of Hippo, Love, martyrdom | Leave a comment

Force and Consent: Liberalism vs. Collectivism

“I challenge the Liberal gentleman to tell if ever in history there has been a government that was based solely on popular consent and that renounced all use of force whatsoever.  A government so constructed there has never been and … Continue reading

Posted in Modern Era History, Mussolini | Leave a comment

Slavish Obedience

“He seduced the army with bonuses, and his cheap food policy was successful bait for civilians.  Indeed, he attracted everybody’s goodwill by the enjoyable gift of peace.  Then he gradually pushed ahead and absorbed the functions of the senate, the … Continue reading

Posted in Rome, Tacitus | Leave a comment