Author Archives: Matthew Phillips

Who Can Marvel Enough?

Posted on December 24, 2017 by Matthew Phillips

“An angel announces, power overshadows, and the Spirit startles; the Virgin believes, by faith the Virgin conceives, the Virgin gives birth, the Virgin remains a virgin: who would not marvel? Then is the Son of the Most High born, God, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bernard of Clairvaux, Christ, Christmas, Incarnation, Mary, medieval, preaching | Leave a comment

Luther on Becoming a Theologian

Posted on December 18, 2017 by Matthew Phillips

“If anybody wishes to become a theologian, he has a great advantage, first of all, in having the Bible.  This is now so clear that he can read it without any trouble.  Afterward he should read Philip’s Loci Communes.  This … Continue reading →

Posted in Martin Luther, Philip Melanchthon, theology | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Students of Wisdom

Posted on November 3, 2017 by Matthew Phillips

“Some of us are enslaved to glory, others to money.  But there are also a few people who devote themselves wholly to the study of the universe, believing everything else to be trivial in comparison.  These call themselves students of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicero, education, philosophy | Leave a comment

Indulgences and the Gospel

Posted on October 30, 2017 by Matthew Phillips

  “Works of piety and love are infinitely better than indulgences; and yet [the indulgence preachers] do not preach them with an equally big display and effort.  What is even worse, [the preachers] are silent about them because they have … Continue reading →

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

The Final Judgment of Michelangelo

Posted on October 1, 2017 by Matthew Phillips

A Sonnet by Michelangelo The course of my life has already reached,                                                          … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, Michelangelo, Renaissance | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Interrogation of Mercy

Posted on August 28, 2017 by Matthew Phillips

Augustine of Hippo (d. 430) teaches on John 1:16  “And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.” “What grace did we, in the first instance, receive?  Faith: walking in faith, we walk in grace.  How have … Continue reading →

Posted in Augustine of Hippo, grace | Leave a comment

Humility

Posted on August 3, 2017 by Matthew Phillips

“And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled: and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Matthew 23:12 (Douay-Rheims) In my last post we saw how Augustine asserted that pride began as a perverse exaltation of the self above … Continue reading →

Posted in Augustine of Hippo, Bernard of Clairvaux | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Pride Goes Before Destruction

Posted on June 10, 2017 by Matthew Phillips

“Pride goeth before destruction and the spirit is lifted up before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18 (Douay-Rheims) Pride (superbia) was the foundation of all sin in medieval piety and theology.  A concept well-established on the Bible and the Church Fathers, pride … Continue reading →

Posted in Augustine of Hippo, Bernard of Clairvaux, medieval, pride | 1 Comment

Melanchthon on Slavery and Natural Law

Posted on May 25, 2017 by Matthew Phillips

“Also in civil law, as they call it, there are many things that reflect human affections instead of natural laws.  For what it more foreign to the law of nature than slavery?….a good man will fashion civil constitutions according to … Continue reading →

Posted in government, nature, Philip Melanchthon | Leave a comment

Tyranny of Wickedness

Posted on May 16, 2017 by Matthew Phillips

“Those lofty kings you see seated high on thrones,                                                               … Continue reading →

Posted in Boethius | Leave a comment