Author Archives: Matthew Phillips

True Law and Genuine Justice

Posted on March 27, 2019 by Matthew Phillips

“For there is a fellowship that is extremely widespread, shared by all with all (even if this has often been said, it ought to be said still more often); a closer one exists among of those of the same nation, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cicero, justice | Leave a comment

Studies Burdensome to Youth

Posted on February 21, 2019 by Matthew Phillips

One may wish to be learned in old age, but it is not easy to achieve this unless we have nurtured learning in ourselves from our earliest years with zealous effort.  So we need to prepare in youth those consolations … Continue reading →

Posted in Learning, liberal arts, Pietro Paulo Vergerio | 2 Comments

The Happiness of Deceit

Posted on January 23, 2019 by Matthew Phillips

“But they say it is an unhappy thought to be deceived.  To this I say no, for the unhappiest thought is not to be deceived.  For those who think that the happiness of a man can be found in things … Continue reading →

Posted in deception, Erasmus, Renaissance, wisdom | Leave a comment

Devout Adoration

Posted on December 21, 2018 by Matthew Phillips

“We revere him in the manger, we revere him on the gibbet, we revere him in the tomb.  Devoutly do we acknowledge that he was a tender child for our sake, and blood-stained for our sake; we revere him, pallid … Continue reading →

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

Rhabanus on Rhetoric and Preaching

Posted on November 21, 2018 by Matthew Phillips

“According to the statements of teachers, rhetoric is the art of using secular discourse effectively in the circumstances of daily life.  From this definition rhetoric seems indeed to have reference merely to secular wisdom.  Yet is is not foreign to … Continue reading →

Posted in liberal arts, Rhabanus Maurus, rhetoric | Tagged | Leave a comment

An Infallible Truth

Posted on October 31, 2018 by Matthew Phillips

“It is an infallible truth that no person is righteous unless he believes in God, as stated in Rom. 1 [:17]: ‘He who through faith is righteous shall live.’  Likewise, ‘He who does not believe is condemned already” [John 3:18] … Continue reading →

Posted in gospel, grace, justice, Martin Luther, Reformation, theology | Leave a comment

Making Friends

Posted on October 6, 2018 by Matthew Phillips

“Next, at fixed hours time should be given to certain definite reading.  For haphazard reading, constantly varied and as if lighted upon by chance does not edify makes the mind unstable; taken into the memory lightly, it goes out from … Continue reading →

Posted in Cistercian, education, reading, William of St Thierry | Leave a comment

Augustine on Teaching with Eloquence

Posted on September 13, 2018 by Matthew Phillips

“For teaching, of course, true eloquence consists, not in making people like what they disliked, nor in making them do what they shrank from, but in making clear what was obscure; yet if this be done without grace of style, … Continue reading →

Posted in Augustine of Hippo, eloquence, teaching | Leave a comment

History and the Holy

Posted on August 13, 2018 by Matthew Phillips

“Many mortals, vainly devoted to study and worldly acclaim, have then sought to immortalize their reputation, or so they believed, by using their pen to give an account of the lives of famous men.  But although this did not bring … Continue reading →

Posted in hagiography, history, Martin of Tours | Leave a comment

The Art of Love

Posted on July 12, 2018 by Matthew Phillips

“The art of arts is the art of love.  Nature, and God, the Author of nature, has reserved to himself the teaching of it.  Love itself has been planted [in us] by the Creator of nature; so if its natural … Continue reading →

Posted in Love, medieval, theology, virtue | Leave a comment