From the early days of my youth, I have always been told that the wonders of the City of Light consist in streets of gold, pearly gates, and a foundation of gems. I used to be impressed by these as a child is impressed with sand in a sandbox. Granted, we human beings do not… Continue reading The Jewels of the Coming Kingdom
Five Days of Wisdom. Day 5: Lady Reason
The giant bent foward in his chair and looked at her. ‘Who are you?’ he said. ‘My name is Reason,’ said the virgin. ‘Make out her passport quickly,’ said the giant in a low voice. ‘And let her go through our dominions and be off with all the speed she wishes.’ ‘Not yet,’ said Reason. … Continue reading Five Days of Wisdom. Day 5: Lady Reason
Five Days of Wisdom. Day 4: Contemplation
‘My name is Contemplation,’ she said, ‘and I am one of the daughters of Wisdom. You must rise and follow me.’ … John felt no doubt of her and gathered himself together and leaped. His leap carried him further than he had intended–though he felt no suprise…and the Lady was there by his side. …… Continue reading Five Days of Wisdom. Day 4: Contemplation
Five Days of Wisdom. Day 3: Dante and Mary
And further do I pray thee, heavenly Queen With thy protection render him secure From human impulse; for this boon the saints, With Beatrice, thronging fold hands and implore. -Paradiso Canto XXXIII, 34-39 Mary, “the handmaiden of the LORD,” is the figure of Lady Wisdom in the culminating stanzas of the Commedia,… Continue reading Five Days of Wisdom. Day 3: Dante and Mary
Five Days of Wisdom. Day 2: Boethius and Lady Philosophy
“Did I not often in days of old, before my servant Plato lived, wage stern warfare with the rashness of folly? In his lifetime, too, Socrates, his master, won with my aid the victory of an unjust death. And when, one after the other, the Epicurean herd, the Stoic, and the rest, each of them… Continue reading Five Days of Wisdom. Day 2: Boethius and Lady Philosophy
Five Days of Wisdom. Day 1: Lady Wisdom
“Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars. She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks… Continue reading Five Days of Wisdom. Day 1: Lady Wisdom
Rahab and Salmon: a Match made in Heaven
The best love story between a man and a woman in all of history has to be assembled from broken fragments. The story is largely lost upon this generation, because the popular concept of romance as a falling into sensual gravity is exactly the opposite of how this love story begins: in the house of… Continue reading Rahab and Salmon: a Match made in Heaven