“In this stimulating and still-timely study, the great Thomist Josef Pieper takes up a theme of paramount importance to his thinking – that festivals belong by rights among the great topics of philosophical discussion. As he develops his theory of festivity, the modern age comes under close and painful scrutiny. It is obvious that we… Read More Josef Pieper on the Loss of Spiritual Festivity
The Forgotten Common Medieval Habit of ‘Two Sleeps‘. “For centuries, humans slept in two distinct shifts, separated by a period of nighttime activity. In this video, we explore the fascinating history of biphasic sleep, a once-common practice where people divided their nights into a “first sleep” and a “second sleep.” — Medieval Sleep. BBC. 9… Read More For centuries, humans slept in two distinct shifts. Biphasic sleep.
C. S. Lewis once said that reading literature from the past is like a clean sea breeze blowing through our musty minds. Interview by Greg Peters. This article is from the November 2023 issue. Christianity Today. In recent decades, evangelicals studying faith in the Middle Ages have done much to recover its variety and richness. Yet… Read More Mystics, Monastics, and the Moderns Who Need Them
Joseph Pearce and Linda Porter. Canceling Henry VIII. by Joseph Peace.Catholic World Report. “Times change. A century ago, Henry VIII was lionized as an English patriotic icon and as one of the truly great men of history. He was praised for being highly cultured and for his love of music, and was credited with writing… Read More ‘Canceling Henry VIII.’ And ‘The Myth of ‘Bloody Mary’
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss one of the most remarkable figures of the Middle Ages, Hildegard of Bingen. The abbess of a Benedictine convent, Hildegard experienced a series of mystical visions which she documented in her writings. She was an influential person in the religious world and much of her extensive correspondence with popes,… Read More The Astonishing Hildegard of Bingen
By a.d. 1200, Europe was in the process of changing from a medieval agricultural economy to one based upon interregional trade, which contributed to the growth of large urban centers. Many of these cities evolved from successful trade fairs established along busy trade routes. In turn, they engendered a commercial revolution that would eventually change… Read More Medieval Fun and Commerce: Trade Fairs and the Commercial Revolution
Henry I’s date of birth is generally accepted as 1068 AD. The location of his birth is most likely Selby, located in Yorkshire. — Ancient Origins History. According to English historian David Starkey, Henry I (1065-1135) upon finally becoming king of England promptly investigated complaints of “galloping inflation,” since the entire prosperity and stability of the… Read More ‘Twas Thought A Fair Price to Pay for Galloping Inflation
Catholic Critique 