Sunday Meditation: The Purpose of Literature is to Please and Instruct

Philosopher Peter Kreeft, a man on a mission -- to teach the truth!

I'm always a little puzzled by those who say they never read fiction and consider it a waste of time. I think I've found just as much (or more) food for meditation in a great novel than many books of non-fiction and their didactic manner of teaching the same thing. Am I more likely to remember the lessons about good and evil, friendship and treachery, courage and cowardice from a book of psychology or from Tolkien's Lord of the Rings or Shakespeare's Macbeth? 

Philosopher Peter Kreeft describes the purpose of literature as to please and to instruct. His presentation on Lost in the Cosmos, Abolition of Man and several other books is tremendous and well worth a listen -- or two -- or even three. He demonstrates how literature can be either direct or indirect to make a point and teach a lesson. Abolition is an example of direct literature, Lost indirect. Lewis uses logic and reasoning; Percy uses satire, irony, and humor. But both works explain the crisis of modern man, men without chests, that is men who have lost the heart of things.

From the Trenches of the Church Militant

A friend of mine who shall remain anonymous for reasons known to both of us sent me the following e-mail about my blog post on Mike Voris' talk about the end of western civilization. I thought her comments were worth sharing. We should never despair but we need to live in the real world as Fr. John Hardon often urged. We need to raise our children not to be soft little marshmallows used to comfort and ease, but to be little warriors for good. 

I’ve been thinking a great deal about your comments [about the Mike Voris talk] and your recent blog posting on the topic of the clear end of our civilization. I have seen the writing on the wall for the last couple of years, or rather, since Obama was elected. I see no way out of our current, depressing situation. I believe that my generation was so poorly catechized and educated that we ourselves have raised the Barbarians (meaning, I don’t think the Barbarians have to come from outside our borders, they are among us…and they number more than we can count). In addition, it appears that none of the current Republican candidates are capable of beating Obama. With Obama’s total lack of respect for the laws of our nation, I can’t even begin to imagine what he will do as a lame duck president.

Still, God is Mercy. I know there is a remnant among us…an imperfect remnant, but one that seeks Truth, has a desire to grow in Faith and seeks God’s Will.

I don’t mean to pontificate, but I did want to communicate to you that I am not ready to throw up my hands and admit that defeat is inevitable. While I agree that the moral and economic future of this nation is clearly doomed, I wonder if there is any other possibility for hope. The number of alternatives are slim: hunker down here or find another place that might not collapse, or at least a place in which our children might have true liberty in the years to come.

It seems to me that while we still have the liberty to do so, we, the remnant should develop a cohesive, prayerful plan for our future, a plan to do exactly what you said: to enable us and our Catholic Faith to survive during the dark ages to come. I don’t have any more than that, but I think it worthwhile for us and those of like mind to begin to prayerfully beg for Divine guidance on the subject…and beg for HOPE for our children. And, if our prayers so lead us, perhaps some of the remnant could come together now to begin to execute a plan for the future.

Feel no need to respond…but let me know if ever hear about a planning meeting for members of “The Remnant.”

Our Lady of Hope, Pray for us.

Is Western Culture in its Death Throes?

Yes, according to Mike Voris of Real Catholic TV who spoke last night in Front Royal addressing the topic R.I.P. Western Civilization. Voris, with a background in history, described how the disintegration of a civilization comes about. First the culture collapses morally, then economically, and then the government is overthrown. It was chillingly obvious that we are well on the way and that the demise of the Roman Empire has much to teach us. St. Augustine wrote the City of God as Rome imploded and the barbarians ushered in the dark ages. Christians, Voris said, need to reflect on what's coming next and be about the business of saving souls.

It's not all bad news - The web is "rescuing Western Civ."

I Love this article. In fact, let me shout it - I LOVE THIS ARTICLE! It's called Consolations in a Dark Age by James Lewis at American Thinker. The theme is that, while colleges have stopped teaching Western Civilization, substituting denial and hate for the roots of our cultural, it's more alive than ever on the Internet.

Here's what the author says: "This is absolutely unprecedented. Today more of us can more easily access the best of 20 centuries of Western Civilization -- the real thing, not the college course -- than ever before. And people are doing it all over the world."

Read this wonderful article and then visit these examples, some of my own favorites. Homeschoolers know about this already because they are independent learners filled with a love for learning.

The world is at our fingertips so keep those keyboards humming.

Some of my favorites:

Favorite piece of classical music:



Favorite artist. Do you recognize him from this painting?



Favorite ancient philosopher

Favorite sculpture:



Favorite style of architecture:

Monstrosity or masterpiece? Which of these cathedrals would more likely lift your mind and heart to God? (Incidentally, one of the few good things about Notre Dame is their architecture program.)




Favorite Catholic Historian



And finally, my favorite writer in English literature. If I were marooned on a desert island, along with the Bible this man's collected works could keep me happy forever.

I could go on forever, but I'll let you explore your favorites for yourself.