#1105: Ch. 16A, A Dialogue of Comfort against Tribulation by St. Thomas More

A Dialogue of Comfort against Tribulation continues. In this part of a long chapter on suicide, More discusses how to stop people from committing suicide out of delusion.

Chapter 16A.

38:53.

Read Full Post »

#1104: Ch. 6C, An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine by John Henry Newman

An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine continues. Newman discusses the sorts of laws that Christians routinely broke. It’s not just that they didn’t worship the emperor; they were acting like a secret society and doing other things that Romans found dangerous, subversive, and distasteful. (You will also find parallels to things disliked by today’s atheists.)

Chapter 3C.

39:17.

Read Full Post »

#1103: Ch. 13, Legacy by James H. Schmitz

Legacy continues, with a brief fashion chapter. (Probably not safe for work, but funny.)

Chapter 13

18:43.

Read Full Post »

#1102: Bk. 3B, The Ring and the Book by Robert Browning

The Ring and the Book continues, with more of the story from the POV of the friends of Pompilia and the Comparini family.

Book 3B.

18:20.

Read Full Post »

#1101: Ch. 18, On Prayer by Origen

On Prayer continues, with another controversial chapter. On the one hand, Origen has some great stuff to say about the “debts” we owe each other, God, and the world. On the other hand, Origen actually argues that some sins can’t and shouldn’t be forgiven by any human being, or even sacramentally! (Sometimes, it’s easy to believe that he cut off important bits, but hard to believe that he learned his lesson from it.) So… pay attention to the part where he’s making sense, and not to the other bit.

Chapter 18: And Forgive Us Our Debts As We Also Have Forgiven Our Debtors.

17:07.

Read Full Post »

#1100: Ch. 26B, The Worm Ouroboros by E.R. Eddison

The Worm Ouroboros continues. The battle begins, and the soldier Arnod tells of the gory struggle.

Chapter 26B.

14:55.

Read Full Post »

#1099: Ch. 26A, The Worm Ouroboros by E.R. Eddison

The Worm Ouroboros continues. Lord Juss, Lord Spitfire, and Lord Brandoch Daha have a daring plan to defeat the forces of Witchland.

Chapter 26: The Battle of Krothering Side.

38:57.

Read Full Post »

#1098: Ch. 12, The Moon Pool by A. Merritt

The Moon Pool continues. Our mismatched band follows a beckoning hand, and finds their adventure becoming even stranger!

Chapter 12: The End of the Journey.

11:06.

Read Full Post »

#1097: Ch. 11, The Moon Pool by A. Merritt

The Moon Pool continues.

Mismatched enemies, trapped together in a mysterious ancient ruin deep beneath the earth! And now before them stand — the flame-tipped shadows!

Chapter 11: The Flame-Tipped Shadows.

34:09.

Read Full Post »

#1096: Ch. 6B, An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine by John Henry Newman

An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine continues, as does Newman’s look at how the ancient pagans thought of the Church. In this part of the chapter, he considers why pagans so consistently named  Christianity as a “superstition” and as a magical religion of witches (malefici).

Chapter 6B: Christianity and Magical Religions.

36:55.

Read Full Post »

#1095: Ch. 15, Bk. 2, Dialogue of Comfort against Tribulation by St. Thomas More

A Dialogue of Comfort against Tribulation continues. The discussion of “the terror of the night” segues into a discussion of the temptation to suicide. This week deals with more unusual motivations, to get them out of the way. Next week’s chapter returns to suicide for reasons of fear and depression, and is quite long. It would seem that the good saint knew plenty about this particular temptation. (I should warn you also that some of the opprobrious epithets in this chapter are not safe for work or little ones’ ears.) But characteristically, More gives us plenty of humor and his keen appreciation of human nature, to lighten a dark subject.

Btw, we’re almost at the end of Book Two!

Book 2, Chapter 15

16:25.

Read Full Post »

Mr. Ron’s Basement Is Turning 1000 Soon!

Mr. Ron’s Basement, for those unlucky enough not to know it and fortunate enough to have it all before them, is one of the earliest and best literary podcasts. Its mission is simple: to read forgotten short stories. The Basement is mostly full of funny tales, but there are also a good many serious ones. Occasionally Mr. Ron branches into novels. He adorns each podcast with good public domain or podcast-safe music, and discusses his unknown authors’ biographies. Mostly, though, he appears to have a lot of fun.

Maria Lectrix is not, to be honest, a podcast in what has come to be the full meaning of the word. I use podcasting as a method of distribution, not an artform; what I provide is something like a serialized audiobook service. That’s not a bad thing, but that’s all it is.

Mr. Ron has been creating something quite a bit more artistic, civilized, and difficult.

My thousandth segment was a mere matter of endurance. His thousandth episode will be a milepost of rare beauty and joy. Be sure to be there.

To Mr. Ron’s Basement, and to Mr. Ron! Ars longa!

Read Full Post »

#1094: Ch. 12, Legacy by James H. Schmitz

Legacy continues. Quillan briefs Trigger over cocktails and shows her the enemy, while Trigger takes a good look at herself.

Chapter 12

23:09.

Read Full Post »

#1093: Bk. 3A, The Ring and the Book by Robert Browning

The Ring and the Book continues, as “The Other Half-Rome” tells the story from the POV of Pompilia’s family.

Book III: The Other Half-Rome

30:56.

Read Full Post »

#1092: Ch. 17, On Prayer by Origen

On Prayer continues with a discussion of our daily bread.

Chapter 17: Give Us This Day Our Needful Bread.

32:51.

UPDATE: Link fixed and file re-uploaded. It should be there now!

Read Full Post »