In Praise of Catholic Homesteading

When the Papacy is vacant the whole Church looks longingly for a puff of smoke from a little chimney – the household of the Church feels lonely without Papa.   When it comes we rejoice, because our father has come home. When I see puffs of smoke from a little...

Celebrate the Ember Days

History of the Ember Days The Ember Days, which were historically kept four times during the liturgical year, have a venerable history. Here is the explanation from the 1917 Catholic Encyclopedia. The purpose of their introduction, besides the general one intended by...

The Spirit of the Machine vs. The Spirit of Truth

I recently hosted a retreat with 30+ college students at my farm.  These young men spent a week in work, prayer, and rest, with an intentional focus on building Christian brotherhood and character.  Because so few had experienced work their new callouses bled and...

The Fact of Food: Eating as the Basis of Culture

Something has gone wrong with our culture, or at least it seems that way by how many people make a living criticizing it, trying to fix it, or checking out of it altogether.  That last one is impossible, but it makes a good story.  Just consider how many institutes,...