The “Intelligent Design Debate” has been going on a long time:
If the movement of the universe were irrational, and the world rolled on in a random fashion, one would be justified in disbelieving what we say.
But if the world is founded on reason, wisdom, and science, and is filled with orderly beauty, then it must owe its origin and order to none other than the Word of God.
–St. Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, died A.D. 373.
…We are praying hard for everyone in Haiti. May all who are unaccounted-for be found safe.
Port-au-Prince Cathedral, January 14We pray for the repose of Archbishop Serge Miot and all the dead.
Many souls certainly went to their deaths without proper preparation; may God be merciful.
We pledge ourselves to help everyone in need.
But before we panic and go reeling off into uncharted spiritual territory–losing perspective on ultimate reality because of the incessant buzzing of the television–let’s remind ourselves of the words of the expert demon to the junior tempter in Screwtape Letter #28:
I sometimes wonder if you young fiends are not kept out on temptation duty too long at a time–if you are not in some danger of becoming infected by the sentiments and values of the humans among whom you work.
They, or course, do tend to regard death as the prime evil, and survival as the greatest good. But that is because we have taught them to do so.
Do not let us be infected by our own propaganda…Whatever you do, keep your patient as safe as you possibly can…
Capuchin Crypt in RomeThe long, dull years of middle-aged prosperity are excellent campaigning weather for us.
Imagine trying to write a paperback made up solely of letters. They are letters from an experienced demon to a “junior tempter” containing advice about how to lure the “patient” away from the snares of the Enemy (God).
It would take a master of both the spiritual life and English style to produce an entertaining book like this. C.S. Lewis was a master of both, and he did it: The Screwtape Letters.
Now imagine trying to set this paperback on the stage. This is one of the most formidable theatrical challenges of all time.
There is only one speaking part.
The only “plot”–the twisting fortunes of the ‘patient’–is completely invisible to the audience.
It would take a madman to attempt to stage The Screwtape Letters.
C. S. Lewis
It would take a true thespian genius to pull it off–to make it fun, exciting, and edifying.
Max McLean is the genius who has managed to do it.
He transforms the clever book into a 90-minute dramatic production that moves–moves itself and moves you.
I almost never say this: This play is better than the book–more delightful, a great deal more exciting.
Tickets are available in Washington for one more weekend–this coming weekend.
I stand by what I said about Brett Favre: More power to him for wanting to stick it to the Packers. (Even though the Packers never did him any wrong.)
If ever there was a good reason to come out of retirement to play football, a personal vendetta is it.
Speaking of returning All-Pro quarterbacks: My heart goes out Michael Vick as he fights doggedly to get his reputation back…
…The Roman statesman and philospher Seneca wrote letters to a young friend to exhort the young man to live a virtuous life.
Seneca was a demanding moralist, much like his hero Cato. He urged his young friend to choose a role model.
We need to set our affections on some good man and keep him constantly before our eyes, so that we may live as if he were watching us and do everything as if he saw what we were doing.
Excellent advice. Even more excellent, I think, is the way Seneca then tempered his advice:
So choose yourself a Cato–or, if Cato seems to severe for you, a Laelius, a man whose character is not quite so strict.
According to Cicero, Laelius like to go on holiday to the seashore and collect shells on the beach, “like a child.”
Strict role models are good. Not-quite-so-strict role models who are good men are okay, too.
It would take a master of both the spiritual life and English style to produce an entertaining book like this. C.S. Lewis was a master of both, and he did it: 
Father Mark White Blog 