Issue 010: Patriotism, A Murderer's Conversion, and the Dark Side of Fantasy
Bi-Weekly
Praised Be to Jesus Christ, Now and Forever!
In July we commemorate the feast of the Precious Blood, a devotion as old as Christianity itself. Many Popes have exhorted us to keep this devotion and we reflect on it here.
July also brings the celebration of America’s founding and a reminder of our love for our country. With patriotism markedly on the decline, this issue brings two offerings on why we should have a proper patriotic love for our nation.
Finally, another call to submit to our first literary issue! As as a teaser, today’s issue includes a brief analysis of some wrong turns in modern science fiction and fantasy.
Submissions to the issue must be original and not published elsewhere. Among the types we accept:
Short memoirs, poetry, short stories, or other creative works that showcase the Christian interior or exterior life (in whatever form that takes)
Literary analysis driven by a Catholic perspective
Catholic philosophy that addresses perspectives on the uses of literature, interpretations of classic writings, or is otherwise related to Catholic literature or writing
Submissions to the regular magazine are always welcome, and the guidelines may be found on our About Page.
Thank you for your support and your readership!
— The Editors
Featured: The Dark Side of Fantasy and Science Fiction
In good science fiction and fantasy, we explore innocence and selfishness in the tales of George MacDonald; we admire the Christ-like Aslan of C.S. Lewis; and journey with the somehow ordinary yet heroic characters of Tolkien. However, too often modern science fictions and fantasies become merely an excuse to explore and glorify alternate moralities. Read more here.
Hope and Forgiveness: The Story of Alessandro Serenelli and St. Maria Goretti
Alessandro Serenelli is best-known on earth as the murderer of the beloved little saint of purity, Maria Goretti, so reviled that his town nearly lynched him before he could stand trial. The first twenty-six years of his life are a sickening portrait of a corrupted Italian youth. And yet, in heaven, Serenelli is a beloved prodigal son: a man who repented. Read how this came to be here.
The Extravagance of His Most Precious Blood
His infinitely precious Blood paid the formerly eternal price of sin. Do we not owe abundant gratitude for His Blood? One feast, one month of devotion per year, is a small token to remember and honor the price He paid, one which we could never pay. Read about why we should honor the Precious Blood this month here.
More Christian Paradoxes for Meditation
Paradoxes are so powerful because they arrest our thought. The apparent contradiction stops us, forcing us to reflect and consider the truth below the surface. We should not, therefore, be surprised to find Christianity full of such paradoxes; perhaps, like God Himself, the paradoxes are infinite.
America Needs Patriotism
More and more today, patriotism seems to be on the decline. We are raising an entire generation who think it is cool, hip, and woke to hate America. And yet, in justice, we cannot do this. The proper love of country is no more than an extension of our love of home and community. Read why we need patriotism here.
What is Patriotism?
Patriotism suffers from abuses; it suffers from a poor reputation. But what it suffers most of all is from our tendency to excess; one is either quite patriotic, or not patriotic at all. Both excesses, of course, must be condemned; both are wrong. But to begin with, what is patriotism—and do we need to have it? Read more here.