Author Archives: Gil Bailie

Florilegium

Posted on May 12, 2019 by Gil Bailie

“Sooner or later, all nihilism destroys itself from within with the frightening question, ‘What for?’ And sexual nihilism with, ‘And then?’ The insane and the maniacs are multiplying; how distressing it is to accept their vision as the norm because … Continue reading →

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Suffering: A New Situation

Posted on April 26, 2019 by Gil Bailie

I gave a short talk at the Good Friday service at my parish on the question of vicarious suffering. I spoke from notes, but I began with this: In the David Mamet film Heist, the dubious character played by Danny DeVito … Continue reading →

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Maundy Thursday & Richard Wilbur…The Rule

Posted on April 18, 2019 by Gil Bailie

The Rule The oil for extreme unction must be blessed On Maundy Thursday, so the rule has ruled, And by the bishop of the diocese. Does that revolt you? If so, you are free To squat beneath the deadly manchineel, … Continue reading →

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From the archives: Just Before Entering Holy Week

Posted on April 14, 2019 by Gil Bailie

Just before entering into the spirit of Holy Week, however, I am prompted by a piece about the retrofitting of the Lord’s Prayer by a group calling itself the “Non-Theistic Liturgy Resources Working Group” at St. Stephen’s College in Edmonton, … Continue reading →

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A Prayer Before Holy Week

Posted on April 10, 2019 by Gil Bailie

“May God grant my continued understanding of one thing: attachment to the Church’s tradition, far from being a stumbling block it is the principle of all effective audacity.” – Henri de Lubac

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Had Enough…?

Posted on April 4, 2019 by Gil Bailie

“It is one and the same movement which makes people no longer believe in the Republic and no longer believe in God, no longer want to lead a republican life, and no longer want to lead a Christian life, they … Continue reading →

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A Thirst for Communion

Posted on March 29, 2019 by Gil Bailie

  “The story is told of a priest who, shortly after apostatizing, said to a visitor who was about to congratulate him: ‘From now onward I am no more than a philosopher – in other words, a man alone.’ It … Continue reading →

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Some Thoughts to Ponder…

Posted on March 23, 2019 by Gil Bailie

Before he became Pope Benedict XVI, Joseph Ratzinger summarized something written by the French mystic and Jewish writer Simone Weil… “People recognize the good only when they themselves do it. They recognize the evil only when they do not do … Continue reading →

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The Role of the Laity

Posted on February 21, 2019 by Gil Bailie

Gil Bailie recently gave a presentation at the Convocation of the College of Fellows of the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley. Following are some excerpts: My remarks take their point of departure and borrow their resolve from … Continue reading →

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From Anthropology to Social Theory

Posted on February 19, 2019 by Gil Bailie

In the introduction to their “From Anthropology to Social Theory,” Arpad Szakolczai and Bjørn Thomassen remark on the entries found in the 2017 Sociology Catalogue: “What [the catalogue] offers as social theory in 2017 is clearly a representative collection. It … Continue reading →

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