As I have argued, Hercules has decisively “come into his own”: he has achieved the unstated goal of the classical polis, which was to become an Aristotelian unequal. He is not yet equal to gods, but he no longer lives under mortal law, because he has suffered its stroke, and … Continue reading
Category Archives: Chivalry
Hercules’ Sixth Task: The Stymphalian Birds
Stymphalian Birds Hercules now advances to the sphere of war. Openly, now, following the altruistic stooping to help the needy and the “folk”, Hercules comes bearing arms against the wicked. It is almost as if Hercules has doubly earned the right to tilt in combat, through having served as a … Continue reading
The Labors of Hercules, Part 5
The Augean Stables Hercules does not go immediately into action or battle, following his insult from the gods: Hera’s madness that causes him to murder his own offspring is the “fall” or primordial condition of sinful man who is an enemy to himself and his own kith/kin, let alone everyone … Continue reading
Labors of Hercules, Part 4
The Erymanthian Boar Hercules had been given the (originally) ten labors as a penance for letting Hera drive him to wrath, in which he slew his six sons. So don’t let anyone tell you that penance is a “Catholic” thing. All of the labors center around a primordial world of … Continue reading
The Labors of Hercules, Part 3
The Third Test, The Ceryneian Hind For the third labor, Hercules was given a retrieval task instead of a slaying to accomplish. Since Hercules could not be overcome with guile & brute force, it was hoped that he could be made to trespass against a god, & have divine fury … Continue reading
The Bible of Amiens
Romanides argues that the Franks decimated Roman urbanization & established feudalism in an effort to maintain a precarious grip on overextended power from their home bases: “In the time of Pippin of Herestal (697-715) and Charles Martel (715-741), many of the Franks who replaced Roman bishops were military leaders who, … Continue reading
Liturgy and the Logos
A popular refrain I hear from fellow Protestants is that “meaningless rituals”, gestures, “smells and bells”, or vain repetitions (a Scriptural phrase) won’t help find favor with God. While I am certain that ritual can (and does) degenerate into “those of darkness” who are fascinated with the dead (Rene Guenon) … Continue reading
The Orthodox Word (continued)
Speaking of the “Dark Ages”, the Orthodox Word tract (Forming the Soul, by Sisters of St. Xenia’s Skete): “He treasured hierarchy because it was for him a reminder of God. His whole world was an endlessly unfolding, interlocking allegory of the majesty and love of God. He rejoiced in the … Continue reading
The Anti-Christ & the Liberal-Democratic Order
In an interesting turn of phrase, St. Paul indicates in Thessalonians 2 that the Anti-Christ will come, not as an idol, but as an iconoclast: “He who opposes and exalts himself against everything that is called God and religion, just as he will sit in the Temple of God, as … Continue reading