* Matt Hoberg looks at the early history of the doctrine of double effect.
* TurretinFan gives us Chrysostom's Sermon 5, on Lazarus:
We differ from unbelievers in our estimate of things. The unbeliever surveys the heaven and worships it, because he thinks it a divinity; he looks to the earth and makes himself a servant to it, and longs for the things of sense. But not so with us. We survey the heaven, and admire him that made it; for we believe it not to be a god, but a work of God. I look on the whole creation, and am led by it to the Creator. He looks on wealth, and longs for it with earnest desire; I look on wealth, and contemn it. He sees poverty, and laments; I see poverty, and rejoice. I see things in one light; he in another. Just so in regard to death. He sees a corpse, and thinks of it as a corpse; I see a corpse, and behold sleep rather than death. And as in regard to books, both learned persons and unlearned see them with the same eyes, but not with the same understanding—for to the unlearned the mere shapes of letters appear, while the learned discover the sense that lies within those letters— so in respect to affairs in general, we all see what takes place with the same eyes, but not with the same understanding and judgment. Since, therefore, in all other things we differ from them, shall we agree with them in our sentiments respecting death?
* John Farrell has a very nice short video on the supposed burial place of Luna, St. Patrick's nephew and assistant, on Inchagoill Island.
*Czeslaw Milosz on Catholicism.
* Julianne Wiley discusses Elizabeth Anscombe. There are a few small mistakes (like misspelling Elmar Kremer's name) but it gives the gist. (ht)
* George Weigel has a nice little essay on Italy at 150 at NRO
* Martha Nussbaum considers scholarship and public service.
* Susanne Klingenstein reviews George Santayana
* While in D.C. last week I visited the Smithsonian and saw the Hope Diamond -- one of the busier exhibits in the museums I visited, although nowhere near as busy as the exhibit displaying the dresses of First Ladies at the American history museum. So I was interested in coming across this article describing the sort of research currently being done with it.
