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Music for Holy Thursday: Amicus Meus

From First Thoughts

Equally beautiful , but more haunting is Victoria’s first tenebrae responsory for Holy Thursday. Notice how the verse ends with “se suspendit”—he hanged himself—a line reflected in the music with a half note and rest where you would expect a whole note to resolve. Amicus . . . . Continue Reading »

New York Way of the Cross

From First Thoughts

A Way of the Cross procession will take place the night of Good Friday at 8:30 p.m., beginning at Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral (Mott St. and Prince St.). The procession will move through the East and West Village and will be accompanied by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and seminarians . . . . Continue Reading »

Marriage Conference

From First Thoughts

College students interested in learning more about the social significance of marriage might be interested in a summer conference held by the Ruth Institute at the University of San Diego on August 6—9. For more information, visit the Institute’s website . . . . . Continue Reading »

Music for Holy Week: O Vos Omnes

From First Thoughts

From the tenebrae service for Holy Saturday, here is Victoria’s “O Vos Omnes” sung by Harry Christophers and the Sixteen: O vos omnes qui transitis per viam: attendite et videte si est dolor sicut dolor meus. Attendite, universi populi, et videte dolorem meum. Si est dolor similis . . . . Continue Reading »

Support Conscience Protections

From First Thoughts

As we have discussed previously in articles and blog posts, President Obama and the Department of Health and Human Services are planning to rescind conscience-protection regulations for pro-life healthcare workers. Americans United For Life sent us a note with links to send comments to the HHS and . . . . Continue Reading »

Using Deadly Force to Save the Unborn

From First Thoughts

According to the local news in Oklahoma City : A bill in the Oklahoma Legislature would allow pregnant women to use deadly force in order to save the lives of their babies. The bill stems from a Michigan case where a woman who was carrying quadruplets stabbed and killed her boyfriend after he hit . . . . Continue Reading »

Bring on the Newspeak

From First Thoughts

The new head of the department of homeland security now refers to “man-caused” disasters instead of terrorist attacks. Why, you might ask? “That is perhaps only a nuance, but it demonstrates that we want to move away from the politics of fear toward a policy of being prepared for . . . . Continue Reading »

The Tragic Flaw of An Oresteia

From Web Exclusives

Sometimes the translation of a tragedy can itself be tragic. A fatal flaw undermines an otherwise promising work, whisking away the greatness it might attain. Such is the case for Anne Carson’s An Oresteia .The an is there because this is not a translation of Aeschylus’ famous trilogy. . . . . Continue Reading »