My Intellectual Diary ... Just One Man’s Journey Through the Western Intellect

Latest Updates and Thoughts: 

July 7th, 2026 

In the wake of the SSPX consecrations I have been listening to more podcasts regarding the whole issue. It seems to me that their core problems with Vatican II are: Religious liberty and the notion of individual conscience, the collegiality of the bishops (and even the question regarding the nature of the difference between priest and bishop), ecumenism and the related teaching on salvation, in general the "new theology" or "return to the sources" movement of the 20th Century, and of course the liturgical reforms of the Novus Ordo Missae. I could be missing something, but that's what comes to mind right now. This has made me want to go back and either reread some of the relevant documents of Vatican II or approach some of them that I never got to in my studies. I started by rereading Nostra Aetate and am continuing on. Those posts are coming soon. 

I have to be honest ... there are arguments flying every which way and quoting this document versus that papal bull versus this decree. I think a lot of the issues could be solved with a simple philosophical distinction between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd principles. First principles are those which are most universal and all encompassing in nature. By being most universal they have the least relation to particular and individual circumstances. These first principles of revelation are then translated into more specific and circumstantial times and places as second and third order principles. It seems to me that the SSPX may be hung up over what seem to be "changes" ... of course we don't want to see changes when it comes to dogmatic truth. But the point is that if Vatican II conveys a first order principle which changes a second order principle which was applied to a particular period of time that doesn't mean that dogma changed, just that the times and circumstances have changed and so we need to return to the most universal understanding of the law. This is very similar to what John XXIII was getting at when he said Vatican was going to be a pastoral council representing the faith anew to the world because times have changed so drastically. Check out my post on his speech "Gaudet Mater Ecclesia" for more on that. 

I am also uploading a lot of resources regarding Aristotle's Organon as I prepare to teach it again this year, so check out the side bar for lots of helpful content and guides through his works on logic. 

June 27th, 2026

This is an amazing talk by Jonathan Pageau and, gosh, it is such a pressing issue right now. It relates to these to articles I have written in the past year regarding technology and its proper use. 

The "Amish Problem" - Some Personal Thoughts on Technology and the Modern Project

A Review of "A Canticle For Leibowitz" - A Novel by Walter Miller

June 19th, 2026 

Over the last few weeks I have been listening to the newer Emily Wilson translation of The Odyssey which is read in audiobook form by Claine Danes. 

I also have gotten sucked into a few podcasts of the Connor Gallagher show relating to the Second Vatican Council. 

That has prompted me to look at some material that I haven't looked at since 2015, when I had a graduate course on the theologians of Vatican II. I have been glancing through this book about Henri De Lubac's life. 

I am also always working and preparing the sources for my teaching course work and working on Ancient Greek every day. 

June 6th, 2026

The Pope's new encyclical Magnifica Humanitas just came out. I look forward to reading and unpacking it soon! Summer is coming, and so will more posting :)

My reading for pleasure for 2026 has looked like: finishing The Fellowship of the Ring in January. Then I read Mansfield Park by Jane Austen, followed by Emma also by Austen. Finishing Emma basically corresponded with the end of the school year, so I read a portion of A Canticle for Leibowitz again, but have stopped for now.