Musings of an Old Curmudgeon

17 April 2026

Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225 – 7 March 1274), was a Doctor of the Church, Philosopher, Theologian, Jurist, Dominican Friar, and Priest. Known as Doctor Angelicus "Angelic Doctor," and the Doctor Communis "Universal Doctor" his writings serve as a defense and proof of the validity of Christ's authority over all. The Summa contra Gentiles (also known as Liber de veritate catholicae fidei contra errores infidelium, "Book on the truth of the Catholic faith against the errors of the unbelievers"). The Summa contra Gentiles consists of four books. The structure of Saint Thomas's work is designed to proceed from general philosophical arguments for monotheism, to which Muslims and Jews are likely to consent even within their own respective religious traditions, before progressing to the discussion of specifically Christian doctrine. Book I begins with general questions of truth and natural reason, and from chapter 10 investigates the concept of a monotheistic God. Chapters 10 to 13 are concerned with the existence of God, followed by a detailed investigation of God's properties (chapters 14 to 102). When demonstrating a Truth about God which can be known through reason, St. Thomas gives multiple arguments, each proving the same Truth in a different way. Whether you are a history enthusiast, a student of religion, or simply curious about the impact of the Roman Catholic Church on the world, this playlist is designed to provide an informative and engaging journey through its captivating past. Subscribe to the Contemplating History channel for more educational content and immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of history.

Debate: Should We Delete Catholic AI?

From New Polity

In this podcast, Matthew Harvey Sanders, CEO of Longbeard (creator of MagisteriumAI), and Marc Barnes, editor of New Polity, debate whether Catholics should build and use AI chatbots. Barnes argues that Catholic AI chatbots are objectively evil because they generate probabilistic statements about the faith, are irresponsible in their responses, and are inherently fake conversations with non-persons. Sanders argues that Catholics should embrace this new technological development and that there is an openness from the Vatican about the creation of a true artificial intelligence. This debate is hosted by Edmund Mitchell of the Faith and AI Project. This debate has also occurred in writing. Barnes’s initial article “Delete Magisterium AI” can be found here: https://newpolity.com/blog/delete-mag.... Sanders’s response is here: https://www.longbeard.com/blog/respon.... Finally, Barnes’s second response is here: https://newpolity.com/blog/broken-ble....

The Holy Rosary

Friday, the Sorrowful Mysteries, in Latin with Cardinal Burke.

The Life of His Majesty the King Philip II of Spain (1527-1598)

From The Romanian Monarchist

Philip II (21 May 1527 – 13 September 1598), sometimes known in Spain as Philip the Prudent (Spanish: Felipe el Prudente), was King of Spain from 1556, King of Portugal from 1580, and King of Naples and Sicily from 1554 until his death in 1598. He was also jure uxoris King of England and Ireland from his marriage to Queen Mary I in 1554 until her death in 1558. Further, he was Duke of Milan from 1540. From 1555, he was Lord of the Seventeen Provinces of the Netherlands. The son of Emperor Charles V and Isabella of Portugal, Philip inherited his father's Spanish Empire in 1556, and succeeded to the Portuguese throne in 1580 following a dynastic crisis. The Spanish conquests of the Inca Empire and of the Philippines, named in his honor by Ruy López de Villalobos, were completed during his reign. Under Philip II, Spain reached the height of its influence and power, sometimes called the Spanish Golden Age, and ruled territories in every continent then known to Europeans. Philip led a highly debt-leveraged regime, seeing state defaults in 1557, 1560, 1569, 1575, and 1596. This policy was partly the cause of the declaration of independence that created the Dutch Republic in 1581. Philip finished building the royal palace El Escorial in 1584. Deeply devout, Philip saw himself as the defender of Catholic Europe against the Ottoman Empire and the Protestant Reformation. In 1584, Philip signed the Treaty of Joinville, funding the French Catholic League over the following decade in its civil war against the French Huguenots. In 1588, he sent an armada to invade Protestant England, with the strategic aim of overthrowing Elizabeth I and re-establishing Catholicism there, but his fleet was defeated in a skirmish at Gravelines (northern France) and then destroyed by storms as it circled the British Isles to return to Spain. The following year Philip's naval power was able to recover after the failed invasion of the English Armada into Spain. Two more Spanish armadas unsuccessfully tried to invade England in 1596 and 1597. The Anglo-Spanish War carried on until 1604, six years after Philip's death.

Does the Universe Have a Purpose?

With Fr Thomas Davenport, OP, PhD, Asst Professor of Physics, Providence College.

What Does the Church Teach About “Free Speech” on Social Media?

First of all, until VII, the Church did not believe in "free speech". The immemorial teaching of the Church was that "error has no rights".

From Aleteia

By Philip Kosloski

The Church encourages free speech on social media, while also urging safeguards that help steer the culture in the right direction.

The concept of free speech on social media has been a hot topic in recent years, with many Catholics advocating strongly both for it and for various limitations.

The Catholic Church has written about freedom of speech in various documents, highlighting its benefits and challenges. It is not a piece of technology that is perfect and is unprecedented in its ability to reach the entire world in a matter of seconds.

Right to express public opinion

Gaudium et spes explains that, "The present keener sense of human dignity has given rise in many parts of the world to attempts to bring about a politico-juridical order which will give better protection to the rights of the person in public life. These include the right freely to meet and form associations, the right to express one's own opinion and to profess one's religion both publicly and privately."

The Church recognizes that everyone should be given the chance to express their opinion. This is good and praiseworthy, but at the same time needs to be within the confines of the truth.

All this supposes that, within the limits of morality and the common utility, man can freely search for the truth, express his opinion and publish it; that he can practice any art he chooses; that finally, he can avail himself of true information concerning events of a public nature.
As for public authority ... It is necessary to do everything possible to prevent culture from being turned away from its proper end and made to serve as an instrument of political or economic power.

Everyone should be able to express their public opinion, but it does need to be within the context of moral truth.

The main problem with this guideline is that many of those in power are not formed by Christian truth and will inevitably let their own beliefs form their decisions.

Protection of society from misuse of media

Furthermore, the Church has always encouraged the use of media, but not when it starts to degrade society.

The document, Inter mirifica, explains this dynamic of freedom:

Lastly, the same public authority, which legitimately concerns itself with the health of the citizenry, is obliged, through the promulgation and careful enforcement of laws, to exercise a fitting and careful watch lest grave damage befall public morals and the welfare of society through the base use of these media. Such vigilance in no wise restricts the freedom of individuals or groups, especially where there is a lack of adequate precaution on the part of those who are professionally engaged in using these media.
Special care should be taken to safeguard young people from printed matter and performances which may be harmful at their age.

When a media platform starts to harm society, the Church would recommend that it be regulated and under strict watch. This has only become more difficult to accomplish in recent years with the internet and the global reach of social media. Personal responsibility becomes even more important in these circumstances.

While the Church gives us sound guidelines, there is no clear vision forward for how to implement them in a fallen world, and we need to be aware of the many ways that social media can cause harm, especially to the young.

Tyrants Demand Nuns Promote Sins Of The Flesh

Pope Leo Makes Big Change To His Historic Meeting With Cardinals

The Liturgy had been the focus of the coming consistory of cardinals but now Evangeli Gaudium, a document of Francis, is the focus, at a time when political rhetoric is heating up between Washington and Rome in a way that can only be accurately described as a political trap the President stepped into.

What Was It Actually Like To Be A Medieval Serf?

From Chronicle – Medieval History Documentaries

In the Medieval period, peasants made up roughly 80% of the European population (70% were serfs). In the first episode of Going Medieval, Dr Eleanor Janega visits Denny Abbey, a former Benedictine monastery in Cambridge, to explore the lives of those who devoted their lives to working the land.

Traditional Catholic Morning Prayers in English | April

Traditional Catholic morning prayers to help start your day in a godly way! The month of April is dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament. May our devotion to Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist ever increase! We've included the litany of the Blessed Sacrament and a Spiritual Communion. Give your first thoughts and energy to daily morning prayer. This video is a compilation of many traditional morning prayers Catholics say, and should not be considered a replacement for those who have an obligation to pray the Divine Office morning prayers.

Trump Told the Pope to Be Silent… Then This Happened

From Totus Catholica

The President of the United States just called the Pope weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy. He told him to stop talking about morality and focus on being a pope, not a politician. But Trump is not the first. For 2,000 years, empires, tyrants, and secret plots have tried to silence or destroy the Catholic Church. Every single one of them failed. The Hebrew word sod means secret council or plot. From Haman in Esther to Antiochus in the Maccabees, from Napoleon to the Soviet Union, the powerful have always plotted in secret. God turned their plots into public triumphs. Jesus promised Peter that the gates of hell would not prevail. The Church survived because she is built on rock, not sand. CHAPTERS: 0:00 The President Told the Pope to Be Silent 1:02 The Church Survives Every Empire That Tries to Kill It 2:29 Matthew 16:18 and the Promise of Indefectibility 3:14 Haman, Antiochus and the Ancient Pattern of Secret Plots 4:20 The Church as Noah's Ark: Tossed, Attacked, Still Floating 5:46 Why Corruption Inside the Church Does Not Prove It Is Fake 6:59 The Final Trial and the Delusion of Omnipotence 8:07 Why the Church Survives When Political Powers Collapse 9:21 The Jewish Perspective, the New Covenant and the Same Tree 🌍 Website: https://totuscatholica.org/ 📿 Rosary Guide: https://totuscatholica.org/rosary ✉️ Contact: https://totuscatholica.org/contact 🔍 Examination of Conscience: https://catholicexaminationofconscien...