Economist & Philospher, E.F. Schumacher, lectured on Appropriate Technology at the Great Circle Center, University of Illinois, Chicago, in March, 1977. Schumacher advocated for the idea that ‘small is beautiful’, i.e., technology should be smaller-scale and economic provision more locally-oriented. He was joined in this panel discussion by Sid Wright and Sylvan Wittwer.
08 December 2025
E.F. Schumacher Discussing Appropriate Technology - Panel Discussion 3/19/1977
From the Schumacher Center for the New Economics
Economist & Philospher, E.F. Schumacher, lectured on Appropriate Technology at the Great Circle Center, University of Illinois, Chicago, in March, 1977. Schumacher advocated for the idea that ‘small is beautiful’, i.e., technology should be smaller-scale and economic provision more locally-oriented. He was joined in this panel discussion by Sid Wright and Sylvan Wittwer.
Economist & Philospher, E.F. Schumacher, lectured on Appropriate Technology at the Great Circle Center, University of Illinois, Chicago, in March, 1977. Schumacher advocated for the idea that ‘small is beautiful’, i.e., technology should be smaller-scale and economic provision more locally-oriented. He was joined in this panel discussion by Sid Wright and Sylvan Wittwer.
Twentieth Century Ethics: 2. GE Moore and Intuitionism
With David Solomon (R+I+P), PhD, Professor, Notre Dame University & Founder of the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture.
What Is the Immaculate Conception and Why Does It Matter?
It is the Dogma that kept me out of the Church for years. When Our Lady dragged me home, I became a Carmelite Tertiary and took "Mary of the Immaculate Conception" as my name in the Order.
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From Aleteia
By Philip Kosloski
A brief guide to a great mystery of the Christian faith.
In the liturgical calendar of the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, there exists the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary on December 8. It is a feast that is often confused with the conception of Jesus Christ, which is celebrated with the Solemnity of the Annunciation on March 25 (nine months before Christmas day). The December 8 feast, though, refers to Mary's conception in the womb of her mother, Ann.
What does the "Immaculate Conception" mean?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church lays out a basic definition.
To become the mother of the Savior, Mary "was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role." The angel Gabriel at the moment of the annunciation salutes her as "full of grace." In fact, in order for Mary to be able to give the free assent of her faith to the announcement of her vocation, it was necessary that she be wholly borne by God's grace.
Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, "full of grace" through God, was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854:
The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.
For some, it is a difficult teaching to understand, as it centers on the teaching that God, outside of time, applied the merits of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross to the Virgin Mary at the moment of her conception.
The Canonry of St. Leopold expounded on this truth, as described in a previous article at Aleteia.
[God] took the grace and salvation which would come from His plan to enter into the world, become a man, suffer, die and rise, and he gave the grace to Mary before He actually did it.
This is not a time-traveling episode in a science fiction series (although maybe we are fascinated with time travel because of the Immaculate Conception!) but rather what the theologians call prevenient grace, the grace that worked before (in time!) its source had appeared!
So, God lifted up Mary with this grace — to be, as it were, as if it had been she, Mary, in the Garden, without the burden of Original Sin. And so, she is the Immaculate Conception – conceived in the womb of her mother without the stain of Original Sin.
It is a great mystery of the Catholic faith, one that may be difficult to comprehend, but fits into the "logic" of salvation history. He sought to prepare a vessel for him to come into the world as Savior and Redeemer, and chose Mary, the daughter of Joachim and Ann, to fulfill his plan. It shows his tenderness to humanity and the great love he poured out upon the Virgin Mary, to grant her such a grace. He wanted the best for his earthly mother!
If you struggle with this teaching, it is appropriate to say the prayer of the father whose son was cured by Jesus Christ, "I believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24).
Radical Priest Declares Jesus A Failure
He seems to think that its the job of the Jesuits to fix Jesus' mistakes.
Traditional Catholic Morning Prayers in English | Advent
25 Mary Prophecies So Obvious ... How Did Protestants Miss Them?
From Totus Catholica. Especially appropriate for today's Feast!
You’ve probably heard it before: a Protestant friend says “Mary isn’t in the Bible” and points out she appears only a few times in the Gospels. So why do Catholics make such a big deal? What they’re missing is massive. Mary isn’t just in the Gospels. She’s woven through the entire Old Testament. There are 25 clear prophecies and biblical types pointing to her, hidden in plain sight for thousands of years. 📌 These aren’t speculative. They’re rooted in the Catechism, confirmed by the Church Fathers, and echoed in papal teaching. When you see them, you realize Protestants haven’t just missed Mary. They’ve missed one of the most beautiful threads in salvation history itself. By the end of this video, you’ll see how the entire Old Testament is actually pointing to Mary, waiting for her “yes,” and you’ll understand that Catholics aren’t inventing Mary—we’re simply reading what God inspired from the very beginning. ✨ What You’ll Discover 📖 The 4 explicit prophecies: Genesis 3;15, Isaiah 7;14, Micah 5;2-3, Jeremiah 31;22 🕊️ How typology works: why Adam/Christ, Exodus/salvation, Temple/Church… and yes, Mary 📜 25 Marian types in the Old Testament: women, objects, and events that prefigure Our Lady 🔥 How the Church Fathers, liturgy, and magisterium all read Mary in these passages 💬 How to answer “Mary isn’t biblical” with Scripture, not just tradition ⏳ Chapters 0:00 – “Mary Isn’t in the Bible”? 1:28 – The Real Problem: Sola Scriptura and Ignoring Typology 3:04 – Four Explicit Prophecies of Mary 6:04 – Objects and Structures That Prefigure Mary 8:59 – Old Testament Women Who Foreshadow Our Lady 11:35 – Protestant Objections to Typology Answered 13:45 – What This Means for Your Faith 🌐 Stay Connected: 📿 Daily Holy Hour – https://totuscatholica.org/rosary 🌍 Website – https://totuscatholica.org ✉️ Contact me – https://totuscatholica.org/contact 📖 Key Prophecies & Types Mentioned Direct prophecies: Genesis 3;15 – The Woman and her Seed who crush the serpent Isaiah 7;14 – “A virgin shall conceive and bear a son” Micah 5;2-3 – The woman who labors and brings forth the ruler from Bethlehem Jeremiah 31;22 – “A woman shall compass a man,” a new thing on the earth Objects & images that prefigure Mary: Noah’s Ark – Preserved vessel through which humanity is saved Jacob’s Ladder – Heaven and earth joined; Mary as the bridge through whom God descends Burning Bush – God present without consuming; Christ in Mary’s womb without harming her virginity Aaron’s Rod – Dead wood that buds and bears fruit; virginal womb bringing forth Life Gideon’s Fleece – Miraculous dew; image of the Spirit overshadowing Mary East Gate of the Temple (Ezekiel 44;2) – Closed gate only the Lord enters; perpetual virginity Ark of the Covenant – Containing the word, manna, and priestly staff; Mary bears the Word, Bread of Life, and Eternal High Priest Garden Enclosed / Fountain Sealed (Song 4;12) – Purity and set-apartness applied to Our Lady Women who foreshadow Mary: Eve – Mother of all living; Mary, Mother of all living in grace (New Eve) Sarah – Barren yet mother of nations; Mary, virgin yet Mother of all peoples Rebekah – Clothing Jacob to receive the blessing; Mary clothing the Son with our humanity Rachel – Mother of Joseph; Mary, Mother of the true Savior rejected and betrayed Miriam – Sister of the mediator and priest; Mary, Mother of the Mediator and Eternal High Priest Deborah, Judith, Esther – Women whose courage, intercession, and “head-crushing” victories prefigure Mary’s battle with the serpent Hannah – Her canticle echoed in Mary’s Magnificat The Maccabean Mother – Seven sons’ martyrdom; a foreshadowing of Mary’s Seven Sorrows 💬 Reflection Question If the Old Testament is soaked in Marian prefigurement—from Genesis to the prophets to the wisdom books—what does that say about God’s plan for Mary, and how should it change the way you speak about her to Protestants and to fellow Catholics?
You’ve probably heard it before: a Protestant friend says “Mary isn’t in the Bible” and points out she appears only a few times in the Gospels. So why do Catholics make such a big deal? What they’re missing is massive. Mary isn’t just in the Gospels. She’s woven through the entire Old Testament. There are 25 clear prophecies and biblical types pointing to her, hidden in plain sight for thousands of years. 📌 These aren’t speculative. They’re rooted in the Catechism, confirmed by the Church Fathers, and echoed in papal teaching. When you see them, you realize Protestants haven’t just missed Mary. They’ve missed one of the most beautiful threads in salvation history itself. By the end of this video, you’ll see how the entire Old Testament is actually pointing to Mary, waiting for her “yes,” and you’ll understand that Catholics aren’t inventing Mary—we’re simply reading what God inspired from the very beginning. ✨ What You’ll Discover 📖 The 4 explicit prophecies: Genesis 3;15, Isaiah 7;14, Micah 5;2-3, Jeremiah 31;22 🕊️ How typology works: why Adam/Christ, Exodus/salvation, Temple/Church… and yes, Mary 📜 25 Marian types in the Old Testament: women, objects, and events that prefigure Our Lady 🔥 How the Church Fathers, liturgy, and magisterium all read Mary in these passages 💬 How to answer “Mary isn’t biblical” with Scripture, not just tradition ⏳ Chapters 0:00 – “Mary Isn’t in the Bible”? 1:28 – The Real Problem: Sola Scriptura and Ignoring Typology 3:04 – Four Explicit Prophecies of Mary 6:04 – Objects and Structures That Prefigure Mary 8:59 – Old Testament Women Who Foreshadow Our Lady 11:35 – Protestant Objections to Typology Answered 13:45 – What This Means for Your Faith 🌐 Stay Connected: 📿 Daily Holy Hour – https://totuscatholica.org/rosary 🌍 Website – https://totuscatholica.org ✉️ Contact me – https://totuscatholica.org/contact 📖 Key Prophecies & Types Mentioned Direct prophecies: Genesis 3;15 – The Woman and her Seed who crush the serpent Isaiah 7;14 – “A virgin shall conceive and bear a son” Micah 5;2-3 – The woman who labors and brings forth the ruler from Bethlehem Jeremiah 31;22 – “A woman shall compass a man,” a new thing on the earth Objects & images that prefigure Mary: Noah’s Ark – Preserved vessel through which humanity is saved Jacob’s Ladder – Heaven and earth joined; Mary as the bridge through whom God descends Burning Bush – God present without consuming; Christ in Mary’s womb without harming her virginity Aaron’s Rod – Dead wood that buds and bears fruit; virginal womb bringing forth Life Gideon’s Fleece – Miraculous dew; image of the Spirit overshadowing Mary East Gate of the Temple (Ezekiel 44;2) – Closed gate only the Lord enters; perpetual virginity Ark of the Covenant – Containing the word, manna, and priestly staff; Mary bears the Word, Bread of Life, and Eternal High Priest Garden Enclosed / Fountain Sealed (Song 4;12) – Purity and set-apartness applied to Our Lady Women who foreshadow Mary: Eve – Mother of all living; Mary, Mother of all living in grace (New Eve) Sarah – Barren yet mother of nations; Mary, virgin yet Mother of all peoples Rebekah – Clothing Jacob to receive the blessing; Mary clothing the Son with our humanity Rachel – Mother of Joseph; Mary, Mother of the true Savior rejected and betrayed Miriam – Sister of the mediator and priest; Mary, Mother of the Mediator and Eternal High Priest Deborah, Judith, Esther – Women whose courage, intercession, and “head-crushing” victories prefigure Mary’s battle with the serpent Hannah – Her canticle echoed in Mary’s Magnificat The Maccabean Mother – Seven sons’ martyrdom; a foreshadowing of Mary’s Seven Sorrows 💬 Reflection Question If the Old Testament is soaked in Marian prefigurement—from Genesis to the prophets to the wisdom books—what does that say about God’s plan for Mary, and how should it change the way you speak about her to Protestants and to fellow Catholics?
4 Ways the Immaculate Conception and Guadalupe Go Together
The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, is this Friday, the 12th of December. May She and Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, pray for us!
From Aleteia
By Tom Hoopes
Catholics focus on Mary in two unexpected ways in the middle of the penitential season of Advent.Each December, Catholics focus on Mary in two unexpected ways in the middle of the penitential season of Advent: Her Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe, the 1531 apparition of Mary in Mexico.
But the two really do go together.
First, Our Lady of Guadalupe is an image of what the Immaculate Conception teaches.
The dogma of the Immaculate Conception teaches that “from the first instant of her conception, [Mary] was totally preserved from the stain of original sin and she remained pure from all personal sin throughout her life.” This happened because God applied the “merits of her Son” to her “before the foundation of the world.”
The New Testament actually describes a very clear picture of this. In the Book of Revelation, John sees a vision of heaven “before the foundation of the world,” and it reads like a description of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
John wrtites that “A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head,” and about to give birth.
This is what the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe depicts: a pregnant woman standing on a darkened moon, clothed with the sun’s rays and cloaked in a mantle of stars pulled over her head.
Second, the image is an elaboration on the story of Eve.
At the Mass for the Immaculate Conception the first reading from Genesis, telling Eve’s story, closely matches the Gospel reading, telling Mary’s story.
In Genesis, Adam and Eve hide from God. In the Gospel, the angel tells Mary “The Lord is with you” and she welcomes God, saying, “May it be done to me according to your word.”
In Genesis, Eve blames the fallen angel for her disobedience in eating the forbidden fruit. In the Gospel, Mary’s obedience makes possible the saving fruit of her womb, Jesus.
In Genesis, God puts the serpent “at enmity” with the woman and her offspring. In the Gospel, Mary accepts her role as the mother of the one who will defeat Satan and “rule … forever.”
This can all seem like a tale that happens only in ancient Palestine and in heaven, but Our Lady of Guadalupe shows how it happens in our world, as well.
The symbols in the image of Our Lady of Gaudalupe were seen as a repudiation of the false worship in early Mexico, and devotion to the image led to widespread conversions. In our own day, St. John Paul promised that through Our Lady of Guadalupe’s “powerful intercession, the Gospel will penetrate the hearts of the men and women of America and permeate their cultures, transforming them from within.”
Third, Our Lady of Guadalupe shows that Mary associates herself with every nation.
Juan Diego had three encounters with the Blessed Virgin Mary. On December 9, he saw her on the way to Mass and she sent him to the bishop to ask him to build a shrine. On December 11, he reported to her that the bishops asked for a sign, and she promised one if he would return the next day.
On December 12, Juan Diego avoided the hill because he needed to care for his sick uncle, but Mary appeared to him anyway, healed his uncle, and directed him to a hilltop where he found foreign roses blooming out of season. He gathered them in his cloak, or tilma, and when he brought them to the bishop, he revealed not just the flowers, but the miraculous image on his cloak.
In these encounters, Mary spoke in an Aztec language and called herself “mother of the inhabitants of these lands and of all those who come to me.”
She tells us the same thing, since she is the new “Mother of all the living” who was entrusted to us by Jesus on the cross.
Fourth, Our Lady of Guadalupe’s interactions with Juan Diego reveal Immaculate Mary’s interactions with each individual.
Each action that Our Lady of Guadalupe takes with Juan Diego, she also takes with us.
First, she defines who she is, the Immaculate Conception, the model of humanity freed from sin, saying, “I am the perfect and ever Virgin Holy Mary, Mother of the God of truth.”
Second, she defines who Juan Diego is. “There are many I could send, but you are the one I have chosen for this task,” she says, and gives him the flowers that will get the job done. She also sends us with her ages-old instruction to “Do whatever [Jesus] tells you,” and gives us the graces to get the job done.
Third, she comforts Juan Diego when he is troubled, and reassures him that she cares for him personally.
“Am I not here, I who am your mother?” she asks and makes the very motherly promise: “You will deserve very much the reward I will give you for your fatigue, the work and trouble that my mission will cause you.”
Those are the words Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception gives to each of us.
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