“Surprised by Joy”
With his encyclical Vita Consecrata, former Pope John Paul II encouraged us to find joy in the life consecrated to the glory of God. In a broader sense, he encouraged us to guide ourselves towards a state of living within a meaningful and joyful life.
It is precisely this mentality that is central to our website; to encourage readers to find out about the good and meaningful life and how to grow within it. As the English writer C.S. Lewis put it with the title of his book, we want you to be Surprised by Joy.
Boardgame: Axis and Allies 1941
Boardgames have been around for about as long as humanity has roamed the earth, filling many hearts and minds. Ranging from classics such as chess and checkers to modern ones as snakes & ladders, they have brought many great evenings of joy, adding to a good life....
Coffee: Finca Aurora Matagalpa
Coffee is perhaps the one drink that enchants the home of almost any of us. Initially discovered by accident, people quickly found out that brewing the bean gives us the black magic we all love. After centuries of experimentation, one may be dazzled by all the...
C.S. Lewis on the beauty of nature
One of my favourite authors of all time next to J.R.R. Tolkien is perhaps C.S. Lewis. Coincidentally, both men knew each other in their own time and had a steadfast friendship that they fed together. Not only were they of great inspiration to each other, helping each...
Tobacco: Carolus Magnus
An enigmatic figure of his time, Charlemagne (747-814) is best remembered as the king that managed to carve an empire out of the kingdoms in Central Europe. Doing so, he effectively established the Holy Roman Empire that went on to live on until 1806, after Emperor...
Reading: The Vanquished: Why the First World War failed to end, 1917-1923
For most people there is still a lingering thought hanging about in their mind about the Second World War. Though its memory is slowly fading away, people these days still view this enormous conflict as a clear 'breakaway point' from the development of history. In...
14 February: Saint Valentine
In modern times, there are a few polarizing dates. One of these is Valentine's Day. For some this is the perfect excuse to be as romantic as possible, while others associate the day with the overcommercialisation of modern...
