Today marks the three hundred and thirtieth birthday of the Frenchman François-Marie Arouet, better known by his nom de plume, Voltaire (1694-1778).
Born into a bourgeois family during the reign of Louis XIV, the “Sun King” (r. 1643-1715), Voltaire suffered tragedy at a young age when his mother died. Never close with his father or brother, Voltaire exhibited a rebellious attitude toward authority from his youth. His brilliant mind was fostered in the care of the Society of Jesus, who introduced him to the joys of literature and theater. Despite his later criticisms against the Church, Voltaire, throughout his life, fondly recalled his dedicated Jesuit teachers.
Although he spent time as a civil servant in the French embassy to the Hague, Voltaire’s main love was writing—an endeavor where he excelled in various genres, including poetry, which led to his appointment as the royal court poet for King Louis XV. Widely recognized as one of the greatest French writers, and even hyperbolically referred to by ...
Padre - Tom Miller invites you to a Coffee Talk, Speakeasies, Schmoozes, Tea Times, Afterhours and other gatherings.
https://teams.live.com/meet/93792382189049?p=DiBHsYfuECPgDrG7vO
2026 Coffee Talk with the ADD Irregulars
Thursday, January 1, 2026
6:00 AM - 8:00 AM (CST)
Occurs every day starting 1/1 until 12/31/2027
Coffee Talk - Daily beginning at 6:00 AM Central Time Zone - USA
White Pilled Wednesday - A break from the heaviness of news and current events to focus upon things more personal & positive for the first hour of Coffee Talk.
Afternoon Chats - Most Tuesday, Friday & Sundays 2:00 PM Central
Other chats as posted in the community.
Good morning, digital neighbors! Today in the wide world of Cath-O-landia, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity. While most of our celebrations focus on what God has done for us and how God calls to us, today’s feast simply celebrates the mystery of God Himself.
For me, this comes down to the unnecessary nature of it all — creation, humanity, all this stuff we call life. God gains nothing by creation that He does not already possess in unimaginable abundance. God gains nothing from my worship, my service, or my goodness. And yet this God, who could so easily have done without me or any of us, creates out of love and calls to us in subtle and humble ways to open our lives to Him and seek His will. Sundays are days of overflowing gratitude.
To any of you who struggle to find peace or gratitude in life, I pray that someone enters your path today to offer hope, strength, and healing. I pray there is a real godsend in your life that brings light into your darkness and perhaps a path out of ...
