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.
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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
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Good morning, digital neighbors! Yesterday I shared this over on Humbuggery, and I thought I would share it here instead of something new this morning. Call me lazy, or efficient. YMMV. It’s drawn from yesterday’s morning prayers and the subsequent post. Happy Wednesday, dear neighbors! This line always remains with me throughout the day after reflecting on it: "Our life is stamped with the beauty of his thought. The inner and the outer man are harmonized in a kind of music. "
A little excerpt from the Office of Readings today—one of my favorite saints, St. Gregory of Nyssa. But before we drink of his wisdom, here’s a little background on the man himself, provided by Grok.
Born around 335 in Cappadocia (present-day Turkey) into a prominent Christian family, Gregory was one of ten children. His family was deeply religious—his parents (Basil the Elder and Emmelia) and several siblings (including St. Macrina the Younger and St. Peter of Sebaste) are also venerated as saints. He was ...
