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 ...
(Added by Padre:) "A nation that cannot explain to its children why it deserves their gratitude will eventually raise children who feel none." More in comments
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
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Good morning, Digital Neighbors! Happy Wednesday to all you souls gathered at Rubin Report, Phetasy, Outspoken, and at Padre’s!
Wednesdays posts are for prayer and reflection. They are related but not exactly the same. Prayer can lead to reflection, but not all reflection is rooted in prayer. Prayer is the seeking of the One who is invisible to our senses yet sensed by our spirit. His subtle movements are experienced when we are awake to His Word and open our lives to Him. Prayer can take many forms, all dependent upon what we are seeking or offering to God.
Reflection arises from any experience we undergo. We ask ourselves the meaning of such things, weigh their impact upon us, and consider how this encounter—with an individual, a story, a song, a poem, the news, or practically anything else—might change us. Reflection can be very superficial, ending with something as simple as “I like this” or “I don’t like this.” Or it can become a moment of personal enlightenment that sets us on a new ...
