Angilbert (fl. ca. 840/50), On the Battle Which was Fought at Fontenoy

The Law of Christians is broken,
Blood by the hands of hell profusely shed like rain,
And the throat of Cerberus bellows songs of joy.

Angelbertus, Versus de Bella que fuit acta Fontaneto

Fracta est lex christianorum
Sanguinis proluvio, unde manus inferorum,
gaudet gula Cerberi.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Pope Francis and the Natural Moral Law

IN HIS ADDRESS TO THE DIPLOMATIC Press Corps, Pope Francis obliquely mentioned the natural moral law--the law of truth and good based upon the reason that is found in created nature. In keeping with his namesake, Pope Francis, as all Christians, wants to strive for peace. But the peace he speaks of is not peace such as the world gives, which is a false peace. "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you." (John 14:27) Rather, befitting a Christian vision, peace has to be built upon the foundation of truth, truth regarding the good. That truth regarding the good is found in two sources or founts: nature and revelation. In this particular instance, Pope Francis reminded the Diplomatic Press Corps of the common foundation all men have in nature:

But there is no true peace without truth! There cannot be true peace if everyone is his own criterion, if everyone can always claim exclusively his own rights, without at the same time caring for the good of others, of everyone, on the basis of the nature that unites every human being on this earth (a partire dalla natura che accomuna ogni essere umano su questa terra). 

You can find the entire address (translated into English) by clicking here.