https://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/scriptorium/An experimental blog on words, their meanings and the changes these undergo.hourly12000-01-01T12:00+00:00https://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/scriptorium/343819The verb that our modern translations render as "to pity", "to be moved by compassion" is splanchnizesthai, a Greek word formed from the noun splanchna, "the viscera" (cf. Acts 1:18). The verb then connotes an emotion accompanied by a strong visceral movement. Jesus' pity or compassion therefore...https://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/scriptorium/341852I am happy that "Famiglia Cristiana" sends to your home the text of my encyclical and gives me the possibility of accompanying it with a few words that will facilitate its reading. At the beginning, in fact, the text can appear a bit difficult and theoretical. However, when one progresses in its...https://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/scriptorium/310030Fire and Sword. Is this a verbal tandem that connotes violence? It is. But did you know that at some point in the history of languages both words became identified such that you have swords shaped as if they were flames of fire? I don't know exactly when or where, but there are evidences of this...https://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/scriptorium/307755"Righteousness" (Gk. dikaiosune) is a key word in the letter of Paul to the Romans. It doesn't mean -- as some would have it -- a man's being morally perfect. In fact, the idea contradicts the contents of the letter to the Romans. "Righteousness" as St. Paul understands it, is first of all a...https://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/scriptorium/266878The Johanine Comma is a gloss on 1 Jn. 5:7 that subsequently -- through the work of copyists -- found its way into the main text to make it read: And there are Three who give testimony in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. And these three are one. And there are three that give...https://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/scriptorium/260265Sex with condoms, right? But how safe is it when it comes to AIDS? Brian from Crisis Magazine sent me an email about how they are faring in Africa about this "safe sex" thing. Here is what he writes: ****** Dear Friend, If you've watched any of the mainstream news coverage of the Catholic Church...https://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/scriptorium/256029"Culture of Impunity" is a phrase that is going to be used quite a lot in Philippine newspapers and government reports in the coming days. The phrase was first mentioned in the report of the Journalists Without Borders about the murders of journalists in the Philippines. It was used to refer to...https://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/scriptorium/245986The "space" between two papal reigns. (I just thought you might want to know:))https://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/scriptorium/235487Margaret Sanger: The Mother Of Contraception The first step would thus be to control the intake and output of morons, mental defectives, epileptics. The second step would be to take an inventory of the secondary group such as illiterates, paupers, unemployables, criminals, prostitutes,...https://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/scriptorium/233334A lot of people have been asking the wrong question: "Will the Pope resign?" Thing is "resign" is a word borrowed from the corporate world. Pope's don't resign. But they do abdicate. But whether Popes have abdicated due to reasons of health and old age is another question.</a.