Pints With Aquinas On Music, Art, and the Recovery of the Sacred (Dr. Peter Kwasniewski) | Ep. 552
Dr. Peter Kwasniewski, a scholar and composer renowned for his insights on sacred music and liturgy, returns for a thought-provoking discussion. He explores the role of technology and warns against its impact on tradition and community. Kwasniewski critiques modern music for its chaotic influence on emotions, advocating instead for serene medieval and Renaissance pieces. He suggests a 40-day musical fast and emphasizes the importance of silence in spiritual practice. Finally, he shares tips on appreciating classical music and the significance of a structured daily prayer life.
03:22:55
Guard Your Deep Work Blocks
- Protect work focus by minimizing open windows and interruptions on your computer.
- Schedule blocks of undisturbed time to preserve deep work and creative output.
Modern Music Excites Rather Than Orders
- Much modern popular music aims to excite raw passions rather than order them toward virtue.
- Music that seduces the senses can cloud reason and undermine moral self-control.
Sacred Music Stillness Supports Prayer
- Medieval and Renaissance sacred music calms the emotions to open space for intellect and prayer.
- That serenity makes such music especially suited to liturgical worship.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
What is technology for?
02:05 • 2min
Technology's trade-offs and memory loss
04:13 • 5min
Cars, locality, and community decline
08:46 • 8min
Catholic land movement and returning to the earth
16:52 • 4min
LARPing, imitation, and religious practice
21:20 • 4min
What is modernity?
24:56 • 8min
Why people rebel against modernity
33:11 • 4min
Smartphones as addictive Swiss army knives
36:42 • 6min
Choosing a 'dumb' phone to reclaim focus
42:53 • 3min
Guarding the interior with silence
45:47 • 5min
Podcasts, reading, and balanced intellectual life
50:31 • 4min
Peter's struggles with modern work and distraction
54:19 • 10min
Sonic pollution and the dictatorship of noise
01:03:53 • 5min
How modern music manipulates passions
01:08:36 • 18min
Romanticism, Wagner, and seductive music
01:27:03 • 11min
Medieval and Renaissance music as stillness
01:37:52 • 3min
Practical musical detox: give up music for Lent
01:40:28 • 11sec
How to start appreciating classical music
01:40:39 • 4min
Reading habits: start small with novellas
01:45:03 • 5min
Unplugged vacations and silent retreats
01:49:51 • 7min
Daily structure and the Divine Office
01:56:46 • 8min
Why the old Breviary matters
02:04:31 • 7min
Priests, prayer time, and pastoral priorities
02:11:51 • 9min
Why avoid swearing and vulgarity
02:20:28 • 9min
Os Justi Press and new Cristero history
02:29:22 • 12min
Clerical dress and the cassock's dignity
02:41:00 • 11min
Liturgical abuses and recovery of tradition
02:51:57 • 11min
Staying in the Church amid corruption
03:02:46 • 4min
Practical vigilance over media and children
03:06:41 • 6min
Music for the gym and alternatives
03:12:17 • 2min
Outro
03:14:28 • 56sec
#4608
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St. Thomas Aquinas
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The Power of Silence
Against the Dictatorship of Noise
Cardinal Robert Sarah
Nicolas Diat
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' The story follows Percy Franklin, an English Catholic priest who becomes Pope Silvester III, as he navigates this dystopian world and confronts the spiritual and moral decline of society.
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It is based on the lives of Jean-Baptiste Lamy and Joseph Projectus Machebeuf, who worked to establish a Catholic diocese in New Mexico.
The story follows the journey of Bishop Jean Marie Latour and Father Joseph Vaillant as they navigate the challenges of their mission, interact with diverse cultures, and reflect on the complexities of faith and colonialism.
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The novel spans from 1805 to 1820 and is known for its realistic detail and psychological analysis.
It explores the impact of Napoleon's invasion of Russia on the characters and society, delving into themes of love, family, war, and personal growth.
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A Fantastic Story
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A Forest of Symbols
Abbe Claude Barthes
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Nos es muy conocida
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Pío XI
Publicada el 28 de marzo de 1937, esta encíclica aborda la difícil situación religiosa en México, expresando la preocupación del Papa Pío XI por la persecución y dificultades que enfrentaba la Iglesia Católica en ese país.
Fue originalmente publicada en español y forma parte del volumen 29 del Acta Apostolicae Sedis, con versiones posteriores en latín, inglés e italiano.
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Christopher Derrick
In "Sex and Sacredness: A Catholic Homage to Venus," Christopher Derrick offers a profound and comprehensive examination of sexuality through the lens of Catholic tradition.
The book discusses the sacred and profane dimensions of sex, addressing its spiritual significance as well as its challenges and complexities within a religious context.
It serves as a thoughtful homage to Venus, symbolizing love and sexuality, while engaging with theological and cultural perspectives.
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Phoenix from the Ashes
The Making, Unmaking, and Restoration of Catholic Tradition
Henry Sire
Phoenix from the Ashes examines the history of the Catholic Church, focusing on the periods of decline and renewal following the Second Vatican Council.
The book documents the crisis in orthodoxy and the subsequent resurgence of traditional Catholicism, offering insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the Church today.
It is considered a thorough and thought-provoking resource for those interested in Catholic tradition and its restoration.
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Altar and Church
Principles of Liturgy from Early Christianity
Stefan Heid
This book by Stefan Heid examines the foundational principles of Christian liturgy by studying the early Christian altar and the architecture of church buildings.
It explores the beginnings of Christian worship practices and how these shaped the liturgical norms referenced by later councils.
The work is a detailed historical and theological study spanning 512 pages, published in 2023.
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The Philosophy of the Enlightenment
Ernst Cassirer
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Furrow
san Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer
Furrow is a spiritual classic consisting of 1000 short points for personal reflection and mental prayer, written by Saint Josemaría Escrivá.
Like his earlier work The Way, it draws from his rich interior life and pastoral experience.
The book presents an attractive Christian vision that interweaves the divine and human aspects of Christian perfection, helping readers see how to bring harmony between nature and grace in their own lives.
Organized thematically around virtues such as generosity, humility, prayer, work, friendship, and purity, Furrow was written to encourage and ease personal prayer while providing practical guidance for finding paths to holiness in ordinary circumstances.
In this interview, Matt is joined again by Dr. Peter Kwasniewski—scholar, author, composer, and book publisher. In this conversation, they discuss the purpose of technology, what makes music beautiful, making time for prayer, the history of liturgical vestments, and good literature, among other topics. --- 📖 Jesus Our Refuge book: https://a.co/d/9gKN4eb ---
Explore more from Dr. Kwasniewski through the links below:
🔹 Website https://www.peterkwasniewski.com/
🔹 Tradition & Sanity Substack https://www.traditionsanity.com/
🔹 Composer Page https://cantabodomino.com/
🔹 Publishing (Os Justi Press) https://osjustipress.com
—-
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Timestamps:
00:00:00 – Intro and Matt's new book 00:02:19 – Technology 00:16:53 – Is LARPing merely pretending? 00:32:56 – Why are people rebelling against modernity? 00:40:14 – Smartphones versus "dumb" phones 00:49:12 – We need to unplug and simply reflect 01:03:38 – The pollution of music 01:36:35 – How to do a distraction detox 01:44:47 – Book recommendations 01:49:51 – Giving up the internet and silent retreats 02:01:31 – Progressing in small steps 02:09:00 – Changes to the breviary 02:22:38 – Cuss words and swearing 02:39:15 – How should priests dress? 02:50:40 – A Church healing from liturgists
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