Tea at Trianon: To Tell the Truth

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Sunday, June 1, 2025

To Tell the Truth

From Mater et Magistra:

As Catholic parents, one of our greatest responsibilities is forming the moral character of our children. We don’t just teach them right from wrong—we help shape their consciences, train their hearts, and cultivate their moral imagination. Integrity, perseverance, and honesty are virtues that must be modeled and intentionally nurtured within the home. If we want our children to be truthful, hardworking, and morally upright, we must lead by example.
Children learn far more from what we do than from what we say. If we want them to be honest, they must see us being honest. If we want them to persevere, they must watch us push through difficulty with patience and grace. If we want them to act with integrity, they must witness us making hard but right choices.
Do we admit when we are wrong?
Do we follow through on our promises, even when it’s inconvenient?
Do we speak honestly, even when a small lie would make life easier?
Do we persevere in prayer and daily duties, or do we grumble when things get hard?
Our example forms the foundation of our children’s understanding of virtue. If they see us striving for holiness, they will learn to do the same. (Read more.)