The Smell of Blood and Roses

When the world was half a thousand years younger all events had much sharper outlines than now. The distance between sadness and joy, between good and bad fortune, seemed to be much greater than for us; every experience had that degree of directness and absoluteness that joy and sadness still have in the mind of a child. Every event, every deed was defined in given and expressive forms and was in accord with the solemnity of a tight, invariable life style. The great events of human life–birth, marriage, death–by virtue of the sacraments, basked in the radiance of the divine mystery. But even the lesser events–a journey, labor, a visit–were accompanied by a multitude of blessings, ceremonies, sayings, and conventions.

–Johan Huizinga in “The Autumn of the Middle Ages,” in a new translation by Rodney J. Payton and Ulrich Mammitzsch (University of Chicago Press, 467 pp.; $39.95).

Copyright (c) 1996 Christianity Today, Inc./BOOKS & CULTURE

May/June 1996, Vol. 2, No. 3, Page 4

bcmay96mrj6B304a6423

Our Latest

Flame Raps the Sacraments

Now that he’s Lutheran, the rapper’s music has changed along with his theology.

News

A Mother Tortured at Her Keyboard. A Donor Swindled. An Ambassador on Her Knees.

Meet the Christians ensnared by cyberscamming and the ministries trying to stop it.

Review

Becoming Athletes of Attention in an Age of Distraction

Even without retreating to the desert, we can train our wandering minds with ancient monastic wisdom.

Christ Our King, Come What May

This Sunday is a yearly reminder that Christ is our only Lord—and that while governments rise and fall, he is Lord eternal.

The Bulletin

Something Is Not the Same

The Bulletin talks RFK’s appointment and autism, Biden’s provision of missiles to Ukraine, and entertainment and dark humor with Russell and Mike. 

The Still Small Voice in the Deer Stand

Since childhood, each hunting season out in God’s creation has healed wounds and deepened my faith.

Play Those Chocolate Sprinkles, Rend Collective!

The Irish band’s new album “FOLK!” proclaims joy after suffering.

The Black Women Missing from Our Pews

America’s most churched demographic is slipping from religious life. We must go after them.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube