Month: January 2014

Fact / Quote / Quiz: January 24th

William OFlaherty Daily Lewis

FACT OF THE DAY:

All the letters of the alphabet are used for names of the characters in Narnia except one, none of them start with the letter “x.”

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“The human mind has no more power of inventing a new value than of planting a new sun in the sky or a new primary colour in the spectrum.”

The Poison of Subjectivism
(Published in Christian Reflections on 1/23/1967)

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QUIZ OF THE DAY:

We know that Perelandra is Venus, but what is Earth’s name?
(Click “Read More” to SEE Answer)

The Oddest Inkling (Sørina Higgins)

William OFlaherty Resource Spotlight

Most who read the works of C.S. Lewis are aware that he spend many hours over the years with a group of friends known as the Inklings. Charles Williams was one of the central participants for a short period of time. He died unexpectedly in 1945 and although Lewis and Williams were friends for less than ten years, the impact of their relationship was very significant for Lewis.

Who was Charles Williams? If you are willing to believe Sørina Higgins, he was “The Oddest Inkling.” Why such a description? She states, “He was a British poet, novelist, literary critic, editor, lecturer, biographer, Anglican Christian, and occult master.

Fact / Quote / Quiz: January 23rd

William OFlaherty Daily Lewis

FACT OF THE DAY:

It was on this day (1/23) in 1967 that Christian Reflections (an essay collection) was published.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“Unless the measuring rod is independent of the things measured, we can do no measuring.”

The Poison of Subjectivism
(Published in Christian Reflections on 1/23/1967)

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QUIZ OF THE DAY:

Which Narnia book is the following passage from and who said it:
“But even a traitor may mend. I have known one that did.”
(Click “Read More” to SEE Answer)

RETROSPECT: January 22nd – 31st

William OFlaherty Jack in Retrospect, Special Feature

Highlights for the final third of January (22nd – 31st) include: The publication of one of the last books Lewis wrote, the first meeting of a special Oxford club and the last sermon Lewis ever preached.

Lewis was working on several books before he died in 1963. The first one published posthumously was Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer. It came out on the 27th in 1964. While Lewis is known for writing in a variety of styles, this book is somewhat unique in that though they are present as letters to someone, they were really letters to an imaginary person. Today we have a large collection of actual letters Lewis wrote, so those new to his writings should be careful to note this fact. This leads to the obvious question as to why he would deal with such a serious subject to a fictional person.

Fact / Quote / Quiz: January 22nd

William OFlaherty Daily Lewis

FACT OF THE DAY:

The poem “On Another Theme from Nicolas of Cusa” was published on 1/21/1955 in The Times Literary Supplement.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“Our relation to those who trusted us only after we were proved innocent in court cannot be the same as our relation to those who trusted us all through.”

On Obstinacy In Belief
(Published in Screwtape Proposes a Toast on 1/4/1965)

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QUIZ OF THE DAY:

Finish the quote and name the source (five words):
“…it is certainly my opinion that a book worth reading only in childhood is ___ ___ ___ ___ ___.”
(Click “Read More” to SEE Answer)

Fact / Quote / Quiz: January 21st

William OFlaherty Daily Lewis

FACT OF THE DAY:

Lewis’s “Prudery and Philology” was published today (1/21) in 1955 in The Spectator. It is available in the Present Concerns book.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“You and I have need of the strongest spell that can be found to wake us from the evil enchantment of worldliness.”

The Weight of Glory
(Published in Screwtape Proposes a Toast on 1/4/1965)

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QUIZ OF THE DAY:

Which broadcast series from what became part of Mere Christianity did Lewis begin on what day this month?
(Click “Read More” to SEE Answer)

Fact / Quote / Quiz: January 20th

William OFlaherty Daily Lewis

FACT OF THE DAY:

“Ministering Angels” is a short story by Lewis first published in the January, 1958 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“It is when we notice the dirt that God is most present to us: it is the very sign of His presence.”

Letter to Mary Neylan
(from Collected Letters, Volume 2 on 1/20/1942)

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QUIZ OF THE DAY:

In The Magician’s Nephew, Lewis based the character of Digory on an important figure from this own life. Name that person.
(Click “Read More” to SEE Answer)

Mouse of Courage (CSLM-40)

William OFlaherty CSL Minute, Special Feature

If you voted on the most courageous in Narnia, this character would be the big cheese!

If you found a Narnian dictionary I think you would likely discover a picture of Reepicheep under the definition of courage. What this mouse lacks in stature he more than makes up for with his bravery. Reepicheep is quick to seek adventure and is well known (almost too well known) for defending his honor.

Fact / Quote / Quiz: January 19th

William OFlaherty Daily Lewis

FACT OF THE DAY:

The eleventh installment of The Great Divorce was published today (1/19) in 1945; it covered the first quarter of chapter nine.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“Ye cannot fully understand the relations of choice and Time till you are beyond both.”

Who Goes Home? or The Grand Divorce XI
(Published in The Guardian on 1/19/1945)

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QUIZ OF THE DAY:

Finish the quote and name the source (four words):
“Far better things lie ahead than _____ _____ _____ _____ .”
(Click “Read More” to SEE Answer)

EC05r – The Seeing Eye with Will Vaus (Essay Chat)

William OFlaherty All About Jack

The following is a repeat of an earlier essay chat I first posted in 2012. This is the fifth in an occasional series of programs examining a single shorter work by C.S. Lewis. Today Will Vaus is my guest, he has written a number of books related to C.S. Lewis. Below you can find links to the ones I’ve done an interview with him. In this program we explore “The Seeing Eye” which is most easily found in the book Christian Reflections.
(Click “Read More” to Listen to this Interview)