Michael Earls
Michael Earls was a Jesuit priest whose multifaceted contributions as a writer, poet, teacher, and administrator left a significant mark on Catholic literature and education. Born in 1873, he dedicated his life to the service of the Church and the intellectual development of its members. His literary works often reflected his deep faith and commitment to education, blending theological insights with poetic expression. Earls's writings encompassed a range of genres, including poetry and essays, which were well-received in both religious and academic circles. In addition to his literary pursuits, Earls played a vital role in the administration of Jesuit educational institutions, where he influenced countless students and fellow educators. His legacy is characterized by a commitment to integrating faith and reason, a hallmark of Jesuit education. Through his writings and teachings, Michael Earls contributed to the broader discourse on spirituality and education in the early 20th century, leaving behind a body of work that continues to inspire those within the Jesuit tradition and beyond.
Famous Quotes
View all 8 quotes“The Earl of Lancaster loudly spoke, “Piers Gaveston, this court finds you guilty of treason, of sodomy and sedition as well as many other crimes against God! You shall be taken to Blacklow Hill, which shall by your place of execution, and you shall be put to death by two of my Welsh soldiers! May God have mercy upon your soul!””
“Everybody has a jury, the voices they carry inside. Earl Briggs sits on my jury, Gloria Dayton, too. They are there with Katie and Sandy, my mother, my father, and soon Legal Siegel as well. Those I have loved and those I have hurt. Those who bless me and those who haunt me. My gods of guilt. Every day I carry on and I carry them close. Every day I step into the well before them and I argue my case.””
“When I wasn’t in the barn garden, helping out, sorting seeds or checking hoses I’d spend time alone, usually in the bathroom adjacent to Joel’s room, staring into the shattered mirror as my hand gently caressed my baby bump.More often than not I would cry. Not because my pregnancy upset me, or that my hormones were getting the better of me, but because I missed Joel, my baby’s father. That the baby would grow up without a dad made me anxious. Then again, if he had survived, what irreparable damage would he have suffered and how would his pain translate to his child? Jesus, I was studying myself in the very mirror he’d smashed the night he chose to take his own life.The bump had grown slowly in the last couple of months. With these limited resources, I didn’t have the privilege of eating whatever I craved. Had that been the case, I was sure I would have been bigger by now. Still, I tried to eat as well and as often as I could and the size of my belly had proven that my attempts at proper nutrition were at least growing something in there.Nothing made me happier than feeling my baby move. It was a constant source of relief for me. In our present circumstances, with no vitamins and barely any meat products save the recent stash of jerky Earl had found in an abandoned trailer, my diet consisted of berries, lettuce, and canned beans for the most part. Feeling the baby move inside me was an experience I often enjoyed alone. I would think of Joel then as well. Imagining his hand on my belly, with mine guiding his to the kicks and punches.””
