Hello Marian,

I perused through your website today to see if I might find anything that interests me, and I found a new article about a topic which I have thought much about since I became a traditional Catholic. I have met a variety of people in different societies that claim to be traditional Catholic in this post-Vatican II mess.

Disorder is so common in homes today among those who home-school, and if the parents follow the simple rules you mentioned, which aren't too hard, compared to say the military regime of being up at 5 a.m. etc, then homes would look more like a home, and not a disaster.

You wrote it in a kind way, but to me at least it seems something that complements a soul is order, and messiness reminds me of a carefree college student, like a hippy. It is true that when one has a maid it is easier, but even without maids it is possible, and may I say desirable. Otherwise who would want to be home in such a depressing messy environment?

     N.P.

Dear Dr. Horvat,

My daughters and I have enjoyed all your teaching/discussions about manners and customs and, I should add, we lament with you the demise of our Catholic culture.

Currently I am enjoying your latest additions [about order] to this topic on TIA. Thank you for persisting in this effort. It is vital.

     L.J.

Dr. Horvat,

Your articles on civility have been real eye-openers to me.

If you have a minute, let me explain. I’m afraid I’m one of those haphazard home schooling moms you mention in the last article at the end. I call it creative, my husband calls it disorder. I can’t tell you how many discussions/arguments we have had; lately it was mostly arguments.

I couldn’t understand why he doesn’t understand my free spirit (vs. his stuffy family ways – everything always clean and in order). It seemed to me he just didn’t appreciate the fact I make bread twice a week, do photography and make photo scrapbooks for all the relatives, take the children on nature hikes, and so many other things. He didn’t care about any of that – all he wanted was for me to clean the house and keep the table cleared off (and I admit, it is usually filled with class work and projects – after all, I ‘m a busy homeschooling mom).

At first, I was a little irritated at the articles on your site about order, and I was making fun of them to some of my friends. Now I am realizing that maybe my husband has some good points. Well, anyway, the table is going to be cleared and we are going to start to try to follow a better schedule, even if the bread doesn’t get made….

Thought I’d share this with you. I’ll let you know how things go. It is a big change for me and hard to realize my way of being brought up wasn’t maybe the best. O well, never too late to change, with the help of God.

     A.T.

TIA,

Your article about The Importance of Order in the Professional Life and other similar articles in that series has been a literal spelling out of the meaning of order. Outer order and inner order are closely connected. There are always layers...spiritual and practical.

I just wanted you to know the series is having some practical effects. Today I am going to put better order in my car.

     J.P.

   Warm Reception for Small Manual of Civility

   Small Manual of Civility - Introduction and Chapter 1

   Manual of Civility - Chapter 2: Bearing

   Manual of Civility - Chapter 3: The Proper Way to Sit, Stand, Walk

   Manual of Civility - Chapter 4: Order and the Spirit of Order

   Manual of Civility - Chapter 5: Order in the Professional Life>

   Dressing Well - Vanity or Virtue?

   St. Isidore of Seville on the Importance of Being Dignified in Manner

   Four Ways to Discern a Man's Soul by His Appearance

   Why Do Only Women Have to Dress Well?

   Tradition, Stagnation and Progress

   Courtesy in the Catholic Home

   Language is the Dress of Thought

   R-CR in the Tendencies, Ideas and Facts