On what can Christians, pagan Greeks, and Friedrich Nietzsche all agree? For man to live well, he must reject envy and resentment, working rather to emulate heroes, be they saints or statesmen. Alex Petkas argues that the Groyper Right is the product of a society shorn of heroism, where young men “have been told throughout their education—whether public, private, or often even ‘Classical Christian’—that the very things that make them men render them unfit for promotion: disagreeableness, restless energy, or the uncompromising desire to excel above their peers.”

For further reading: In last month’s issue, R. R. Reno argued that Nietzsche misassessed Christianity—heroism is present. Furthermore, true heroism is ambitious. It looks beyond self interest and courts failure (“Christian Heroism”). For a counterpoint, Carl Trueman’s “How Pop Nietzscheanism Masquerades as Christianity” was one of the most popular articles of 2024. He concludes by agreeing with Nietzsche: Christianity is a slave morality. “The faithful Christian ministry is not very glamorous. It consists of baptizing, preaching, and celebrating the Lord’s Supper. It is about pointing people to a God on a cross whose strength, like that of his followers, is made perfect in weakness.”

Msgr. Feichtinger writes that the liturgy wars are lamentable and understandable. To move past them requires abandoning a paternalistic “pastoral” approach that treats liturgical traditionalists as errant children. Similarly necessary is a mutual disarmament of liturgical pecaddillos. “Neither those who reject all modifications, nor those who see the post-conciliar reforms as a complete reinvention of the liturgy, can be trusted.”

Liturgical renewal done properly will serve to clarify the role of the Church: “Within the framework of communion ecclesiology, synodality cannot be considered a defining mark of the Church (like apostolicity or catholicity).”

For further reading: Nearly thirty years ago, Avery Cardinal Dulles wrote masterfully on the liturgy and liturgical reform: “The Ways We Worship” (March 1998).

As is stands, coroners must investigate suicides and overdoses. Illinois lawmakers want to change that in the case of physician-assisted suicides, shielding the practice from oversight. These are the same tactics used to protect abortion.

For further reading: First Things has published dozens of articles on assisted suicide and abortion in the past year. For a different, less mechanized view of death, read mortician Victor Sweeney’s November reflection, “When Death Calls at Night.”

Listen: The US editor of UnHerd joins Conversations to talk about youth politics. Sohrab recently profiled Nikki Haley’s son and wrote about how right-wing media helped elect Zohran Mamdani.

For further reading: Freya India wrote in May about the rhetorical tools the right will have to adopt to attract young women: “The Right Has Forgotten Feeling.” She, like Sohrab, points out that the right’s tactics are often misplaced.

Upcoming Events

• February 1, 2026: Second Annual Neuhaus Lecture at the New College of Florida | Sarasota, FL. Details coming soon.

Until next time.

JACOB AKEY

Associate Editor