Feast of the Epiphany Reading 1: Isaiah 60: 1-6 Arise, be enlightened, O Jerusalem: for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For behold darkness shall cover the earth, and a mist the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon … Continue reading Sunday Thoughts: 1-5-20
Christianity
Saint John Henry Newman
It's rare that we get good news from the Church these days, so cherish it when it comes! Cardinal Newman, the great English convert of the 19th century, whose return to Rome sparked something of a Catholic renaissance in that noble, yet obstinate island kingdom, is now declared a Saint. Cardinal Newman is one of … Continue reading Saint John Henry Newman
Everyman Piece on Notre Dame
After watching Notre Dame Cathedral burn, I wrote up some of my thoughts, which are running today at The Everyman. We are the heirs of Christendom. We have inherited treasures beyond belief; Notre Dame Cathedral is only one jewel among hundreds of such cathedrals and churches, living prayers in stone and glass, not to mention the … Continue reading Everyman Piece on Notre Dame
New Aleteia Post
I sent this in about three or four months ago; kind of expected it to have been dropped, but it's up after all! On Aleteia today, In Defense of Grumpy Christians. For such people there’s often a bit of a quandary: They know that, as Christians, they ought to love their neighbor and be good to … Continue reading New Aleteia Post
Bishop Sheen on the Three Confessions
Broadcasted 1957: Ven. Bishop Fulton Sheen traces the course of human sentiment through three great 'Confessions:' those of St. Augustine, of Abelard, and of Jean-Jacque Rousseau: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGGSxxuBtMk Money quote: "Jean-Jacque, therefore, gave birth to an entirely new concept of how to handle a conflict: namely, give way to it and call it right."
For St. Patrick’s Day
The great 'Lorica' or "Breastplate Prayer" of St. Patrick, the patron of the Land that Once was Ireland: Sancti Patricii Hymnus ad Temoriam. Ad Temoriam hodie potentiam praepollentem invoco Trinitatis, Credo in Trinitatem sub unitate numinis elementorum. Apud Temoriam hodie virtutem nativitatis Christi cum ea ejus baptismi, Virtutem crucifixionis cum ea ejus sepulturae, Virtutem resurrectionis … Continue reading For St. Patrick’s Day
Communion Rails
At the moment I attend two different parishes, depending on my schedule. It’s obviously not ideal and I’m working to make it a temporary arrangement, but one thing both parishes have in common is that they both use Communion rails. Having almost exclusively received the Eucharist in this manner for several months now, I’m struck … Continue reading Communion Rails
Please Do Not Try to Find Holy Images in Random Things
I happened upon this article through ‘Big Pulpit,’ and I have to make a quick comment: I really, really wish Christians would stop posting things like this: Miraculous Image of Blessed Mother Holding Baby Appears in Pregnancy Sonogram – See the Photo! by ChurchPOP Editor - January 31, 2019 The story itself is actually well worth reading, about … Continue reading Please Do Not Try to Find Holy Images in Random Things
Hail, Patron
Today, January 24, is the feast day of St. Francis de Sales, patron of writers and journalists. Mr. David Warren provides as fine a summary of his life, work, and faith as I've read. “Be who you are and be that well.”
At the Everyman, Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus
The Everyman asked me to tackle the question of salvation outside the Church, following Bishop Barron's infamous interview with Ben Shapiro. Fortunately, I'd just been reading up some on the subject. This one's probably gonna generate some controversy; if you have a comment, please either leave it at the 'Everyman' site, or under this post. … Continue reading At the Everyman, Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus
Serpent's Den 