Trust in God Trust in God and he will save you. Trust in men and, well, tough luck. Our first reading on this 4th Sunday of Advent is about a king who refuses to trust in the Lord: The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying:Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God;let it be deep as … Continue reading Trust in God: 4th Sunday of Advent
Evermore and Evermore: “Of the Father’s Love Begotten.”
Sixty human generations or more have passed since Aurelius Prudentius first published hymn IX of his Liber Cathereminon. We still sing it today as the Christmas hymn "Of the Father's Love Begotten."
Rose in the Desert: Gaudete Sunday (3rd Sunday)
Every day we run up against the brokenness of our world, the failure of our plans, dysfunction in our families and, perhaps most discouraging of all, stubborn sin in our own hearts.
Only in the Lord: St. Nicasius and Advent
St. Nicasius understood that human righteousness would overawe neither Huns nor Vandals. Instead, he put his trust in the Lord.
Wonder at the Incarnation: O Magnum Mysterium
"O Magnum Mysterium" - I've often thought that, however amazing it is that God could create this immeasurable universe, there's something much more astounding: He chose to become one of us . . .
Lover or Fighter? St. Nicholas of Myra
Lover or Fighter? Well, which is he, lover or fighter? St. Nicholas has the distinction of being one of those saints whose name is known to just about everybody, inside and outside the Church. At the same time, few, at least in the west, know his actual story today. I first published a version … Continue reading Lover or Fighter? St. Nicholas of Myra
Falling Yet Striving to Rise: Alma Redemptoris Mater
Falling Yet Striving Falling yet striving to rise. That's the life of a Christian. It's better than the alternative, of course, which is simply falling. In any case, this idea is central to the Marian prayer Alma Redemptoris Mater ("Loving Mother of the Redeemer"). This will be the Marian Antiphon from the 1st Sunday of … Continue reading Falling Yet Striving to Rise: Alma Redemptoris Mater
The Manifestation of the Lord: Epiphany
It is so very difficult for all of us to grasp the reality of the Incarnation that even the human parents of The Lord seem to struggle with it. And who could hope to have faith equal to theirs?
Let the Children: St. Genevieve and the 10th Day of Christmas
What did not change was the absolute trust she had in Jesus Christ. This held firm from her first vow as a seven year old until her death more than eight decades later.
The Holy Family and the Crisis of Our Family: 5th Day of Christmas
The trends that already looked alarming a century ago have now grown and metastasized. Our great grandparents would not believe by what is now commonplace. The family as traditionally understood is tottering under open and sustained attack.