7th Day of Christmas – Christmas is Just Beginning
Are You Sure It’s Just Beginning? Just beginning? Does it seem like it’s just beginning . . . ? Some images never fade. I have a vivid memory of a Christmas years ago, shortly after my return to the Faith. The Christmas tree was literally hurled through the front door on the afternoon of Christmas […]
6th Day of Christmas – The Holy Family and the Crisis of Our Family
Holy Family The Holy Family, whose feast we celebrate today, commemorates the Holiest Family, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. But, as always, there’s more to it. The name of the feast also reminds us that “the family” in general, composed of father, mother, and children, is itself “holy.” It is, in fact, a gift of God. […]
4th Day of Christmas – Holy Innocents and St. Vincent of Lerins
It’s not that the power of the Herods, Huns, and other worldly tyrants has had no lasting effect. It’s just that their “power” doesn’t accomplish what they expect. St. Paul again provides us with the key when he says: “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
2nd Day of Christmas – St. Stephen and the Incarnation
We need to embrace the Gospel in its entirety. The joy of the Nativity leads to the sorrow of Cavalry, which itself prepares the way for the still greater glory of Easter.
Even Little Saints See the Face of God: St. Servulus, Tiny Tim, and the Nativity
Servulus is truly an admirable model of heroic virtue. In spite of a lifetime of constant suffering, he was filled with gratitude to his Creator, and was completely devoted to Him, as signified by his name (Servulus means “little slave”). Moreover, despite his own absolute poverty, he was keenly aware of the need of others.
A Loving Mother: Alma Redemptoris Mater
Loving Mother of Our Redeemer Who doesn’t want a loving mother? Or, if we need to win the favor of a powerful person (a King, for instance), how could we pass up the opportunity of having his Mother put in a good word for us? That’s the dual promise of the Alma Redemptoris Mater. The first […]
From Small Beginnings: the 4th Sunday of Advent
We can see the Old Testament prophecirs come to fruition in the New Testament in a literal way in the birth of Jesus the Messiah in Bethlehem. As always, however, there are deeper and deeper layers of truth underneath the surface . . .
Only in The Lord: St. Nicasius and Advent
St. Nicasius understood that human righteousness would overawe neither Huns nor Vandals. He himself put his trust in the Lord.
3rd Sunday of Advent: Keep Your Eye on the Ball
The Good News is good news indeed, but it is not quite a free pass. We have a part we need to play beyond simply waiting for our Savior. We need to keep our eye on the ball.
St. Nicholas: Lover, Fighter . . . or Both?
St. Nicholas of Myra Hang out your stockings: today, December 6th, is the feast day of St. Nicholas of Myra. Over the last couple of centuries the modern Santa Claus has somehow developed from the figure of this 4th century bishop, but the real Saint has retained a strong devotion in both the Eastern and Western […]