The Lorica of St. Patrick "The Lorica of St. Patrick" is a well-known prayer. Most people would recognize it as follows: Christ with me,Christ before me,Christ behind me,Christ in me,Christ beneath me,Christ above me,Christ on my right,Christ on my left,Christ when I lie down,Christ when I sit down,Christ when I arise,Christ in the heart of … Continue reading The Lorica of St. Patrick: Christ Shield Me
Symbol of Repentance, Sign of Hope: Ash Wednesday
Symbol of Repentance A symbol of repentance is not necessarily something that we're proud of. Most of us prefer not to advertise our own sinfulness. And yet, I've noticed a curious thing about Ash Wednesday. We all know people whose connection to the practice of the Faith has become somewhat tenuous. You will rarely see them darken … Continue reading Symbol of Repentance, Sign of Hope: Ash Wednesday
Pierced by a Sword: The Presentation
In the end, the glory of Christmas and the sword of Good Friday come together on Easter Sunday. Redemption comes only from the light shining through the darkness of suffering. We catch a glimpse of that Paradox of Pain in the Feast of Presentation.
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.
The Attraction of Sanctity and Holy Innocents: 4th Day of Christmas
As I observed in my recent posts on St. Servulus, St. Nicasius, and St. Anastasia, lesser observances are often overwhelmed during great celebrations such as Christmas and Easter.
The Beloved Disciple: St. John the Evangelist (3rd Day of Christmas)
John is the model of the disciple who leans into the heart of Jesus. Like Mary the sister of Martha (see Luke 10:38), he has "chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from" him.
St. Stephen and Good King Wenceslas: 2nd Day of Christmas
Just as our Christmas joy is tempered by the realization that the child lying in the manger must someday hang on the Cross, St. Stephen reminds us, a mere day after the Feast of the Nativity itself, that following the Child of Bethlehem can mean our own Calvary.
Small Beginnings: 4th Sunday of Advent
How can it be that the Firstborn of All Creation was born again as a little human baby? A baby lying in a manger out of which animals feed? From small beginnings . . .