As he himself struggles with profound sorrow in the midst of our most festive season, Longfellow juxtaposes the joyful ringing of bells in “The belfries of all Christendom” to the manifest lack of peace among men
God’s Ways are not Our Ways: 9th Day of Christmas
Ours is a God indeed whose thoughts are not our thoughts, whose ways are not our ways: he constantly confounds our expectations. This is not the Grand Entrance any of us would have devised for God Made Manifest.
One of Us: Solemnity of Mary
Through the Motherhood of Mary, Jesus, that is to say God, takes on our humanity in an utterly tangible, direct and personal way.
God is Light: 7th Day of Christmas
Light has also been a big part of our liturgical practices, as anyone who has attended the Easter Vigil can attest, and this also goes back to the beginning.
Two Sides of the Same Coin: 4th Day of Christmas
The Holy Family of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus is a model of God’s plan for the family. The slaughter of the Holy Innocents underscores how far we need to go, right now, to adhere to that model.
Love at the Foot of the Cross: 3rd Day of Christmas
John is beloved because he is a disciple who himself loves much - so much that he alone of the Apostles follows Christ all the way to Calvary and stands with the Blessed Mother and Mary Magdalene at the foot of the Cross. He is our model in loving discipleship.
St. Stephen and the Incarnation: 2nd Day of Christmas
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.
Merry Christmas (and Feast of St. Anastasia)!
St. Anastasia shares in the Incarnation by sharing her feast day with the commemoration of Christ's Nativity on the Solemnity of Christmas.
God Bless Little Saints: St. Servulus
St. Servulus puts flesh on the words of St. Paul: “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions (Colossians 1:24).”
Trust in God: 4th Sunday of Advent
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