Christ has broken our chains, but here's the catch: we need to be willing to shake them off, get up, and follow him. "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24) . . .
“Let It Be Done To Me According To Thy Word” – The Annunciation and Us
I often used to admire a stained glass window that looks down on the altar in the cathedral where I used to attend Mass with my family. The scene in the window is the Annunciation. It depicts the young Mary, kneeling on the floor and surrounded by angels, while God the father looks down on her … Continue reading “Let It Be Done To Me According To Thy Word” – The Annunciation and Us
Confession, Jonah, and the Prodigal’s Sons
I had never before considered how closely Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son parallels the last two chapters of the book of Jonah, but the comparison is striking. In the Old Testament book Jonah is sent to warn the people of Nineveh to repent their sins, or face the wrath of God. The Ninevites listen to the words of the prophet: like the Prodigal Son himself, they whole-heartedly repent, and in turn receive God's whole-hearted forgiveness. Who could object to that? As it turns out, Jonah could, and does, object . . .
Allegri’s Miserere- Music for the First Monday in Lent
Today's Music Monday For the 1st week of Lent features Allegri's Miserere, a beautiful and moving composition that also has an interesting history.
St. Paul’s Autographs
Let me tell you about how I became friends with a fellow named Paul, from Tarsus . . .
The Presentation, The Nativity, and The Passion of Our Lord
Today is the mid-point, the end of the beginning and the beginning of the end. Which is to say, today is the Feast of the Presentation, a perfect microcosm of both/and. The official Christmas Season ended a couple weeks ago on the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, but the Presentation of the baby Jesus in … Continue reading The Presentation, The Nativity, and The Passion of Our Lord