God’s Strong Hand and The Presentation

God's Strong Hand 2 February 2023 The Presentation, by Hans Holbein the Elder. c. 1500 The Presentation  Today in the secular world (at least in the United States) we observe the venerable tradition of Groundhog Day.  This event involves allowing an earth-dwelling rodent to forecast our weather for the next few weeks. It's just a fun … Continue reading God’s Strong Hand and The Presentation

7th Day of Christmas – Christmas is Just Beginning

Mystic Nativity, by Sandro Botticelli, 1500 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 … Continue reading 7th Day of Christmas – Christmas is Just Beginning

A Thorny Problem: the Body and Blood of Christ

A Thorny Problem     A thorny problem indeed. It’s so hard for us truly to accept that the Infinite God of the Universe could fully inhabit a human body, and be both True God and True Man.  I was often reminded of just how thorny a problem this is for us when I used to … Continue reading A Thorny Problem: the Body and Blood of Christ

Mozart Makes The Gloria Soar

Angels Announcing the Birth of Christ to the Shepherds, by Govert Flinck, 1639 The Gloria      The Gloria starts with "Glory to God in the highest . . ."  If you frequent the Catholic Mass, you know this prayer.  You've heard it hundreds of times, maybe thousands.  But how much do you know about it? Or have you ever … Continue reading Mozart Makes The Gloria Soar

The Church’s First Decision: St. Matthias

The Church's First Decision The Church's first decision (of consequence, anyway) concerned the first successor to the Apostles. That would be the choice of today's saint, St. Matthias, whom the Apostles designated to take the vacant place of Judas among the twelve. How the Apostles came to their decision gives us an enlightening look at … Continue reading The Church’s First Decision: St. Matthias