This Year… 2020 This is the year Francis was Pope. This is the year Donald Trump was President This is the year of the great Covid-19 Pandemic in which our society closed down and a lot of people died. This is the year racism, riots, looting, protests and violence took over our computer screens. This is the year movie theater business came to a crashing halt. This is the year My very good friend Pattie Goodale and her mother and brother all Died of Covid. Elizabeth A.... Read more
All Our Posts So Far…. The Carmelite’s Poetry Is… JULY 20, 2020 ALL Kristin’s First 50 Posts The Catechist’s Theme Song Is… JULY 21, 2020 ALL Mark’s 50 First Posts Catholic Bard History 101 OCTOBER 11, 2020 6 Months of Non-Spam Comments NOVEMBER 10, 2020 Catholic Bard Easy Access Portal December 26, 2020 Catholic Bard Easy Access Portal Part 2 MAY 12, 2021 Catholic Bard Easy Access Part 3 MAY 12, 2022 Why You Should Read The Catholic Bard FEBRUARY 10, 2021 2020 2020... Read more
150 Posts ago, The Catholic Bard published its first post. 150 years ago, Christmas was declared a federal holiday in the United States on June 26, 1870 in a bill signed by President Ulysses S. Grant. Not too long after that on… July 18, 1870– Pastor aeternus (“First Dogmatic Constitution on the Church of Christ”), was issued by the First Vatican Council. The document defines four doctrines of the Catholic faith: the apostolic primacy conferred on Peter, the perpetuity of... Read more
Merry Christmas from all of us at Patheos Catholic. Here are some Christmas thoughts from some of the various writers at our site. The monitor, it twinkled! My mood, it was merry! 🙂 But then “momma” saw all the “e’s,” and ’twas “hairy!” 🙁 When she grimaced and winced , and shook her fair head, {{{ >;-C }}} She gave me to know I had plenty to dread. :-O Then without a word, she left really quick, :-I —-> {?} And I was alone... Read more
Slanting eyes of blue, unweeping Stands my Swedish beauty where Gusts of Irish rain are sweeping Round the statue in the square; Corner boys against the walling Watch us furtively in vain, And the Angelus is calling Through Dungarvan in the rain John Betjeman, The Unionist’s farewell to Greta Hellastrom (1922) On the fourth Sunday in Advent we are reminded that Mary said “Yes” The Bible quotes it so well. In prayers, Songs even Old Testament prophets where hindsight is... Read more
There is more to Christmas than just Christ’s birth. It serves as the beginning of an epic, and Advent is the prologue whereby we prepare for the first spellbinding chapter. Avellina Balestri, And Thy Word Broke Their Swords: The Empowering Depth and Dimension of Christmas (December 19, 2016) OnePeterFive There is only so much time one has in the given 24 hours granted to us each day in order to enjoy all the various and splendid bits of creative writing... Read more
As we approach Christmas haulin’ through the snow at a frightening speed, Do we know that its’ Advent and Not Christmas? But regardless I want to Welcome you to my pre-Christmas post I’d like to write about all the things Your eyes and mind can see So hop aboard this article and Oh step into Christmas with me So let’s Haul out the holly Put up up some sparkly Christmas Movies before our spirits fall again It’s still advent and I... Read more
“Christmas is the time of year when people of all religions come together to worship Jesus Christ.”- Bart Simpson Keep Christ in Christmas. He is the reason for the Season. This is all very much true. But it’s also true that Christmas was not always widely celebrated in the splendor of all its holiday joy as it is today. In fact, …’’ It was actually illegal to celebrate Christmas in Massachusetts between 1659 and 1681 (the fine was five shillings).... Read more
Many of you may know about the major writing of Saint John of the Cross whose feast day we celebrate today. As a Secular Carmelite I have decided that for this post I will quote one of his lesser known and shorter works. You can use it as a reflection much like you would Lectio Divina. First a bit about him. He was born on June 24th, 1542 in Fontiveros, Spain. He died on December 14th, 1591 in Úbeda, Spain.... Read more
The busy things get busier The Spiritual things get more attention We are nearing Christmas The joy of the pink candle Our New Year has started Joy begets joy On the third Sunday in Advent Gaudete Sunday We have turned this celebration into a race to remember who to buy gifts for. We look for the best sales. Do we look for the very best buy? Jesus purchased our lives, our eternal lives for us by dying and rising for... Read more
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