Just as you’d rather have gold than fleas, even though fleas are higher on the scale of creation than gold, it’s far better to be a good person than a bad angel, says St. Augustine. Among existing beings that are not of God the Creator’s essence, those that have life are ranked above those that have none; those that have the power of generation, or even of desiring, above those that lack it. And, among things that have life, those... Read more
In case you missed this weekend’s show check out the link below to hear the archived podcast. James Day and I discuss his book on Pope Benedict XVI Father Benedict: The Spiritual and Intellectual Legacy of Pope Benedict XVI from Sophia Institute Press. You can listen to the show below or download it here. Read more
Angels protecting Lot struck the men who would attack him blind, so that they could not find their way into his house. This, says St. Gregory the Great, is a good metaphor for the good deeds of the righteous, which strike their enemies blind so that they cannot find an opening of wickedness anywhere. “They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope at noonday as in the night” ( Job 5:14). The day of good deeds shines outwardly in a... Read more
The Holy Spirit is called the Comforter, says St. Cyril of Jerusalem, because he does exactly that. How can the martyrs face horrible tortures without blinking? Because the Spirit has whispered in their ears, reminding them that they will soon be with the angels. And the Spirit is called the Comforter, because he comforts us, and encourages us. Often a man is outraged, dishonored, and hurt for Christ’s sake. Tortures on every side—fire and sword—savage beasts—the deep pit. But the Holy... Read more
If you’re a Christian, says St. John Chrysostom, no one can really hurt you—not even the devil himself. But more than that, you can’t hurt anyone else. Listen to me! I testify, and proclaim with a loud voice, more piercing even than the sound of a trumpet—and if it were possible to rise up on high and cry aloud, I would not shrink from doing it—no one of all the human beings that inhabit the earth has the power to hurt... Read more
In the Bible’s most famous talking-animal story, Balaam is riding to curse Israel, but his ass sees an angel in the way, though Balaam doesn’t. Sickness, says St. Gregory the Great, may be your angel in the way, stopping you from sinning and turning your mind back to God. Remind the sick to think about how great health of the heart is in bodily suffering, which brings the mind back to knowing itself, and renews the memory of infirmity, which health... Read more
When misfortunes strike us, says St. Gregory the Great, we’re very likely to despair—a tendency represented by the bad advice of Job’s wife. But we need to remember that our sufferings can be useful in bringing us back to the right path. “Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God, and die’” ( Job 2:9). The wife, with her bad advice, is the carnal thought that prods at the mind. It often happens (as I’ve... Read more
This week one lucky winner will receive a copy of Station to Station: An Ignatian Journey through the Stations of the Cross by Gary Jansen (you can read my review of the book here) sponsored by Loyola Press. I use Rafflecopter to run my giveaways which makes it simple for you and me. The contest begins now and ends next Wednesday 3/22 with a winner chosen later that day, enter below! a Rafflecopter giveaway Read more
St. Basil the Great replies to those who would make the Holy Spirit something less than God. They argue that the angels are sometimes also mentioned together with the Father and the Son; but St. Basil says that, in those cases, the angels are called as witnesses, as fellow servants under the same Lord. Some people object that other beings mentioned along with the Father and the Son are certainly not always glorified together with them. The Apostle, for instance, in... Read more
In case you missed this weekend’s show check out the link below to hear the archived podcast. Gary Jansen and I discuss the his book on the scriptural Stations of the Cross Station to Station: An Ignatian Journey through the Stations of the Cross. We also touch upon prayer and another book Gary has written The 15-Minute Prayer Solution: How One Percent of Your Day Can Transform Your Life. You can stream the episode below or download it here. Read more
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