What does it mean when Luke says that the child Jesus “increased in wisdom and stature”? St. Athanasius says that the Word of God could not grow any more perfect; but the human body grew, and as Jesus grew older the people around him understood his wisdom more and more. “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52). If he “increases” in being the Word, what more can he become than Word... Read more
They say good things come in small packages. I’d like to add that powerful books come in small page counts. Such is the case with a book I recently read called Help for Suffering Humanity: Mary, Help of Christians by the Rosary Doctor, Brian Kiczek. What he has done to promote the numerous ways in which the Blessed Virgin Mary has helped, and continues to help mankind in just a short 75 pages is nothing short of remarkable. He leads... Read more
In a hymn for the Christmas vigil, St. Ephrem the Syrian expresses his astonishment that angels and archangels joined with human beings to praise Christ. In our Christmas hymns, we are the companions of the Seraphim. On his feast day, let us tell of the birth of the First-Born. On his day, he gives us secret comforts. If the wicked king at his feast, in memory of his own birthday, gave the gift of wrath, the head (of John the... Read more
Last March well-known EWTN host Raymond Arroyo released a book that some, including myself, were not expecting. We have come used to seeing Raymond pen books about and with his dear friend Mother Angelica. This book, however, was a new territory for Raymond and even an entirely new target audience. The book is entitled Will Wilder: The Relic of Perilous Falls and is aimed at those in the pre-teen to the teenage bracket. The book has received much praise and... Read more
As the psalm says, not just an angel, not just a host of angels, but the Lord of all the angels is with us—the Lord who came to make us equal to the angels. What can we possibly fear, St. Augustine asks, if we have the Lord himself on our side? The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge (Ps. 46:7). Not any man, not any power, not, in short, an angel, or any creature... Read more
St. Ephrem the Syrian meditates on what it meant for the Lord of all to be a human child. Even as a baby crawling on the floor, Christ was in command of all the multitudes of angels. When it bore him, the sea was calm. How could the lap of Joseph bear him? The womb of hell conceived him and burst open. How could the womb of Mary contain him? He broke open the stone that was over his grave by his might.... Read more
Gina Loehr is a popular author and inspirational speaker, a theologian and the mother of six. In 2013 Gina was chosen as one of one hundred women from around the world to be a delegate for the Pontifical Council for the Laity’s study seminar on women and the Church. A frequent guest on national Catholic radio programs on EWTN, Relevant Radio, and Ave Maria Radio, Gina’s other books include Choosing Beauty: A 30-Day Spiritual Makeover for Women and Real Women, Real Saints: Friends... Read more
Christ, says St. Cyril of Alexandria, takes away the sin that came between us and the Father. Now we can have the same peace that the angels know in Heaven—the peace the angels proclaimed to the shepherds when Jesus Christ was born. So do not look upon him who was laid in the manger merely as a baby, but in our poverty see him who as God is rich, and in the measure of our humanity him who excels the inhabitants... Read more
The birth of Christ, says St. John Chrysostom, is simply the best news ever. In an instant the world is changed, and we’re made close friends with the angels. What news could ever be as good as this? God on Earth—man in Heav- en—and all mixed together: angels joined the choirs of men; men had fellowship with the angels, and with the other powers above! We see the long war ended, and God and our nature reconciled—the devil brought to shame,... Read more
When a priest at your parish church preaches Christ, says St. Cyril of Alexandria, he joins his voice to the voices of the original shepherds, who learned the good news of Christ’s coming from the angels themselves. The company of the holy prophets had foretold that, in due time, he would be born in the flesh, and that he would put on our likeness. Now that this hope had been fulfilled, the rational powers of Heaven brought the happy news... Read more
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