Don’t listen to anyone who tells you to worship idols, or nature, or even angels, says St. Augustine. God alone made all these things and they are nothing without him. Instead of worshiping angels, we should worship God as Creator of the angels. “All my bones shall say, O Lord, who is like you?” (Ps. 35:10). Who can say anything worthy of these words? I think they can only be pronounced, not explained. Why do you seek this or that? What is... Read more
Review by Julie Abell With all the books I have been reading in order to review them for you, you would think I would have the topic of this book down, but From Humdrum to Holy: A Step-by-Step Guide to Living Like a Saint by Fr. Ed Broom had me doing even more thinking…and doing! It seems that no matter how much one learns about being a disciple of Christ the more there is to learn. The material in this... Read more
Like many Christian interpreters, St. Augustine sees Psalm 24 as a description of Christ’s triumphal ascent into Heaven. Angels are powerful beings and have their role in managing the world, he says, but we don’t worship them. Only the Lord is King of Glory. “Who is this King of glory?” (Ps. 24:10). What, you too, “prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2)—you marvel and ask, “Who is this King of glory?” “The Lord of hosts, he is the King... Read more
As long as we’re sinners, says St. Augustine, we’re slaves to the devil and his angels. Our life on earth is a struggle against their dominion. The Lord sent his lambs into the midst of wolves—that is, righteous men into the midst of sinners, to preach the gospel received in the time of man from the inestimable divine Wisdom, so that he might call us from sin to righteousness. But what the Apostle says, that our struggle is not against flesh... Read more
Continuing his meditation on Job’s cursing the day he was born and the night he was conceived, St. Gregory the Great sees the curse as a renunciation of everything Satan offers to us. This holy man ( Job) mourned, in his own sorrows, the condition of the whole human race. He saw nothing that was in any way particular to himself in his own particular suffering. It’s very appropriate for him to bring back to mind the original cause of sin, and... Read more
St. Cyril of Jerusalem advises his students to memorize the creed word for word, and to keep it fresh in their memories all their lives. If you know your creed, he says, you know everything important about the Christian faith. But as a learner, and in your profession of faith, take and hold only that faith which the Church delivers to you, and which is established from all Scripture. Not everyone can read Scripture: some are uneducated, and others are too... Read more
St. Clement of Alexandria tells us that even the devil can speak the truth when it suits his purposes. It’s a hard thing to learn, but we have to judge the message by its content, not by the messenger. It’s true that the main purpose of the pruning hook is pruning. But we also use it to separate twigs that have got tangled, and to cut the thorns that have grown along with the vines when they’re not very easy to... Read more
This week we have an awesome TWO title giveaway! One lucky winner will receive a copy of Prayer in the Catholic Tradition: A Handbook of Practical Approaches by Robert J. Wicks, sponsored by Franciscan Media (you can read Michele’s review here) and one copy of The Cajun Storm: God’s Servant First by Jay Toups, sponsored by Hope and Life Press (you can read my review here). I use Rafflecopter to run my giveaways which makes it simple for you and me! The giveaway begins NOW... Read more
When asked for advice on dealing with a heretic who claimed to have revelations from angels, St. Augustine gave this sensible advice. If the angel is leading away from Catholic truth, it’s a false angel. But don’t despise him: instead, let him know how much you love him and want him back in the Church. The Apostle Paul says somewhere that even Satan transforms himself into an angel of light, so it is not strange that his servants should disguise them-... Read more
James (Jay) Toups brings to the forefront the struggles Louisiana faced in the days and months following what has become known as the Cajun Storm. Haven’t heard of it? Not surprising, as the media and government largely ignored the devastation wrought by this once in a thousand year flood that struck in August 2016. Jay writes about the tragedy and the triumph in his latest book The Cajun Storm: God’s Servant First. As I worked my way through this book... Read more
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