Review by Michele Craig The Velveteen Rabbit written by Margery Williams was published in 1922. That was 37 years before I was born, yet somehow Margery wrote that book for me. Before I could even read, I constantly begged my Grandmother to read that book to me….over and over and over again. I am not sure how much of it I actually understood, but that was not the point. The book- Margery Williams- understood me. Now- today- I have found... Read more
Christ above and below Christ, says St. Augustine, is both above in Heaven and below in us. If our eyes were opened, we could see the angels constantly ascending and descending. He who could do such great things was hungry and thirsty, was wearied, slept, was apprehended, beaten, crucified, slain. This is the way: walk in humility, that you may come to eternity. Christ as God is the country we want to go to; Christ the man is the Way... Read more
In Jacob’s ladder, with angels ascending and descending, St. Augustine sees an image of the good preacher, who goes up to learn the most exalted truths, and comes down to bring them to the simplest followers of Christ. What did Jacob see on the ladder? Angels ascending and descending. This, brethren, is what the Church is like. The angels of God are good preachers, preaching Christ. This is what it means when it says they ascend and descend upon the... Read more
Stacy A. Trasancos is a Catholic writer, scientist, teacher, and editor. She earned a bachelor’s degree in science from East Texas State University, a doctorate in chemistry from Penn State University and a master’s degree in dogmatic theology (summa cum laude) from Holy Apostles College and Seminary. She worked as research chemist for DuPont before becoming a full-time homemaker in 2003. Trasancos designed and was editor-in-chief of Ignitum Today (2011-2014) and serves as editor emeritus of Catholic Stand, which she cofounded. She is... Read more
Christ at Jacob’s head When Jacob saw his vision of angels on a ladder to Heaven, he was resting his head on a stone. That stone, says St. Augustine, is symbolically Christ. The patriarch Jacob had placed a stone at his head: sleeping with that stone at his head, he saw Heaven opened, and a ladder from Heaven to Earth, and angels ascending and descending; after this vision he awoke, anointed the stone, and departed (Gen. 28:11-18). In that stone he... Read more
Sleep with your head on a stone Jacob lay with his head on a stone, says St. Gregory the Great—and he saw angels (Gen. 28:11-22). The stone is Christ, and if we keep Christ in our thoughts, we will know wonderful truths even in our sleep. We certainly should observe here that someone who lays his head on a stone is someone who sees angels in his sleep. Surely it is because whoever tries to imitate our Redeemer with all his... Read more
Anointing the stone When Jacob had his vision of the angels on the ladder, he anointed the stone at his head. Why? Because, says St. Augustine, the stone is a figurative representation of Christ, which means “anointed.” So the Lord goes on to say, “Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.” What greater things does he mean? “And he said to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say... Read more
This week we have another TWO titles to give away! One lucky winner will receive a copy of Particles of Faith by Stacy A. Trasancos, sponsored by Ave Maria Press (you can read Julie’s review here) and one copy of Autumn Meditations by Father John Bartunek, sponsored by Liguori Publications (you can read my review here). I use Rafflecopter to run my giveaways which makes it simple for you and me! Enter below. a Rafflecopter giveaway Read more
The strange case of Sodom The unnatural lust of the Sodomites, says St. Ephrem the Syrian, was only possible because they thought the angels were human. What can we say about someone who knows that God is God, yet treats God as if he were a creature? With brightness, glorious though borrowed, the angels entered into So- dom. They saw the brightness that was fairer than all, and they were frantic, old men and young. The fire of the Most High... Read more
One of my favorite things this year has been the passing of the seasons. However, my reasoning is likely not what you might expect to hear. As certainly as the seasons have passed from spring, to summer, to winter we have been blessed with a series of meditation books from Father John Bartunek. I have reviewed Spring Meditations, Summer Meditations and now we have Autumn Meditations. As with the other installments in the series this book contains twelve chapters. Ideally... Read more
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