Life Lessons: Fifty Things I Learned in My First Fifty Years is a personal testimony of life written by Patrick Madrid. He takes fifty stories from throughout his life and uses them as examples for everyday living. Sprinkled with laughter, tears, joy and sadness Patrick has produced a tome of life lessons all can benefit from. From the introduction: God loves you just the way you are, but he loves you too much to let you stay. If that little... Read more
Praise and be silent The Seraphim and the Cherubim will not even look on God, says St. Ephrem the Syrian, though they stand by his throne and carry his chariot. We should learn from their example to praise God unceasingly, and not to second-guess what we have learned about God. The Seraph that flies with wings is too weak to search You out. His wing is weak compared to You; it cannot be compared with your majesty. The Seraph whose voice... Read more
Review by Julie Abell I literally jumped at the chance to read and review the book, Marry Him and Be Submissive by Costanza Miriano, an Italian journalist living in Rome who is married with four children. It was a hit in Italy where it was published in 2013. It was just translated into English and is hitting the US book stores now. It caused an uproar in Spain and I don’t doubt it will do something similar here in the... Read more
Thrice holy, one Lord Making an argument we hear more than once from the Fathers, St. Ambrose tells us that the “Holy, holy, holy” sung by the Seraphim (Isa. 6:3) indicates the Trin– ity: thrice holy, one Lord. If that is the way the powers of Heaven worship, he says, then that is the way he will worship. The Seraphim say “Holy, holy, holy.” What does it mean, speaking the same name “Holy” three times? And if it’s repeated three times,... Read more
The Seraphim surround Christ in the flesh Jesus was born in humble circumstances, but the eye of faith, says St. Methodius of Olympus, can see the tiny child surrounded by the glorious Seraphim even in the manger. Look! As a throne, lifted up on high by the glory of God who made it, the virgin mother is made ready, clearly for the King, the Lord of hosts. Think of the Lord coming to you now in sinful flesh! On this... Read more
MICHELE: Reading Seasons in My Garden has truly been a spiritual adventure for me-poetry and prayer in every sentence…. as well as leading me to more adventures in my garden- I so enjoyed learning about David Austin roses, that I hope to add some to my garden! You mentioned in your book that you loved nature since childhood… what led you from that ease of enjoying nature “as is” to “formalize” (if you will) that love into the creation of... Read more
The Trinity in the hymn of the Seraphim “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts,” we sing with the Seraphim (Isa. 6:3). St. Ambrose sees a proclamation of the Trinity in that heavenly hymn. The Father is holy. The Son is holy. The Spirit is holy. But they are not three holies. There is only one Holy God, one Lord. The true holiness is one, as the true Godhead is one. The true holiness of the divine nature is one.... Read more
The face of God is the angels’ Scripture We read God’s Word in the Bible. But the angels, says St. Augustine, read the will of God directly, without sounding out syllables, and this eternal Scripture is always before them. Let us look, Lord, “at your heavens, the work of your fingers.” Clear from our eyes the mist with which you have covered them. Let them praise your name, those people above the heavens, your angels, who have no need to look up... Read more
The Seraphim declare the Trinity Arguing against the Arians, who insisted that the Son was not equal to the Father, St. Athanasius—the great defender of orthodoxy—says that the angelic hymn “Holy, holy, holy” proves the equality of the Persons of the Trinity. It is a hymn we offer with the angels whenever we go to Mass. How can these ungodly men dare to speak such foolishness, when—since they’re only men—they can’t even figure out how things on earth work? But why... Read more
This week we have TWO titles to give away! One lucky winner will receive a copy of Seasons in My Garden by Sister Elizabeth Wagner sponsored by Ave Maria Press (you can read Michele’s review here) and one copy of A Call to Mercy by Mother Teresa and sponsored by Image Catholic Books (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
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