“So filled with love that it should overflow”

“Christians, have we understood the great responsibility that we have taken on before God through baptism? Have we come to know that we must conduct ourselves as children of God, that we must align our will with the will of God, that we must remain free from sin, that we must love God with all our hearts and always patiently await union with Him? Have we thought about the fact that our heart should be so filled with love that it should overflow to our neighbor? Do we have the feeling that we must become holy and perfect, children of God and heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven? We must struggle for this, so that we may not be shown unworthy and rejected. Let none of us lose our boldness, nor neglect our duties, nor be afraid of the difficulties of spiritual struggle. For we have God as a helper, who strengthens us in the difficult path of virtue.”

St. Nektarios of Aegina (1846-1920), The Path to Happiness, 2

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The irreplaceable Robert Boylan offers up some good materials on the historicity of Jesus — that is, against the notion that Jesus is a fictional character, which, while it has won no real place in academia has somehow become rather popular among some agnostics and atheists:

“Powerpoints on the Historical Jesus”

“Larry Hurtado on the Problems of the ‘Mythical Jesus'”

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Some have asked about different means of donating to the Interpreter Foundation.  I’m happy to provide an answer:

“Donating to The Interpreter Foundation”

Please understand that, while giving through PayPal is very convenient, PayPal deducts a portion of each donation as a transaction fee.

But — believe me! — we need and welcome support however it arrives.

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For Day 4 of the “Light the World” campaign:

“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself”

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And now for a piece of sheer heavenly beauty — the male a cappella ensemble Chanticleer performing Franz Biebl’s setting of Ave Maria:

Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae
et concepit de Spiritu sancto.

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus,
Et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus, Jesus.

Maria dixit: Ecce ancilla Domini.
Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus,
Et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus, Jesus.

Et Verbum caro factum est
et habitavit in nobis.

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus,
Et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus, Jesus.

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae.
Amen. Amen. Amen.

My translation:

The Angel of the Lord spoke unto Mary,
And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.

“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.”

Mary said, “Behold the handmaiden of the Lord.
Be it unto me according to thy word.”

“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.”

And the Word became flesh
And dwelt among us.

“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.”

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and in the hour of our death. Amen.