The Annunciation (1898), by Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859-1937) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * * [written in the wee hours of 7 December 2015] * * * I am the archangel Gabriel, privileged to stand in the presence of the Lord. [1] When Zechariah fathered John the Baptist; I explained to him John’s role. [2] To holy Daniel of old I prophesied about 70 weeks and empires of the sword. [3] The entire landscape of history from beginning to end; all... Read more
St. Nicholas Byzantine icon from the Chapel of the Holy Trinity at Theological School of Chalki, Heybeliada Turkey. Photo by “Lapost”: 11 July 2005 [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license] (12-8-12) My name is St. Nicholas; and from the 4th century I do hail; I was Bishop of Myra, on the southwestern coast of Turkey. I spent time in the Holy Land, and also in Diocletian’s jails; Fought the Arian heretics at Nicaea, but my history is murky. * *... Read more
Anti-Catholics repeatedly fail to understand how language is used. *** 2 Peter 1:3-4 (RSV) His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, [4] by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature. Romans 5:2 Through him... Read more
Original Title: Variant Postures for Worship & Reception of Holy Communion: the Biblical Data, & Cultural Factors Communion rails from St. Martin’s Church (Thompson, Norfolk), built in the 15th century. The rails were installed by Archbishop of Canterbury William Laud in 1630. Photo by Bill Sibley: 1 March 2008 [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license] (1-23-13) This article has been re-uploaded under the title, Bible on Reverent Posture for Worship & Communion. *** Read more
The Annunciation, by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * * This is from my first book, A Biblical Defense of Catholicism (1996), pp. 194-199. * * * * * Scriptural Evidence: The Perpetual Virginity of Mary The Greek word for brother in the New Testament is adelphos. The well-known Protestant linguistic reference An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words [by W. E. Vine], defines it as follows: Adelphos: denotes a brother, or near kinsman; in the plural, a community based on identity... Read more
Here are many biblical instances (both explicit and undeniable and likely, plausible, but not indisputable examples) of God sharing His glory with men or (to put it another way) giving them glory, too. * * * * * Psalm 8:5 Yet thou hast made him little less than God, and dost crown him with glory and honor. * Psalm 149:4-5, 9 For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory. [5] Let the faithful exult in glory; let them... Read more
Original title: “Orans” Posture and Hand-Holding During the “Our Father” Are Against the Rubrics (Instructions) for the Mass Photo by B Hartford J Strong (11-30-08) [Flickr / CC BY 2.0 license] (7-7-08) * * * * * Colin B. Donovan, STL, over at the EWTN website, states that the “orans’ posture in the congregation (arms outstretched in a “praying” or adoration position) is contrary to the rubrics: The liturgical use of this position by the priest is spelled out in the rubrics... Read more
[Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license] (11-20-08) This article has been re-uploaded, with revised links, under the same title. *** Read more
Part of our Dept. 56 “Dickens Village” (2013) * * * Compiled in December 2005. Primary (But Not Exclusive) Sources: The Hymns and Carols of Christmas (remarkable website from Douglas D. Anderson; all fact sheets and midi sound files are linked to from this site. Web page most used: The Hymns and Carols) MusicExpert.com: Christmas: Complete Lyrics for 200 Songs —– red-colored songs = secular or not overtly-Christian in theme —– —– current number of carols and songs: 135 —– Master Alphabetical Listing Ah, Bleak... Read more
Book of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus, first chapter, German translation: anonymous artist 1654 [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] (12-1-08) * * * John Calvin rejected the deuterocanonical books (also known by Protestants as “the apocrypha“) as part of Holy Scripture. See, for example: Antidote to the Council of Trent (Session Four), Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book I, Chapter 8, Section 10, Book III, Chapter 5, Section 8, and Book IV, Chapter 9, Section 14. His written record, however, is not without its inconsistencies when it comes to particular... Read more
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