Arthur’s Tintagel Rediscovered: Archaeological Evidence of an Ancient British Palace

Last updated on: August 4, 2016 at 9:26 am By David Russell Mosley

David Russell Mosley Ordinary Time 4 August 2016 The Edge of Elfland Hudson, New Hampshire Dear Readers, If you haven’t heard the news, there have been new archaeological discoveries at Tintagel in Cornwall, UK. For those who don’t know, Tintagel was a place of prominence in Arthurian legend. According to Geoffrey of Monmouth’s account, Tintagel was a palace kept by Gorlois. Uther Pendragon besieged the palace, due in part for his love for Gorlois’ wife, Igraine. After defeating Gorlois, and... Read more

Anglophilia: Bake Off, Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, River Cottage, and the Local Church

Last updated on: May 6, 2017 at 12:16 pm By David Russell Mosley

David Russell Mosley Ordinary Time 3 August 2016 The Edge of Elfland Hudson, New Hampshire Dear Readers, Most of you have probably figured out by now that I’m something of an anglophile. You’ve also probably figured out that I’m something of a romanticizer, that is, I tend to romanticize things quite often. Knowing this about myself is important. It helps me keep from building things up in my mind so much that I’m disappointed by the reality. Still, after a... Read more

Overcoming Evil with the Common and the Ordinary: Reflections on Harry Potter and G.K. Chesterton

Last updated on: August 2, 2016 at 9:20 am By David Russell Mosley

David Russell Mosley Ordinary Time 2 August 2016 The Edge of Elfland Hudson, New Hampshire Dear Readers, As you know, I have been reading my way through the Harry Potter series again this summer. I have just finished reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Initially, this book, with all its wizard angst and misunderstood Harry made it a lesser favorite with me. However, on this read, I couldn’t help sympathizing with Harry more. I have always loved... Read more

The Christian Festival of Lammas: Alison Milbank, Bread, and the Church Year

Last updated on: May 6, 2017 at 12:18 pm By David Russell Mosley

David Russell Mosley Ordinary Time Lammas The Edge of Elfland Hudson, New Hampshire Dear Readers, Somehow, I missed the fact that today is Lammas, despite just having done a post that included the below video about it! Fortunately, the pagans here at Patheos were able to remind me. So, I thought I would re-share Alison Milbank’s excellent video explaining to you the Christian festival of Lammas or Loaf Mass, a celebration of the first loaf of bread made for the... Read more

The Flammarion Engraving: Reflecting on One of My Favorite Images, Light in the Midst of Darkness

Last updated on: August 1, 2016 at 10:35 am By David Russell Mosley

David Russell Mosley Ordinary Time 1 August 2016 The Edge of Elfland Hudson, New Hampshire Dear Readers, Those who have been reading these letters for a while will know that I frequently use this image (colorized or not). I’ve always been fascinated by it. So, about a year ago, I decided to do some research into the image. I wanted to know from whence it came. It’s history is interesting. The image seems to first appear in L’atmosphère: description des... Read more

My First Book is Available for Pre-Order: Being Deified: Poetry and Fantasy on the Path to God

Last updated on: July 30, 2016 at 10:49 am By David Russell Mosley

David Russell Mosley Ordinary Time 30 July 2016 The Edge of Elfland Hudson, New Hampshire Dear Readers, I hope you will forgive this moment of blatant self-promotion. All I can really say about that is it will get much worse once my novel is available. While you wait for my novel, however, consider spending an awful lot of money to buy my PhD thesis Being Deified: Poetry and Fantasy on the Path to God. You can find it available for pre-order... Read more

The Church and the Village: The Blessing of the Beer and Other Agricultural Festivals

Last updated on: May 6, 2017 at 12:17 pm By David Russell Mosley

David Russell Mosley Ordinary Time 27 July 2016 The Edge of Elfland Hudson, New Hampshire Dear Readers, This morning as I was scrolling through Facebook, I came across on article from the Croydon Guardian entitled, “Ale Mary: Croydon Minster to revive medieval tradition of blessing beer.” Friends of mine will know that I am fairly passionate about my beer and wine (and scotch and recently bourbon, ok, I like a good alcoholic beverage shared with friends, and good food). So,... Read more

The Blood of Martyrs, the Blood of the Eucharist: Saint Stephen and Fr. Jacques Hamel

Last updated on: July 26, 2016 at 3:06 pm By David Russell Mosley

David Russell Mosley Ordinary Time Sts. Anne and Joachim The Edge of Elfland Hudson, New Hampshire Dear Readers, I don’t normally do two posts in a day, but I was just made aware of the attacks that took place in France so very recently. Fr. Jacques Hamel who was celebrating the Eucharist had his throat cut. “His blood,” as Mary Pezzulo has written, “his blood is still wet and his congregation still bleeding.” She warns us not to be glib... Read more

On Being Adopted: The Joys and Pains of One Man’s Ongoing Experience

Last updated on: July 26, 2016 at 2:02 pm By David Russell Mosley

David Russell Mosley Ordinary Time Sts. Anne and Joachim The Edge of Elfland Hudson, New Hampshire Dear Readers, I wanted to write to you about a touchy subject. I doubt it will be as inflammatory as my letter to you on race, but this letter may stir up some emotions. I want to write to you about being adopted. Specifically, I want to tell you what my experience has been like. I honestly don’t know how it feels for others.... Read more

How the Midwest Formed My Imagination: A Reflection on My First Visit to My Hometown in Five Years

Last updated on: July 24, 2016 at 3:02 pm By David Russell Mosley

David Russell Mosley Ordinary Time Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time The Edge of Elfland Hudson, New Hampshire Dear Readers, Last week my family got a chance to do something we haven’t done in five years. We visited my home state of Illinois. While travelling with twin two year olds might really warrant its own letter, I want to focus instead on how living in the Midwest helped form my imagination. As my dad drove us down from Chicago to... Read more