This is the third part of a three part series reflecting upon the universal spiritual significance of love mysticism. For the first part, click here, for the second part, click here. Some of the greatest theological reflections on the mysticism of love is to be found in the Song of Songs, traditionally attributed to Solomon. Wisdom moved him; whatever failings he had in his life, he overcame them and was able to present his search and love for God through... Read more
This is the second part of a three part series reflecting upon the universal spiritual significance of love mysticism. For the first part, click here. We are moved by the great love stories which reflect the trials and tribulations of love, and in them, whether we realize it or not, our relationship with God is often being represented. From the tale of the Odysseus and his struggle to return home to is love, Penelope, to Psyche and Cupid, to Majnun... Read more
St. Augustine gifted us with one of his greatest and beloved insights at the beginning of his Confessions: Great are You, O Lord, and greatly to be praised; great is Your power, and of Your wisdom there is no end. And man, being a part of Your creation, desires to praise You, man, who bears about with him his mortality, the witness of his sin, even the witness that You “resist the proud,” — yet man, this part of Your... Read more
For the past several months, I have posted a series of reflections and contemplations based upon the Theotokos, Mary. In them, I have tried to reflect upon many of the questions some people have had in regards Catholic thought on Mary. Since I write as a Byzantine Catholic, I thought my Eastern sensibility might give insight that others have not heard or considered. Even if some of the reflections engage particular Western titles for Mary, such as Mediatrix of All... Read more
It can be said that many contemporary forms of atheism, with their constant desire to fight against God and all who believe in God, represent a rather new form of delusion, wherein the atheists argue with self-contradictory assertions that whatever their delusion presents to them is truth. Like all delusions, not everything they believe or think they experience necessarily is illusory; much of it develops out of a misinterpreted understanding of the truth hiding the truth which they do not... Read more
The Divine Artist stamped creation with his heavenly image: Golden seed, shaped and molded to resemble his visage. Look! How glorious, how beautiful, how pure and undefiled Without defect, without spot or stain, it is goodly styled. The gift given was thrown around, dropped in the mud, The work of art entirely encased in hideous  crud. Beaten around, broken down, tossed to and fro The new form hardens by the sun’s glorious inferno. What do we see but the exterior... Read more
Some brothers were coming from Scetis to see Abba Anthony. When they were getting into a boat to go there, they found an old man who also wanted to go there. The brothers did not know him. They sat in the boat, occupied by turns with the words of the Fathers, Scripture and their manual work. As for the old man, he remained silent. When they arrived on shore they found that the old man was going to the cell... Read more
One of the reasons many of us turn to the Ante-Nicene Fathers is that we want to learn what Christians believed and taught since the beginning of Christian history. Over time, it is easy to forget or neglect what they understood, and yet, since the transmission of the faith came to us through them, it is important for us to look to what they said and preached to make sure our faith lines up with theirs. This is not to... Read more
This is the fifth and last post in a series on the titles of Mediatrix of All Graces and Co-Redemptrix. To read the first post, click here, to read the second post, click here, to read the third, click here, and to read the fourth, click here. Many say that various prayers and devotions to Mary suggest we believe that Mary has done something for our salvation, that she is actively working for our salvation in a way which is... Read more
Some say of Saint Anthony that he was “Spirit-borne,” that is, carried along by the Holy Spirit, but he would never speak of this to men. Such men see what is happening in the world, as well as knowing what is going to happen.[1] Among the way people came to know the greatness of St. Anthony was that he had become filled with the Holy Spirit. In his humility, he did not speak of it. And yet the Holy Spirit... Read more
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