Citizens of the United States, there is one big question which lies before you. Trump or Clinton, who are you going to vote for? Or, will you choose some third party candidate because you can’t stand the GOP and DNC Candidates? Perhaps you will choose to be a heretic and do the unthinkable and not vote, feeling, as a result the wrath of all others who will tell you that as a consequence of your choice, you have no right... Read more
While some might agree that Mary is holy, a special woman who deserves to be honored, they wonder whether or not popular piety towards her is misdirected. That is, they can understand calling her the Mother of God, they can understand God giving her a special role in history, but they cannot understand how she is entreated now that she is in heaven. Because of this they ask why would a Christian ever petition for her help for some earthly... Read more
The brothers praised a monk before Abba Anthony. When the monk came to see him, Anthony wanted to know how he would bear insults; and seeing that he could not bear them at all, he said to him: ‘You are like a village magnificently decorated on the outside, but easily destroyed within by robbers.’[1] Pride is one of the greatest spiritual dangers which we face. When we do something good, the flattery which we receive becomes a test. Do we... Read more
“I was tempted by the devil,” she said. “Milly, please be sensible.” “Saints have been tempted by the devil.” “You are not a saint.” “Exactly. That’s why I fell.” – Graham Greene, Our Man in Havana. The internet comment box is a place of great spiritual danger. Anger, resentment, detraction, calumny, pride, hatred, and the like, are all temptations which emerge when writing a reply to a blog post, facebook comment, tweet or a news story. We might begin with... Read more
This is the fourth and last post on a series discussing the veneration of Mary. For the first part, click here and for the second part, click here, and here for the third. Our exploration of some of the objections raised against the veneration of Mary and the saints, objections which tend to come from a misunderstanding of the Ten Commandments, has set the stage for us to explore and better understand the veneration which is given to Mary and... Read more
From time to time in history we find a consistent, though far from universal, misapplication of the creation story in Genesis led to the belief that women were made ontologically inferior to men because of how they were created: So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh; and the rib which the LORD God had taken from the man... Read more
When ordering a book from an Amazon affiliate, I never know exactly what I will get. Most of the time the description of the quality and condition of the text is met or exceeded when the book arrives. Sometimes, the quality of the text is less than expected, but if I did not pay too much for the book, I grumble a bit but do not complain so long as it is close to what I expected. Occasionally the quality... Read more
This is the third post on a series discussing the veneration of Mary. For the first part, click here and for the second part, click here. Central to a proper understanding the Mosaic Law is to see how it pointed to and prefigured Christ, representing him in symbolic form. The letter of the law, which had value in a particular time and place, was not meant to be universalized. It must not be seen as if it were the presentation... Read more
Violence begets violence, hate begets hate, Morning or night, early or late, The sword is answered by the sword, Gun by gun, bomb by bomb, fury is lord. Hear now the loud cry of the oppressed By love alone can the wounds be dressed. Christ on the cross is killed again and again In every innocent demolished by social sin. Stop. Pause. Change now your path, It is time to end the bloodbath. Love the Lord thy God with all... Read more
He also said, ‘Our Life and our death is with our neighbour. If we gain our brother, we have gained God, but if we scandalise our brother, we have sinned against Christ.’[1] St. Anthony the Great went to the desert to fight against temptation, to make war against the passions, and yet he knew that all of his ascetic labor was as nothing if he, in the process, did not fulfill the great commandment to love. He knew the truth... Read more
Select your answer to see how you score.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In