… and Itzhak Perlman a sound I’ve always enjoyed, in various forms. Read more

Act of Dedication of the Human Race to Jesus Christ King A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful, who piously recite the Act of Dedication of the Human Race to Jesus Christ King. A plenary indulgence is granted, if it is recited publicly on the feast of our Lord Jesus Christ King. Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before you. We are yours, and yours we wish to be; but to... Read more

“It has long been a common custom to give to Christ the metaphorical title of “King,” because of the high degree of perfection whereby he excels all creatures. So he is said to reign “in the hearts of men,” both by reason of the keenness of his intellect and the extent of his knowledge, and also because he is very truth, and it is from him that truth must be obediently received by all mankind. He reigns, too, in the... Read more

Collect: Lord of mercy, be close to those who call upon you. With Saint Cecilia to help us hear and answer our prayers. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Read more

Lelio Orsi c.1555, St. Cecilia and Valerian with angel Cecilia led a life of prayer and meditation and had vowed lifelong virginity, but a youth by the name of Valerian, relying upon the approval of her parents, hoped to marry her. When the wedding night arrived, she confided to Valerian, “There is a secret, Valerian, I wish to tell you. I have as a lover an angel of God who jealously guards my body.” Valerian promised to believe in Christ... Read more

Raphael, St. Cecilia with Saints Read more

Rubens, St. Cecilia Read more

…the angels were struck with amazement, seeing how the Virgin entered into the Holy of Holies. The theme of the feast and the Icon of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple is that this historic event marks the end of the physical Temple of the Old testament and is the beginning of the salvation plan for all humanity. Mary is the new Temple or tabernacle of the presence of God. She is the first to be a “Temple... Read more

Titian c.1534, Presentation of Mary Read more

… David @ CSL writes in response to the below post: “We have elected a material messiah who promises to give us every material thing we could ever want. However, there is just this one catch. We must offer our collective sons and daughters to Molech in exchange. The messiah cannot do his miracles of wealth redistribution unless we make this sacrificial offering to his god…and we have done it. I wonder if we have gone so far now as... Read more