In addition to being Halloween, October 31st is “Reformation Day,” celebrating Martin Luther’s defiant act of nailing his 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, on this day in 1517 (more on this soon). For the last two years, I’ve used the day to point out the unintentional ironies of Reformation… Continue reading Two More “Reformation Day” Ironies
Tag: liturgical year
Ten Facts About the Assumption of Mary That You May Not Know
Today is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, one of the most important feasts of the year. Here are some facts of about today’s feast that you may not know: José Benlliure y Gil, Mass in the Chapel (1871) 1. Today is a Holy Day of Obligation: Outside of Sundays, American Catholics… Continue reading Ten Facts About the Assumption of Mary That You May Not Know
Ten Things I Learned in My First Year of Seminary
The past two weeks have been a whirlwind: classes ended, I had three papers and four finals, I went to Clear Creek Monastery for a few days, and four of our men were ordained deacons. As I make the transition from being in seminary to spending the summer at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, I wanted… Continue reading Ten Things I Learned in My First Year of Seminary
How Does Good Friday *Work*, Exactly?
Today, Christians celebrate Good Friday, recalling the Death of Christ on the Cross for our sins. Virtually all Christians agree that Christ’s Death is an atoning Sacrifice for our sins. But Catholics and Reformed Protestants understand the nature of that Sacrifice very differently. Is Christ’s Sacrifice on the Cross the outpouring of the Father’s wrath… Continue reading How Does Good Friday *Work*, Exactly?
The Father’s Two Sons: What the Prodigal Son Tells us About Divine Sonship
In Exodus 32, Moses has gone up on Mount Sinai to talk to God. Almost immediately after he left, the Israelites fall into idolatry, worshiping a golden calf (Ex. 32:1-6). God is displeased, and says to Moses, “Go down; for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves” (Ex. 32:7). Moses responds… Continue reading The Father’s Two Sons: What the Prodigal Son Tells us About Divine Sonship
Why March for Life?
For priests, religious, and seminarians, each morning begins the same way, with the praying of the Invitatory Psalm, the opening prayer of the first Hour of the day in the Liturgy of the Hours. Typically, that Psalm is Psalm 95. The version in the Breviary concludes this way: Offering to Molech (1897) Today, listen to… Continue reading Why March for Life?
Merry Christmas!
Guido Reni, The Adoration of the Shepherds (17th c.) And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his… Continue reading Merry Christmas!
It’s Time to Kill Santa
Thomas Nast, Santa Claus (1881) Today is Christmas Eve, and we’re at a turning point in the year. For Catholics, the Christmas season begins tomorrow with the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord. For secular culture, the Christmas season ends tomorrow, having begun last month around Thanksgiving. At the heart of this debate over… Continue reading It’s Time to Kill Santa
Two More Reformation Day Ironies
Last year, I compiled a list of three Reformation Day ironies. In a nutshell, they were that Reformation: (1) is celebrated by making graven images of Reformers who hated images;(2) is intended to Christianize a “pagan” holiday, yet is celebrated by many of the same Evangelicals who refuse to celebrate Christmas for fear that it’s… Continue reading Two More Reformation Day Ironies
What a Priestly Heart Looks Like
St. Isaac Jogues statue,Shrine of the North American Martyrs Today is the optional memorial of the North American Martyrs: Sts. Isaac Jogues and John de Brebeuf, and their companions, a group of truly heroic Jesuit martyrs. St. Isaac Jogues was influential in my vocational discernment. I knew next to nothing about him prior to winter 2010,… Continue reading What a Priestly Heart Looks Like