Image from the Waldburg Prayer Book (1476),showing the Coronation of Mary, and the Sacrifice of the Mass Stat crux dum volvitur orbis is the motto of the Carthusian religious order. It’s Latin for “The Cross is steady while the world is turning.” It’s a recognition that the Gospel is timeless and eternal. But the Gospel… Continue reading 5 New Testament Promises for the Church Today, Tomorrow, and Forever
Tag: Mary
If God Didn’t Exist, What Would You Do?
Antonello da Messina, Mary of the Annunciation (detail) (1475) If you could “get away with” any sin or sins that you wanted, what would you do? That is, imagine that God could somehow be distracted, that you didn’t have to worry about sin offending Him or being punished. Or alternatively, imagine that God didn’t exist:… Continue reading If God Didn’t Exist, What Would You Do?
Why Are Catholics So “Into” Mary?
Aureliano Milani, Expulsion of Adam and Eve (18th c.) Today’s post is for those Protestants who view the Church’s teachings on Mary as unnecessary and odd, rather than evil. There are a lot of you out there, and for good reason. Let’s be honest. If you’re not Catholic, or even if you’re a Catholic who… Continue reading Why Are Catholics So “Into” Mary?
The Early Church and the Virgin Mary: St. Gregory the Wonder-Worker
St. Gregory the Wonder-Worker (14th c. icon) In honor of the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, I thought I would share with you a glimpse into how the early Church viewed Mary. In particular, I want to share excerpts from a homily delivered by one of the great Saints of the early Church, St.… Continue reading The Early Church and the Virgin Mary: St. Gregory the Wonder-Worker
Rwanda and Forgiveness, Twenty Years On
The skull, Rosary, and belongings of a genocide victim,Genocide Memorial Center, Kigali, Rwanda. Twenty years ago today, the unthinkable occurred: a post-Holocaust genocide. On April 7th, 1994, in the east African nation of Rwanda, militant Hutus began a 100-day of terror, slaughtering countless Tutsis, along with Twa (Rwandan pygmies) and moderate Hutus. All told, an… Continue reading Rwanda and Forgiveness, Twenty Years On
Making Sense of One of the Most Shocking Verses in Scripture
James Tissot, Jesus Found in the Temple (1890) Yesterday’s Gospel has one of the most shocking verses in the New Testament, Luke 2:51, “And he [Jesus] went down with them [Mary and Joseph] and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.” Is there any… Continue reading Making Sense of One of the Most Shocking Verses in Scripture
The Virgin Mary and the Indwelling of the Holy Trinity
Mikhail Nesterov, The Annunciation (19th c.) Christ promises a sort of Trinitarian in-dwelling for those who persevere in love and obedience: “If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23). The Immaculate Virgin Mary… Continue reading The Virgin Mary and the Indwelling of the Holy Trinity
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
Numbering the Stars with a Fresh Pair of Eyes
The Gospel reading for this past Sunday is one of the more famous passages from the Book of Genesis. God tells Abram (a childless, 75-year-old man) to number the stars. When he can’t, God says, “And so shall your descendants be.” One of the things that makes this scene so captivating is that, for anyone… Continue reading Numbering the Stars with a Fresh Pair of Eyes
The Case for Calling Mary “Mother of God”
Modern Protestants often balk at Catholics referring to the Virgin Mary as “the Mother of God.” One Protestant apologetics website argues that “Mary most certainly isn’t the mother of God,” since “God is eternal, Mary was not.” The author concludes that calling Mary the Mother of God is thus “a serious blasphemy attacking the very… Continue reading The Case for Calling Mary “Mother of God”