Tag: prayer

The Beauty of Tenebrae

Tenebrae Hearse I went to Tenebrae last night at the Dominican House of Studies.  If you’re not familiar, it’s a beautiful way of reflecting upon the death of Christ.  Here’s how Wikipedia explains it: The principal Tenebrae ceremony is the gradual extinguishing of candles upon a stand in the sanctuary called a hearse.[2] Eventually the Roman… Continue reading The Beauty of Tenebrae

Lenten Prayer Before the Crucifix

A plenary indulgence is offered on Fridays in Lent (like today) for the Christian faithful who piously pray the below prayer in front of a Crucifix, after Communion: BEHOLD, O good and sweetest Jesus, I cast myself upon my knees in Thy sight,and with the most fervent desire of my soul I pray and beseech… Continue reading Lenten Prayer Before the Crucifix

Bringing Our Loved Ones to Christ

A couple Sundays ago, the Gospel was Mark 2:1-12, James Tissot,The Paralyzed Man Let Down through the Roof (1894) When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them.  They… Continue reading Bringing Our Loved Ones to Christ

Ash Wednesday Motivation

Morning Prayer this morning in the Liturgy of the Hours contained a particularly beautiful prayer for Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent: Grant, O Lord,that we may begin with holy fasting this campaign of Christian service, so that, as we take up battle against spiritual evils, we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint.… Continue reading Ash Wednesday Motivation

Is it Idolatry to say that Mary Saves Us?

A Protestant friend e-mailed me, troubled by something he’d read in an article about the Rosary, in which the author said: The will of the Blessed Virgin is completely conformed to that of Her Son, in other word – God. She is the most humble and chaste spouse of the Holy Ghost and will never… Continue reading Is it Idolatry to say that Mary Saves Us?

Day of Prayer and Fasting

Ary Scheffer, The Temptation of Christ (1854) Some of the Catholics in the Diocese of Arlington called for today to be a special Day of Prayer and Fasting in solidarity with the US Bishops against the HHS mandate. It’s a very good idea. If you can’t do a traditional fast today (two small meals and… Continue reading Day of Prayer and Fasting

Is Prayer to the Saints Pointless?

In my experience, Catholic-Protestant dialogues about praying to Saints tend to have two steps. In the first stage, prayer to the Saints is viewed as something suspect, or even evil. In the second stage, prayer to the Saints seems harmless, but also pointless.  Let’s address each stage in turn.   Is Prayer to the Saints… Continue reading Is Prayer to the Saints Pointless?

March for Life 2012, Byzantine-Style

Today is the March for Life.  While much of the press (local and national) ignores the March, our local NBC affiliate did a good job covering the basics: Monday marks the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that removed many state and federal restrictions on abortion.  Thousands will gather in the… Continue reading March for Life 2012, Byzantine-Style

Does the Bible Condemn Repetitive Prayer?

One of the common arguments raised against Catholic devotions like the Rosary is that Catholics are praying the same few form prayers over and over again, and Scripture condemns repetitive prayer. After all, in Matthew 6:7, Christ says, “And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they… Continue reading Does the Bible Condemn Repetitive Prayer?