26 August 2012

On Means of Grace

 

Church embraces also the Sacraments. To avoid that ambiguous and so often misused word of ecclesiastical Latin, we should say that Church embraces also Baptism, absolution, and the Lord’s Supper. However, one wants to name these things, whether one speaks of sacraments with the Latin Church or of mysteries with the Eastern Church, or whether one includes them with the Word in the collective term “means of grace,” one thing they all have in common : they have eschatological importance. The coming world is anticipated in them. They do not merely describe a divine, heavenly reality; they bestow right now a share in it. The forgiveness of sins, which we receive in Baptism and the absolution, is the anticipation of the acquittal in the Last Judgment. Our death and our resurrection to eternal life have begun already in our baptism (Roman 6:3-11). In the holy Supper Christ comes to us now and gives us a share in the “messianic” heavenly feast.

HERMAN SASSE, THIS IS MY BODY, P.358

02 August 2012

2012 Olympic Tribute To Victims of 7/7 Islamic Terrorist Attacks

Shame on NBC for for not airing this

29 July 2012

On Abba Agathon

It was said concerning Abba Agathon that some monks came to find him having heard tell of his great discernment. Wanting to see if he would lose his temper they said to him 'Aren't you that Agathon who is said to be a fornicator and a proud man?' 'Yes, it is very true,' he answered. They resumed, 'Aren't you that Agothon who is always talking nonsense?' 'I am." Again they said 'Aren't you Agothon the heretic?' But at that he replied 'I am not a heretic.' So they asked him, 'Tell us why you accepted everything we cast you, but repudiated this last insult.' He replied 'The first accusations I take to myself for that is good for my soul. But heresy is separation from God. Now I have no wish to be separated from God.' At this saying they were astonished at his discernment and returned, edified.

SAYINGS OF THE DESERT FATHERS, P.18

22 June 2012

On Incarnation

The mystery of the Incarnation, in which God draws near to us, also shows us the incomparable dignity of every human life. In his loving plan, from the beginning of creation, God has entrusted to the family founded on matrimony the most lofty mission of being the fundamental cell of society and an authentic domestic church. With this certainty, you, dear husbands and wives, are called to be, especially for your children, a real and visible sign of the love of Christ for the Church.

HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI

Santiago de Cuba, March 26, 2012

 

25 May 2012

Our Injustices

"The bread you do not use is the bread of the hungry. The garment hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of the person who is naked. The shoes you do not wear are the shoes of the one who is barefoot. The money you keep locked away is the money of the poor. The acts of charity you do not perform are the injustices you commit."

- St. Basil the Great

29 April 2012

A Homily of Gregory the Great

We should allow no misfortune to distract us from this happiness and deep joy; for if you are determined to reach the destination of you spiritual journey the roughness of the road will not deter you. Nor should the delights of material prosperity in this life ever entice you astray; only the foolish traveler, spotting a pleasant field on the way, forgets that he is en route to a greater destination.

13 April 2012

Easter Geetings