26 January 2025
The primary and exclusive aim of the liturgy is not the expression of
the individual's reverence and worship for God. It is not even concerned with
the awakening, formation, and sanctification of the individual soul as such.
Nor does the onus of liturgical action and prayer rest with the individual. It
does not even rest with the collective groups, composed of numerous
individuals, who periodically achieve a limited and intermittent unity in their
capacity as the congregation of a church. The liturgical entity consists rather
of the united body of the faithful as such-- the Church--a body which
infinitely outnumbers the mere congregation.
Romano Gardini
A Unity of Outlook
25 January 2025
There is one work because there is one mystery, there is one baptism because there was one death for the world. There is a unity of outlook cannot be separate.
St. Ambrose of Milan
There is one work because there is one mystery, there is one baptism because there was one death for the world. There is a unity of outlook cannot be separate.
St. Ambrose of Milan
On Forgiveness
24 January 2025
Forgiveness is not the comfortable, often somewhat superior, "I forgive you" that comes so easily to human lips when emotions are cooled. Things are then smoothed over but the resentment descendants into the unconscious together with a hidden condition that the "forgiven" injury shall not be repeated. The ultimate experience of forgiveness brings a change of heart, a mentanoia of the spirit, after which every seeming injury, injustice, rejection, past, present, future, every so-called blow of fate, becomes, as it were, a essential note in the music of God, however discontent it may sound to our superficial hearing. And the experience excludes nothing -- which means that in this moment of forgiveness all one's sins and weaknesses are included, being at the same time remembered and known as the essential darkness which has revealed to us the light.
Helen M. Luke
Forgiveness is not the comfortable, often somewhat superior, "I forgive you" that comes so easily to human lips when emotions are cooled. Things are then smoothed over but the resentment descendants into the unconscious together with a hidden condition that the "forgiven" injury shall not be repeated. The ultimate experience of forgiveness brings a change of heart, a mentanoia of the spirit, after which every seeming injury, injustice, rejection, past, present, future, every so-called blow of fate, becomes, as it were, a essential note in the music of God, however discontent it may sound to our superficial hearing. And the experience excludes nothing -- which means that in this moment of forgiveness all one's sins and weaknesses are included, being at the same time remembered and known as the essential darkness which has revealed to us the light.
Helen M. Luke
On Holy Scripture
22 January 2025
Let us draw from the fountain of the perpetual garden and the purest waters springing into life eternal. Here let us luxuriate; here let us revel without ever being satisfied, for the Scriptures possess inexhaustible grace.
St. John of Damascus
Let us draw from the fountain of the perpetual garden and the purest waters springing into life eternal. Here let us luxuriate; here let us revel without ever being satisfied, for the Scriptures possess inexhaustible grace.
St. John of Damascus
Concerning Baptism
21 January 2025
How great is the grace in water, where God and His anointed are present, for the ratification of Baptism! Christ is never apart from water: for even He Himself is baptized with water; when invited to a wedding He inaugurates with water the earliest trials of His power; when He speaks he invites them "that thirst" to His "everlasting water "; when He teaches about love, He commends the offering of "a cup of water" to a destitute person among the works of love; at a well He recovers His strength, "on water He walks," He crosses the water with delight, with water He serves His disciples. The evidence of Baptism continues right to the time of His passion; when He is given over to the cross, water interposes; Pilate's hands know this; when He is wounded, water breaks forth from His side; the soldier's spear knows it.
Tertullian
How great is the grace in water, where God and His anointed are present, for the ratification of Baptism! Christ is never apart from water: for even He Himself is baptized with water; when invited to a wedding He inaugurates with water the earliest trials of His power; when He speaks he invites them "that thirst" to His "everlasting water "; when He teaches about love, He commends the offering of "a cup of water" to a destitute person among the works of love; at a well He recovers His strength, "on water He walks," He crosses the water with delight, with water He serves His disciples. The evidence of Baptism continues right to the time of His passion; when He is given over to the cross, water interposes; Pilate's hands know this; when He is wounded, water breaks forth from His side; the soldier's spear knows it.
Tertullian
Unjust Laws Exist
20 January 2025
... that which is not just seems to be no law at all.
St Augustine
... that which is not just seems to be no law at all.
St Augustine
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