Much commentary has focused on Vladimir’s Putin’s sponsorship of the Russian Orthodox Church, which extends even to the point of making the Church an arm of the State (a constant temptation in Russian history). It is true that a massive Read more…
Lenten penance pertains to more than simply fasting from food and drink. It also entails curtailing the “delight of the eye” and pleasing sounds, which gratify our senses. Mortification means dying to ourselves and devoting more time to prayer and Read more…
I’m continuing with a series of posts that reflect on the relations of East and West in the Church (see the last two on Orthodox saints in the Catholic Church and a fuller timeline of the relations between Latins and Read more…
Lent originated from the intense preparation of catechumens on the days preceding the Easter Vigil, as they prepared to receive Baptism: They who are to be baptized shall fast on Friday, and on Saturday the bishop shall assemble them and Read more…
This is my second post exploring the connection of East and West in the Church (with the first focused on Orthodox saints brought into the Catholic Church through the Eastern rites). When looking at the relationship of the Catholic and Read more…
I just finished reading John Anthony McGuckin’s The Eastern Orthodox Church: A New History. Rather than a traditional chronological history, McGuckin offers reflections on the nature of the Orthodox Church through particular figures and events of history. As a professor Read more…
This post completes a trilogy on the saints. The first two focused on convert-saints from Protestantism and modern Benedictine saints. Advent and Christmas lead us to talk about child saints. We have the patron saint of children, St. Nicholas, on Read more…
My last post focused on saints who converted from Protestantism. This post looks at another angle on the saints, modern saints from the Benedictine tradition. November 13th is the feast of All Benedictine Saints. The Benedictines have more Saints and Read more…
The litany of the saints that we pray today for All Saints Day includes a prayer: “Bring back to the unity of the Church all those who are straying, and bring all unbelievers to the light of the Gospel.” The Read more…
This year we celebrate the Year of Dante, marking 700 years since the poet’s death on September 14, 1321. It is fitting that Dante died on the day when we commemorate the triumph of the Holy Cross, as he narrates Read more…