There is a culture among the poorest of the poor, something I came to know almost thirty years ago working with homeless youth in Times Square, NY. There is a care and concern that many street people show for one another. So often we think of them as “other”. “They’re not like us,” so many [...]
Archive for the ‘Advent’ Category
Gaudete Sunday: Blessed Are the Brokenhearted
Posted in Advent on December 9, 2011 | 4 Comments »
The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Posted in Advent, tagged The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on December 21, 2010 |
From today’s Liturgy of the Hours, Office of Readings St Ambrose’s commentary on St Luke’s Gospel The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary The angel Gabriel had announced the news of something that was as yet hidden and so, to buttress the Virgin Mary’s faith by means of a real example, he told her also [...]
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Posted in Advent on December 20, 2010 |
When we light the Advent Wreath, we do so in a darkened house. It is the one time of year when I claim the privilege of saying the prayer as the children light the candles. As the weeks pass, as we approach the coming of The Light of the World, the table is bathed in [...]
An Ancient Hymn
Posted in Advent, Christmas, tagged Let Al Mortal Flesh Keep Silence on December 18, 2010 | 1 Comment »
Christmas has become increasingly a quiet and reflective Holy Day for me, held in dynamic tension with Santa Claus and the children. This hymn, Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, best approaches the meaning of the day, the tone, the solemnity that is beyond earthly description in contemplating God becoming one with us in our [...]
The Anxiety of Joseph
Posted in Advent, tagged Deacon Greg Kandra, Fourth Sunday Advent, James Tissot, The Anxiety of Joseph on December 18, 2010 | 1 Comment »
It is a pleasure to share with you this homily for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, by Deacon Greg Kandra of the Brooklyn Diocese. Deacon Kandra has a superb blog, The Deacon’s Bench, over at Patheos. Do visit him there often, and thank you Deacon Kandra for this penetrating homily. The Anxiety of Joseph by [...]
Gaudete! Why the rose candle and vestments? Read it here! Today we take a break in the penitential season and rejoice at the Lord’s nearness (Gaudete!). But the special Sunday’s of Lent and Advent point also to a deeper truth, the one spoken by the Psalmist in Psalm 145. 18 The LORD is near to [...]
Faith
Posted in Advent on December 10, 2010 | 1 Comment »
Last week Fr. Steven Clark, Pastor of Saint Francis of Assisi in Mount Kisco, opened his Parish to Dr. Scott Hahn of Franciscan University and hosted an Advent Day of Recollection. Dr. Hahn discussed signs, such as the “signs and wonders” performed by Jesus. Hahn shared with us that the signs are not ends unto [...]
Solitude
Posted in Advent on December 10, 2010 | 7 Comments »
It’s 2:30 A.M. and sleep isn’t coming anytime soon. It’s usually God’s way of saying that He’d like to have a chat. I’ve grown to crave solitude, to sit in silent stillness and wait on the Lord, to be still and know that He is God. It’s been a rough week with the NY City [...]
Advent, Week Two: Wheat, Chaff, Feminism and Fire
Posted in Advent on December 5, 2010 | 8 Comments »
Today’s Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12 In due course John the Baptist appeared; he preached in the wilderness of Judaea and this was his message: ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’ This was the man the prophet Isaiah spoke of when he said: A voice cries in the wilderness: Prepare a way for [...]
As We Wait In Joyful Hope…
Posted in Advent, tagged Advent, Jeremy Camp, Joyful Hope, There Will Be a Day on December 1, 2010 | 2 Comments »
. . I love the prayer immediately following the Our Father during Mass, when the Priest says: Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our [...]
Homily for November 28, 2010: 1st Sunday of Advent
Posted in Advent, tagged Advent, Cherpumple, Christmas, Deacon Greg Kandra on November 27, 2010 | 9 Comments »
Deacon Greg Kandra is ordained and ministers in the Diocese of Brooklyn. He writes a fantastic blog, The Deacon’s Bench, at Beliefnet. His Homily for today, the First Sunday of Advent, is a stunner. It is reprinted here with Deacon Kandra’s permission. . . . . Homily for November 28, 2010: 1st Sunday of Advent [...]
A Very Special Advent Prayer Request
Posted in Advent, tagged Diocese of Raleigh, Philip Johnson on November 26, 2010 | 1 Comment »
May I respectfully and humbly ask that we all join in prayer for this special seminarian, a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. From the Diocese of Raleigh: The Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of Raleigh, has requested in a letter that all the Priests, Religious and lay faithful in the Diocese of [...]
Advent and the Soul of a Scientist
Posted in Abortion, Advent on November 26, 2010 | 3 Comments »
From the Gospel of John, Chapter 17:14-23 (New Jerusalem Translation) “I passed your word on to them, and the world hated them, because they belong to the world no more than I belong to the world. I am not asking you to remove them from the world, but to protect them from the Evil One. [...]
Invitation to an Advent Day of Recollection with Dr. Scott Hahn
Posted in Advent on November 9, 2010 | 3 Comments »
As Advent approaches, I’d like to offer an invitation to all within a few hour’s drive of Westchester, New York to an Advent Day of Recollection on December 4, with renowned scripture scholar, Dr. Scott Hahn. Dr. Hahn is Professor of Theology at Franciscan University, Steubenville Ohio. The day is being held at Saint Francis [...]
Erin Manning: The War on Christmas
Posted in Advent, Christmas, Uncategorized, tagged And Sometimes Tea, Crunchy Con, Erin Manning, Rod Dreher, War on Christmas on January 2, 2010 | 1 Comment »
I only started reading blogs last January when I stumbled out of my cave and discovered the twenty-first century. I happened on Beliefnet.com, which led me to Jill Stanek, who along with Bethany and Carla are responsible for this blog coming to life. On Beliefnet, I became a fan of Rod Dreher who writes “Crunchy [...]
