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 [...]
Archive for the ‘Advent’ Category
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 | Leave a Comment »
Elizabeth
Posted in Advent, Christmas on December 24, 2009 | 2 Comments »
My nine-year-old, Elizabeth has had an other-worldly devotion to the Nativity since age two. It’s grace. To see it in action is to leave no doubt. Beth also loves Santa and all of the magic associated with being the target of another’s coming with gifts. Gradually, we are folding the Santa narrative into an understanding [...]
From a Sermon by Saint Augustine
Posted in Advent, Christmas, Dignity, Fathers of the Church on December 24, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Todays Liturgy of the Hours, Office of Readings From a sermon by Saint Augustine Truth has arisen from the earth and justice has looked down from heaven Awake, mankind! For your sake God has become man. Awake, you who sleep, rise up from the dead, and Christ will enlighten you. I tell you again: for [...]
Christmas Meditation on Our Dignity
Posted in Advent, Christmas, Dignity, Family, Fathers of the Church, Personhood, tagged Christmas, Dignity, Pope St. Leo the Great, Song of the Angels on December 22, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
From the Liturgy of the Hours, Christmas Day, Office of Readings A sermon of Pope St Leo the Great Christian, remember your dignity Dearly beloved, today our Saviour is born; let us rejoice. Sadness should have no place on the birthday of life. The fear of death has been swallowed up; life brings us joy [...]
St Ambrose’s commentary on The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Posted in Advent, Christmas, Fathers of the Church, Motherhood, Uncategorized on December 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
From today’s Liturgy of the Hours, Office of Readings St. Ambrose: 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 that an old and sterile [...]
The Whole World Awaits Mary’s Reply
Posted in Advent, Christmas, Dignity, Fathers of the Church on December 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
From today’s Liturgy of the Hours, Office of Readings A Sermon of Saint Bernard You have heard, O Virgin, that you will conceive and bear a son; you have heard that it will not be by man but by the Holy Spirit. The angel awaits an answer; it is time for him to return to [...]
Advent Meditation
Posted in Advent, Christmas, tagged Advent, Sigrid Undset on December 19, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
“And when we give each other Christmas gifts in His name, let us remember that He has given us the sun and the moon and the stars, and the earth with its forests and mountains and oceans–and all that lives and move upon them. He has given us all green things and everything that blossoms [...]
Advent Food For Thought
Posted in Advent, tagged Advent, Diognetus, Liturgy of the Hours, Office of Readings on December 18, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Advent encouragement for pro-lifers from today’s Liturgy of the Hours, Office of Readings A letter to Diognetus God showed his love through his Son No man has ever seen God or known him, but God has revealed himself to us through faith, by which alone it is possible to see him. God, the Lord and [...]
Second Theme of Advent
Posted in Advent, tagged Advent, Christmas, Prayer on December 17, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Today marks the beginning of the Second Theme of Advent in the Catholic Liturgical Calendar. The daily liturgical readings up until today have focussed on Jesus’ second coming and our judgment. Beginning today, the readings focus on the prophecies and events leading to His first coming, a child born of the Virgin Mary. They culminate [...]