But once Christ is risen, the gravitational pull of love is stronger than that of hatred; the force of gravity of life is stronger than that of death. Perhaps this is actually the situation of the Church in every age, perhaps it is our situation? It always seems as if she ought to be sinking,[…]
Month: April 2020
Cathedrals and Chastisements
It was one year ago yesterday – April 15th, 2019– that Notre Dame cathedral, built over a century between 1160 and 1260, and has stood ever since, burned, not down, but perhaps up, as its roof, rafters and spire were destroyed by a mysterious fire as Holy Week began. There were no Paschal celebrations in[…]
What Will Happen After the Sacramental Shutdown?
Following upon my own thoughts on the deleterious effects of a long-term shutdown of the Church’s sacramental system, founded by Christ to last ‘unto the end of the ages’ – here are some stark and sobering predictions from David Bonagura Jr. at The Catholic Thing: As he puts it, perhaps Ratzinger’s prediction of a ‘smaller,[…]
Surrendering to Grace When Bereft of the Sacraments
In times of spiritual aridity we can be tempted to think that without certain works, like the Sacraments, our good Lord cannot save us. After all, while St. Paul says we are “saved through Faith,” (Eph 2:8) St. James says that “Faith apart from works is dead.” (James 2:26) It is charity that gives faith[…]
Prayers Requested for Father Alphonse de Valk
We have been asked to pray for Father Alphonse de Valk, who is nearing his eternity. The message we have received runs as follows, from a long-time friend of Father’s: I have just come off the phone with the doctor from palliative care. They are keeping Father de Valk comfortable. The doctor says that Alphonse[…]
The author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses. (Saint Peter, Acts 3:15)
Christ, the Hope of Glory
My dear friends, in this Easter season, I’d like to talk to you about hope. Indeed, casually speaking, we have much to “hope” for in the coming weeks. We hope for warmer weather and for a speedy end to this pandemic. We hope that the speed of the outbreak may be slowed in the coming[…]
The flesh of Jesus was disfigured (defotmis) in dying, but of supreme beauty in rising again. This beautiful flower of the root of Jesse, who had blossomed in the Incarnation and withered in the Passion, now blossomed anew in the Resurrection, so as to become our crown of beauty. (Saint Bonaventure)
Handel’s Messiah and the Resurrection
This day, in 1742, April 13th, was the first performance of Handel’s Messiah, in Dublin, of all places. Here was an Oratorio, following the life of the Saviour from His birth, through His Passion, to His glorious resurrection, written by a German, who had become a naturalised Brit, with a libretto in English, performed in[…]