In the final hours, it is cold. Piercing cold, like described in the Christmas Novena I’ve been saying every day since the Feast of St. Andrew. Hail and blessed be the hour and momentin which the Son of God was bornof the most pure Virgin Mary,at midnight,in Bethlehem,in piercing cold.In that hour, vouchsafe, O my … More Advent, the piercing cold
O Root of Jesse, Which standest for an ensign of the people, before Whom kings shall keep silence, Whom the Gentiles shall beseech: come and deliver us, and tarry not. Isaiah 11:10 An ensign is like a signal, standard, or a banner. It can point out a place where everyone of the same tribe is … More Advent, the Ensign
Today feels like a crossroads. A point where I must choose to go back, try an easier path, stay right here, or keep going forward. “For the grace of God our Savior hath appeared to all men; instructing us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly, and justly, and godly in this … More Advent, endurance
Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This particular Marian Apparition which occurred in 1531, but goes all the way back to St. Luke, continues to amaze me. It is one of the most detailed miracles with so much evidence left behind still to this day. I have included links to quick summaries, … More Advent, turning rocks to gold
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name … More Advent, Rorate Caeli
I took off work today in obedience to this Holy Day of Obligation. It was a struggle to even ask for it, against my people-pleasing ego in the midst of the busiest time of the year. Busy, not just because Christmas is coming, but year-end for accountants…sigh. Yet, once again, I find myself incredibly grateful … More Advent, Feast of the Immaculate Conception
“We are charting our own dispositions every day. By the way we dispose ourselves to tend this Advent, we dispose ourselves to tend at Christmastide.” Mother Mary Francis – Come, Lord Jesus Every Friday, I do the Stations of the Cross. It may not seem very Advent-like at first glance, but skipping it would have … More Advent, charting our disposition
Which is a greater thing to possess? The gift itself, or the necessary means to obtaining and keeping and using the gift? What an impossible question, to which the only answer is both/and. The capacity of understanding the gift must expand to include the necessary means. It’s a package deal, as they say. What good … More The Necessary Means
I have seedlings. This is a big deal, as I am not known for being able to keep plants alive. And so I spent an excessive amount of time staring at the seeds before covering them with soil…wondering… How is it possible that there are instructions hidden inside this tiny little speck of nothing? How … More The Formula of a Flower
As I peeked around the roadblock of authority, excited by all the knowledge and mysteries to discover about early Christianity, I caught sight of someone who caused me to hesitate. Someone I had been carefully avoiding for years. If I wanted to go any further, I was going to have to meet Mary. I used … More Roadblock: Mary
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