I think that, with our celebration of Advent, it’s important to focus on the thematic hallmarks of the season, namely vipers, locusts, and wild-eyed prophets shouting about the unquenchable fire of hell. Our advent calendars that offer chocolate and candies are sadly out of tune with the vibe of the season. I had an Advent…
The more secure the chrysalis, the greater the transformation
If you’re a close observer of the liturgy, you may have noticed a quirk about the Mass for this 1st Sunday of Advent. You may be wondering why we’re singing the exact same psalm as last week. Psalm 122: “I rejoiced because they said to me, ‘We will go up to the house of the…
How sacred architecture reveals a king present with his people
Feast of Christ the King “The sacred must come to us through all the senses,” says the architect Duncan Stroik, “to surround us with intimations of what Abraham felt in front of the burning bush, King David in front of the ark, Mary with the angel Gabriel, and the disciples at the feet of Jesus…
Why Fathers are irreplaceable
In the Odyssey, there’s an incident in which Odysseus explores an island that is full of one-eyed giants called the Cyclopes. Homer, when he describes these giants, says that they are, “lawless and inhuman.” They do not farm, create villages, nurture families, or have any industry to build or artists to create beauty. They have…
Halloween and the idea of fear
We’re in a particularly scary time of year. It’s pumpkin spice latte season. Even worse, it’s apple picking season, when, instead of buying a bag of apples for $3 at the grocery store we all take expensive day trips out to ride on a tractor and shake apple after apple loose from the trees and…
Pondus Meum Amor Meus 