A Treasure To Be Shared

The architecture of the Gloria  is not accidental; it is a liturgical map of the entire economy of salvation, sung in miniature. Its movement is not merely poetic but theological—beginning in heaven, descending into the world, passing through the saving work of Christ, and rising again into the Trinitarian glory from which all things come.  Below is an outline of that movement, illustrating how each section reflects a unique “moment” within the divine economy. 1. Heavenly Revelation — Salvation begins from above “Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will towards men” The Gloria opens not with human initiative but with the angelic hymn of Bethlehem. This signals that salvation is revealed, not discovered. Grace descends; humanity receives. The angels proclaim God’s glory. Peace is announced to the earth. God’s goodwill toward humanity is declared. This is the Incarnational moment: heaven bends low, and the Gloria begins where the Gospel begins—God speaking first. 2...

Cross Roads As we transition from Gesimatide into Lent, perhaps a brief visit with the fundamental requirement of receptivity to God's influence in our lives, and our commitment to collaborating with God to bring about the Kingdom, may provide a useful focus for the days ahead. St Luke 9:23 And he said to all, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Let us address approaches into the heart of God. That is, how can we better open ourselves to God's grace, His life, His truth, His love, His transforming Presence? Three Avenues - Liturgical, Works, Devotional Let us look at three ways in which we may be mindful of the Lord's invitation to accept His loving embrace for our formation in holiness and the salvation of souls. Liturgical Avenue St Luke 24:30-35 When (Jesus) was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanis...

[ Estimated Read Time 5 minutes ] Those attempting to usher in a new dark age are failing.  They have for a time duped many others into drinking the poison of entitlement and self righteousness.  Their vision of society is a spiritual slum filled with angry and lazy people who shun hard work and envy those who prosper.  Those who abhor reality and who hate themselves make life burdensome by their contempt and lack of mercy toward people of goodwill.  No one wants to live in their slum. Psalm 43 |  Give sentence with me, O God, and defend my cause against the ungodly people; O deliver me from the deceitful and wicked man.  For thou art the God of my strength; why hast thou put me from thee? and why go I so heavily, while the enemy oppresseth me?  O send out thy light and thy truth, that they may lead me, and bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy dwelling.  And that I may go unto the altar of God, even unto the God of my joy and gladness; and upo...

A new life in Christ awaits each person who longs for understanding and peace. So much energy is sapped up by preoccupations that linger on the margins of daily life, temptations that can be infiltrated by diabolical forces if one is not attentive to prayer, a frequent examination of conscience, and the sacraments. Spiritual exercises which dispose the soul to God's grace are necessary to help one avoid a subtle slide into confusion and despair. One must be ready to reach out for spiritual support bound to the Truth. Innocence is a frequent casualty these days. A less than prudent use of technology can quickly imprison young and old in a web of self deception and attractions to soul destroying messages and images. Instinctual urges can quickly build and overwhelm even the most balanced and battle tested individual. Indeed, the spiritual life is a battle against intrusions that can rot life - and hope and joy and trust - out of us and leave us injured. The experience of a Protestant...

Madonna and Child Holding the World | 1894 Library of Congress Events of recent memory - Paris - remind us that Christians, the heralds of reason, goodwill, peace, hope, and eternal salvation in Christ, face opposition from those espoused to the lord of this world, the devil. The Olympic Games have nothing on the epic battle between the Church and the devil's allies. The world caught a glimpse of that struggle between light and darkness when a mockery was staged with organizers' foreknowledge. Contrary to the claims of IOC representatives and those of the producer of the opening tableaux, participants in the weird and crass opening ceremonies admitted on various social media platforms that the episode in question was intended to parody the Lord's Supper. On an artistic level, the opening segment was anything but art. It was an attempt at propaganda in support of a twisted anthropology. These days the world is plagued to the point of annoyance with the arrogant musings of in...

  The Church established by Jesus Christ is a church with synods, but not a synodal church as some might imagine or attempt to impose. The Church is not nor has she ever been a democracy nor a mere social club. Can. 342 The synod of bishops is a group of bishops who have been chosen from different regions of the world and meet together at fixed times to foster closer unity between the Roman Pontiff and bishops, to assist the Roman Pontiff with their counsel in the preservation and growth of faith and morals and in the observance and strengthening of ecclesiastical discipline, and to consider questions pertaining to the activity of the Church in the world. A synod is subject to the supreme authority of the Roman Pontiff (Can. 344).  To confine the Church to man's socio-political constructs is to attempt to undermine the authority of Jesus Christ, an authority which He, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, extends to the bishops of His Church. We hope that the bishops are u...

Sites/individuals that embody: Catholicity: faithfulness to Sacred Tradition, i.e., the Magisterium and the Bible; lex orandi lex credendi lex vivendi Intelligence: orthodox, informed, insightful;  sentire cum ecclesia Mission: the salvation of souls;  salus animarum lex maxima Ecclesiae Truth, goodness, beauty and holiness; veritas, bonitas, pulchritudo, sanctitas Daily Morning and Evening Prayer  | The Divine Office Bishop Robert Barron at Word On Fire  | Theologian and author Monsignor Charles Pope  | Preacher and commentator Fr. Raymond de Souza  | Priest, professor, commentator Fr Mike Schmitz at Ascension  | Catholic perspectives on cultural and societal issues Fr. John Hunwicke  | History, liturgics, language, culture Dr. Edward Feser  | Catholic philosopher Dr. Peter Kreeft  | Catholic philosopher Eva Vlaardingerbroeck  | Catholic political philosopher David Torkington | Spiritual theologian Catholic Answers  | Ap...

Undeclared Sinner someone who has yet to acknowledge his status as a fallen creature see also: hypocrite Witnesses I felt for the tormented whirlwinds Damned for their carnal sins Committed when they let their passions rule their reason. - Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy, Hell, Inferno: Canto V I understood that unto such a torment The carnal malefactors were condemned, Who reason subjugate to appetite. ( H.W. Longfellow translation ) - - -  In one sense, and that the eternal sense, the thing is plain. The answer to the question, ‘What is Wrong?’ is, or should be, 'I am wrong'. Until a man can give that answer his idealism is only a hobby. - GKC, Letter to the “Daily News”, August 16, 1905, “What is Wrong”. H/T Mike Miles @ The Society of G.K. Chesterton In an earlier post, yours truly wrote: It's one thing to be a Catholic who repents of his or her sins (and confesses those sins in the confessional) and resolves to avoid near occasions of sin. It is quite another to obs...