Today is the feast day of St. Cecilia, the patron saint of music and musicians. She is one of the most famous of the Roman martyrs with her name being recounted in the Litany of the Saints. She is also a saint, for whom her story was passed on in oral narrative and not compiled until the fifth or sixth centuries. But not is not uncommon given the ongoing persecutions of Chrisitians in the last centuries of the Roman Empire. Continue reading
Is it our hope for the future, or our fear of creating the very thing that will destroy us? Welcome to the world of science fiction, si-fi. Science fiction (SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel universes, and extraterrestrial life. Continue reading
This coming Sunday we will celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, the one who reigns over “things visible and invisible.” That classic expression from the Nicene Creed covers a lot, but it does remind us that we live as people surrounded by all manner of powers: secular, cultural, familial, demonic, and the list goes on. At some point I am sure each one of us wishes that Christ the King would reign a little more concretely over all those other powers visible and not. But perhaps the core intrinsic value of the Reign of God is love. And love always has to be a free choice. I just might be that for us to truly love, part of that commitment is to give up our freedom such that we have no choice at all except Jesus. Continue reading
The gospel today is in celebration of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. In her short life, Elizabeth manifested such great love for the poor and suffering that she has become the patroness of Catholic charities and of the Secular Franciscan Order. The daughter of the King of Hungary, Elizabeth chose a life of penance and asceticism when a life of leisure and luxury could easily have been hers. Under the spiritual direction of a Franciscan friar, she led a life of prayer, sacrifice, and service to the poor and sick. Seeking to become one with the poor, she wore simple clothing. Daily she would take bread to hundreds of the poorest in the land who came to her gate. Continue reading
In yesterday’s gospel we heard the account of the blind man along the roadside on the way to Jericho. The reading was from Luke’s gospel which leaves the man unnamed – he is named Bartimaeus in Mark’s account. Today’s gospel is the encounter in the city of Jericho with the tax collector Zacchaeus. Continue reading
The gospel today is Luke’s account of the blind man on the roadside who cries out: “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.”
The underlying word is eléos – I don’t know why they translate it as “pity” – the meaning is “to show mercy,” indicating a response roused by an underserved affliction in others. It denotes a kindness resulting from a relationship. Continue reading
Today is Veterans Day as well as the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the solemn landmark at Arlington National Cemetery honoring military personnel killed in action who have never been identified. Since 1999, a vacant crypt on the grounds has honored missing service members from the Vietnam War. The quiz below, from the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University in Ohio, provides an opportunity for you to test your knowledge of Veterans Day and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Continue reading
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” – John F. Kennedy
A few years ago I received an email from one of my brother friars. I thought would post its content again. The email raised the question – in the light of all the commercial sales and advertisements: Is Veterans Day really a holiday or is it a holy day? Continue reading
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome. The Lateran Basilica in Rome is not the oldest church in Rome – that honor seems to belong to Santi Quattro Coronati (314); but then that depends on what sources you believe. Old St. Peter’s, the original church on the spot where the current St. Peter’s stands dates to 324, the same year as St. Lorenzo and St. John Lateran. Did you know that the Lateran Basilica is the Cathedral of the Diocese of Rome – the place from where the Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis, leads his diocese even as he leads the church universal. Continue reading
Late on a Sunday, after a long week and weekend of ministry, one’s mind turn to speculative whimsy. What would happen if you merged “Harry Potter” and “Lord of the Rings”? One possibility is the following video (fair warning, if you are not familiar with both movie series, the following might make no sense)
friarmusings 