Weekly Insight
Bach’s Cantata for the Fourth Sunday of Advent
J.S. Bach composed Cantatas for many Sundays and feasts (over 200!)- in the Lutheran liturgical calendar, to be sure, but one which remained close to its Catholic origins. Here is the one for the...
Fourth Sunday: Ite Ad Joseph
When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home (Mt. 1:24).
On this fourth and last Sunday of Advent, the Sacred Liturgy invites...
Canisius the Indefatigable Catechist
Saint Peter Canisius (1521-1597) was a Dutch Jesuit back in the earliest days of the Order, amongst the first to join Ignatius' company, after meeting one of the founders, Peter Faber. His life spans...
Musical Offering: The Alma Redemptoris Mater, in Three Versions
There are various antiphons sung in honour of Our Lady at the close of Compline, for each liturgical season - the Salve Regina for 'Ordinary Time'; the Ave Regina Coelorum for Lent, the Regina...
Saint Dominic of Silos and His Chanting Monks
While we're on the topic of chant with the Alma Redemptoris, this December 20th also marks the commemoration of Saint Dominic of Silos who died on this day in 1073, at the monastery he...
A Christmas Carol: Thoughts, and an Audio Book
Charles Dickens' novella A Christmas Carol was first published on this December 19 back in 1843, and it has been a much beloved classic ever since. It is really is an Advent story, as...
God: The Science, the Evidence – A Review
God: The Science, the Evidence, by Michel-Yves Bolloré and Olivier Bonnassies, is an intriguing book, not quite what I expected when asked to review the new bestseller. I suppose it would fall into the...
Handel’s Miraculous Messiah
On this Second Sunday of Advent, when we read of Saint John the Baptist's preparing the way, it is fitting to immerse oneself in at least the first part of Handel's Messiah.
First performed...
Truth and the Tradivox Catechical Compendium
There is no such things a 'perfect' Catechism, a catechism to end all catechisms, such as it were. That's why there's no end to them. And the truth, thought 'definable' - we are replete...
The O Antiphons and the Last Seven Days of Advent
On December 17th we begin the seven days of proximate preparation for Christmas, analogous to the more familiar twelve days of Christmas, which follow after the great feast. In the Western tradition of the...
Pagan Darkness and Advent’s Light
I have fond memories of strolling along beautiful Bondi beach years ago, while at World Youth Day in 2008, and it never crossed my mind that I might get shot. Perhaps dim thoughts of...
Servant of God Catherine de Hueck Doherty
Forty years ago today, on December 14, 1985, Catherine de Hueck Doherty's vagarious life came to its end in a cabin in the remote town of Combermere, Ontario. Born in Russia, and living through...
Musical Offering: Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending!
Say what you like about the early Methodists, but they could write some melodious hymns, and one of the greatest and most prolific is Charles Wesley (+1788), credited with some 6500 hymns to his...
Pope Benedict Reflects on Saint John of the Cross
BENEDICT XVI
GENERAL AUDIENCE
Paul VI Audience Hall
Wednesday, 16 February 2011
Saint John of the Cross
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Two weeks ago I presented the figure of the great Spanish mystic, Teresa of Jesus. Today I would like...
Gaudete Sunday: The Baptist’s Joyful Humility
‘Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he’ (Mt. 11:11).
Today is Gaudete...
