Interrupting the Silence

Category: Saints

  • Waiting for Mary’s Answer

    This year the Fourth Sunday of Advent focuses on Gabriel’s annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The following is from St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153): You have heard, O Virgin, that you will conceive and bear a son; you have heard that it will not be by man but by the Holy Spirit. The angel… Read more

  • Alma Redemptoris Mater

    With the First Sunday in Advent the Marian hymn following compline changed from the Salve Regina to the Alma Redemptoris Mater. This will be used until the  Feast of the Presentation. There are two concluding collects: one for the Season of Advent one that is used from Christmas Eve until the Presentation. The Commonweal blog has… Read more

  • To Occupy or Be Occupied? A Sermon for the Feast of All Saints, Matthew 5:1-12

    The collect and readings for The Feast of All Saints may be found here. The following sermon is based on the beatitudes, Matthew 5:1-12.   The Occupy Movement has gotten a lot of attention over the last couple of months. Occupy Wall Street. Occupy London. Occupy Sydney. Occupy Oakland, Portland, Dallas, San Antonio. The list… Read more

  • Salve Regina

    Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you we cry, the banished children of Eve; to you we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us; lead us home at last and show us… Read more

  • Why Matter Matters – St. John of Damascus

    I do not venerate matter, I venerate the fashioner of matter, who became matter for my sake and accepted to dwell in matter and through matter worked my salvation, and I will not cease from reverencing matter, through which my salvation was worked. – St. John of Damascus Read more

  • Prayer Before the Crucifix

    The following is said to be St. Francis’ prayer before the crucifix: Most high, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart. Give me true faith, certain hope, and perfect charity, sense and knowledge, Lord, that I may carry out Your holy and true command. Amen.   Read more

  • St. Francis – The Canticle of the Creatures

    October 4 is the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, one of the most beloved and, perhaps, least imitated of the saints. Too often Francis is sentimentalized and domesticated. Francis, however, sought identification with Christ through the poverty and suffering of Christ, his fellow human beings, and his own. He received the stigmata, the marks… Read more

  • Angelic Thoughts and Prayers on the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels

    Today, September 29, is the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels. With every liturgy we celebrate we “[join] our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven,” who are forever proclaiming the glory of God’s Name. The liturgy here on earth becomes one with the heavenly liturgy. The voices of… Read more

  • On Entering Church – Talking or Praying?

    It is interesting to watch how people enter the church each week. I am really referring to what happens in the narthex, that vestibule or hallway area just outside the nave or what most people commonly think of as the church. Traditionally, the narthex was a “part of the church building, but was not considered… Read more