Gloria, laus et honor… So goes the old Latin hymn. Sung traditionally on Palm Sunday, it foretells of the Passion of our Lord and His glorious Resurrection. The words bear quoting here: All glory, laud and honor To thee, Redeemer King To whom the lips of children Made sweet hosannas ring… To thee before thy … Read more
Sorrow, pain, grief, anguish—all of these words somehow just barely describe the unfathomable and profound suffering we feel in moments of tribulation. Looking at the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary, we reflect on our own sorrows in union with those of Jesus Christ and His mother during the steps of His Passion. In The Problem … Read more
“The rosary has the character of a sojourn. Its essence is the sheltering security of a quiet, holy world that envelops the person who is praying.” Romano Guardini, The Rosary of Our Lady St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, championed the rich benefits of prayerful meditation. At the beginning of his … Read more
Few saints are remembered in art, but those who are tend to appear with frequency. In their representations, these holy figures have come to be associated with some characteristic symbols… St. Peter with the keys Jesus gave him, St. Paul with the sword that killed him, and so on. In this piece, I’ve focused on … Read more
Hispanic yet also quintessentially American, santero art is found in the western and southwestern parts of the United States. It takes its name from the santero or santera—literally the saintmaker who creates images of Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels, and the saints. These images come in different forms, mainly as crucifijos (crucifixes), … Read more
Few saints are remembered in art, but those who are tend to appear with frequency. In their representations, these holy figures have come to be associated with some characteristic symbols… St. Peter with the keys Jesus gave him, St. Paul with the sword that killed him, and so on. In this piece, I’ve focused on … Read more
“O good Jesu enlighten me with the shining of inner light…” —Thomas a Kempis …lumen de lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero… […Light from Light, true God from true God…] These few words from the Nicene Creed capture the essence of the luminous mysteries. On October 16, 2002, John Paul II announced in an apostolic … Read more
Pungent incense, flickering candles, and ornate angels surround the main altar of the old church in southern Spain. The Carmelite priest turns to give a final blessing after Mass and invites the faithful to stay for the Way of the Cross. It’s the Friday before Holy Week. Outside amid the hubbub, all of Seville is … Read more
Gloria, laus et honor…. So goes the old Latin hymn. Sung traditionally on Palm Sunday, it foretells of the Passion of our Lord and His glorious Resurrection. The words bear quoting here: All glory, laud and honor To thee, Redeemer King To whom the lips of children Made sweet hosannas ring… To thee before thy … Read more
“The rosary has the character of a sojourn. Its essence is the sheltering security of a quiet, holy world that envelops the person who is praying.” ~Romano Guardini, The Rosary of Our Lady St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, championed the rich benefits of prayerful meditation. At the beginning of his … Read more
Santa Fe, New Mexico… Tradition has it that the full name given to this city by the Spaniards was La Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco de Asis (the Royal City of the Holy Faith of St. Francis of Assisi). This high-plains city of brilliant sun, thin air, and blue skies in … Read more
Tall and somewhat stocky in his later years, John Ireland, a square-jawed son of Irish immigrants, became bishop and then archbishop of St. Paul, Minnesota, during the late 19th century. He was influential in Church affairs in the upper Midwest, throughout the United States, and even in Europe for more than 50 years, until his … Read more
Avila, with its gray, granite walls that each afternoon change to a golden hue in the setting sun, is one of the few remaining fortress cities in Europe. The massive walls, built toward the end of the eleventh century during the reconquest of Spain by the Christians, encircle the entire historic section of town. One … Read more