Peter and Paul
Today the Church honors two of its greatest apostles. Peter, upon whose faith the Church was built, fertile ground for the seed of the vine, and Paul whose missionary efforts helped to extend the branches of that vine to the ends of the earth. The word apostle means “one whoContinue Reading
We Are A Forgetful People
We are a forgetful people, and so we need reminders. Why is it so important that we remain quiet when we enter a church? Why is so much importance attached to the cupboard that holds the Eucharistic host between masses? Why do we kneel whenever we cross in front ofContinue Reading
Pentecost
New work based on a page from the Winchester Pontifical also known as the Benedictional of Saint Aethelwold.Continue Reading
The Trinity: A Communion of Love
The Most Holy Trinity is often referred to as a mystery of faith. But is a mystery something we cannot understand? Not at all, we can understand the mystery of the Trinity to the extent that God has revealed it to us. So what has God revealed to usContinue Reading
Saint Anthony of Padua
Icon of Saint Anthony of Padua, commissioned by the Franciscan Monastery, Washington D.C. Continue Reading
Saint Ephrem, Deacon and Doctor of the Universal Church
Between the great empires of Rome and Persia, in ancient Mesopotamia, Ephrem was born in the city Nisibis. The preaching of Saint Jacob, Bishop of Nisibis, drew Ephrem to the Faith as a moth to a flame and he was baptized in his eighteenth year. He grew in learning andContinue Reading
Pentecost and the Sacrament of Confirmation
Before He ascends to the Father, Jesus breathes on His Apostles and imparts to them the Holy Spirit. Then just before His Ascension He tells them to wait for the Holy Spirit to come upon them. Are they receiving the Spirit twice? Not exactly, at Pentecost the Apostles receiveContinue Reading
Christ Gives Us Our Purpose
As we mature, we begin to look for meaning in our lives. We spend our youth learning about the world and about ourselves. We discover our interests, talents and abilities, and sharpen them to a high degree. And then, we grow restless. We look for our purpose. We questionContinue Reading
Mary, Mother of God
Icon of Mary, Mother of God, commissioned by the Franciscan Monastery, Washington D.C.Continue Reading
Stand Fast in the Faith, and Love One Another
We continue to suffer in this world because how we respond to our suffering matters greatly in the eyes of God. It is an opportunity for us to grow in our faith. Do we turn away from Him in anger and resentment? Or do we turn toward Him forContinue Reading