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Saint Eulalia of Mérida and child martyrdom

Many Western saints are not known to Eastern Christians, just like many Eastern saints are not known to Western Christians. I am talking about the saints that both the East and the West have in common because they come from the time of an united Christendom. Yesterday I mentioned that for various historical reasons, some shared celebrations fall on different days in the East and the West. The saint... [Read more]

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The Holy Innocents killed by Herod (2010)

One of the oddities of the Church calendar is that there are certain feasts that are celebrated on one day in the East, but another day in the West. This is the case of the Feast of the Holy Innocents. The West celebrated that feast yesterday, but the East celebrates it today. Here is what one of our synaxarions says: The Holy Infants were killed by King Herod in Bethlehem. When the time came for... [Read more]

Father Sampson the Hospitable (or the Hospitalier)

Yesterday’s saint was one that I particularly liked. Father Sampson the Hospitable is the type of saint that I wish more of us would emulate, at least in part. Why do I say in part? Because he was also a priest and celibate. I am a priest and married. Not all of us are called to be celibate. But, below is his story. Sampson’s parents were wealthy Christians in Rome after the Edict of Milan.... [Read more]

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Monk wanna be

Pithless Thoughts did it to me again! When I saw this “magazine cover,” I laughed and laughed. And, then, I wondered whether I should be crying. Yes, it challenged me again. Sadly, we have some monk wanna be people in Orthodoxy. It is a serious enough problem that our bishops had to address the issue more than once. What do I mean by “monk wanna be?” Well, let’s just... [Read more]

Pilgrimages and delusion

I must admit that this cartoon from Pithless Thoughts quite challenged me. I have been to several countries. In those countries, I have visited the tombs of famous saints, or their places of death. I have visited famous cathedrals, or monasteries. I have imagined what it would be like to have stood up to evil people in the Coliseum. And, of course, I have imagined myself reacting quite heroically.... [Read more]

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The Confession of Saint Patrick of Ireland

Most people who think of Saint Patrick of Ireland think of him on this day. They dress in green, eat some corned beef and cabbage, and maybe drink some green beer and Irish whiskey. But, most know little of Saint Patrick. So, you can let Saint Patrick tell you about himself. Below is a short beginning quote from the Confession of Saint Patrick. And, if you click on the title below, you can go and read... [Read more]

Assorted news stories about Christian suffering

Every so often I will cycle through various news outlets to see what may be happening with Christianity in various parts of the world. Today some of the stories reminded me that Christians are not accepted well in all parts of the world or even in this nation. Click on each headline to see the full story: Egypt’s anxious Copts ‘await next catastrophe’ Worshippers arriving for mass... [Read more]

The thing about saints

Here is a quick thought for you. We love to read about the lives of saints. They are wonderful stories that show us what a person who is totally submitted to the Lord can do. Often, they also show us how a person can overcome terrible sin in their lives. But, here is the thing about saints. If we misuse them, they can become an awful burden. Why do I say that? We tend to forget that the reason that... [Read more]

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The poor teach us

Fr. Alejandro Mesco The poor teach us. No, no, no, I am not talking some of the sloppy sentimentality that passes for serious thinking in too much of the Hollywood set. Rather, today I am thinking about the example of a friend of mine. In southern Peru, I was field director of a region. I had two indigenous priests under my care. Both of them lived out in the shantytowns, one by choice, and the other... [Read more]

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St. Cyprian on traditions

I have to travel unexpectedly today, so for those of you waiting for the follow-up post on the Church, I leave you with the following. I am quite well aware that not all traditions are equal. In fact, so were the Early Church Fathers. St. Cyprian said: “Custom is often only the antiquity of error.” [Editor's Note: The Scylding pointed out that he had posted the same quote on his blog along... [Read more]

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