Blog of the Archdiocese of Washington
Note to readers: The following article is long (3500 words). This is because I have been adding to it over the years as my research has continued. I am by avocation a church musician. Before my ordination, I was a Choir director and an organist. Like most of you, I have my preferences in the …
Continue reading “What is Sacred Music? The History Is More Complex Than You Might Think”
There is an old spiritual that says, “My God is so high you can’t get over Him. He’s so low you can’t get under Him. He’s so wide you can’t get around Him. You must come in, by and through the Lamb.” It’s not a bad way of saying that God is “other.” He is …
Continue reading “One and One and One Are One – A Homily for Trinity Sunday”
In more dioceses than not, the Feast of the Ascension is celebrated this Sunday. The liturgist in me regrets the move from Thursday, but here we are any way. Let’s ascend with the Lord, three days late! This marvelous feast is not merely about something that took place two thousand years ago, for though Christ …
Continue reading “Love Lifted Me – A Homily for the Ascension of the Lord”
Many people today put Hell in opposition to the love of God, but Jesus combines them. Here is an important truth: No one loves you more than Jesus Christ, yet no one spoke of or taught on Hell and Judgment more than He did. He gave warning after warning and told parable after parable, practically …
Continue reading “Jesus, Who Loves You, Warned Frequently About Hell”
Temptation is something that every human person experiences. At times we may wonder why God permits it. Why does He allow moral and spiritual dangers to afflict us? Could He not prevent every temptation that confronts us? And if He can, why does He not? Is He just setting us up for failure? There are …
Continue reading “Five Good Things That Can Come from Temptation”
The Easter Vigil so recently celebrated provides a rich fare for reflection. Alas, its memories pass so quickly. The shadowy yet wonderful Easter Vigil is the greatest and most elaborate liturgy of the Church year. Due to its length and late hour, many Catholics have never rejoiced in the somber glow of its initial moments …
Continue reading “Pondering Some of the Teachings of the Easter Vigil in its Afterglow”
All of the resurrection stories depict the Apostles and other disciples on a journey of sorts to understand the resurrection. A completely new reality was breaking into their world and challenging their understanding. Far from depicting the disciples as credulous, the texts describe them as shocked, troubled, and even quite dubious. These were not men …
Continue reading “The Journey of Mary Magdalene to Resurrection Faith”
There is something of a hidden quality to the resurrection appearances that has always puzzled me. St. Peter gives voice to this when he says to Cornelius, God raised Jesus from the dead on the third day and granted that he be visible, not to all people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God …
Continue reading “A Meditation on the Hiddenness of the Resurrection”