Blog of the Archdiocese of Washington
I was reminded recently of one of my favorite hymns as I read the first reading at Mass. In particular these lines stood out: [An] angel came out of the temple, crying out in a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud [Jesus], “Use your sickle and reap the harvest, for the time …
Continue reading “The Biblical roots of the Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
Currently in the Liturgies of daily Mass we have been reading the Book of Revelation. It is commonly read at the end of the liturgical year, for it bespeaks the end of, and passing qualities of all things of this world. It is also a book of glory, depicting the ultimate victory of our Lord …
Continue reading “Why the Modern View of the Book of Revelation may be Flawed.”
I have blogged before on Purgatory. For example here: Purgatory – Biblical and Reasonable. I have also provided a PDF document on the Biblical roots of the teaching here: PDF Document on Purgatory . On this Feast of All Souls I want to reflect on Purgatory as the necessary result of a promise. Many people …
The video below is a humorous commercial that illustrates that sometimes our enemy, Satan disguises himself in very unlikely ways. It would seem that one of the more common tactics of Satan in our times is to hide and/or disguise himself. Indeed, in our times he is never more powerful than when he is denied …
Continue reading “Satan Likes to Hide, but every now and then, He shows his face.”
I live in Washington DC on East Capitol Street. If you picture the United States Capitol in your mind, one side faces the long grassy Mall where so many large gatherings and protests take place. Behind the Capitol, on the exact opposite side is a long street that stretches through the Capitol Hill Neighborhood called …
Continue reading “The Most Important Building isn’t even on the Tour!”
Archdiocese of Washington: Year of Faith series Written by: Dominican Brothers of the Province of St. Joseph Children love to ask questions. “Are angels real?” “Who was Jesus’ daddy?” “Did Jesus have a doggie?” I once heard a mother ask her daughter, “Where does God live?” The little girl immediately reached up with her left …
One of the issues most apologists of the faith, eventually and frequently encounter, is the reliability of the Scriptures as an historical reference. Does the Bible record history? It surely does. However, the Scriptures do not necessary recount history in the very technical and chronological sense we usually do (or like to think we do) …
Yesterday’s feast of the Assumption encourages a meditation on a distinctly human dignity, that of combining matter and spirit. More on that in a moment. But we begin with an important understanding of every Marian feast, namely that we do not simply celebrate something about Mary herself, but also what God, who is mighty, does …