Author Archives: Thomas

Nowadays the media suggests many things are needed to live a rich life. Emily Dickinson, a misplaced catholic saint, showed in both her life and her art a different view: I dwell in Possibility –A fairer House than Prose –More … Continue reading →

From Dr Mazinghi’s translation of the Wisdom of Solomon Wis 1:1-15 Wisdom 1:16 – 2:24 With their deeds and words, however, the ungodly summon [death],the pine for it, believing it to be a friend,and they make a pact with it,because … Continue reading →

Below is the first chapter from a useful little booklet: The Illumined Heart, by Frederica Mathewes-Green: The Central Question You are holding a small book with an old-fashioned title. It might seem like a messenger from the past, or form … Continue reading →

I If this uncertain age in which we dwell Were really as dark as I hear sages tell, And I convinced that they were really sages, I should not curse myself with it to hell, But leaving not the chair … Continue reading →

A comprehensive reference book: The Rowman & Littlefield Handbook of Christianity in the Middle East, edited by Mitri Raheb and Mark Lamport. While expensive, this 600+ page book with over 50 contributors has much material difficult to obtain elsewhere. From … Continue reading →

THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY 337. What is the plan of God regarding man and woman? 1601-1605 God who is love and who created man and woman for love has called them to love. By creating man and woman he called … Continue reading →

From the Compendium to the Catholic Catechism: THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT:YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY 487. What responsibility do human persons have in regard to their own sexual identity? 2331-23362392-2393 God has created human beings as male and female, equal in … Continue reading →

The Joyful Return of the Exiles 31 “At that time, says the Lord, I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.” 2 Thus says the Lord:“The people who survived the sword    found grace in the wilderness;when … Continue reading →

Paragraph 4 of this homily includes this: 4. And I will speak of a fourth crown, arising for us out of this episcopate. What then is this? The fact that he was entrusted with our own native city [Antioch]. For it … Continue reading →

Prayer of St Ephraim the Syrian that we pray daily during Lent.

A paragraph, and a bit more, from the introduction of Khaled Anatolios’ book ‘Deification Through the Cross’ The third factor that I have suggested to be an obstacle to the contemporary appropriation of the Christian teaching on salvation is the … Continue reading →

“House blessings, baby blessings, tree house blessing, oh my! Maybe we need to start a Melkite mission in Placerville!” – Abouna Hezekias, pastor at St George Melkite in Sacramento.

I’m taking an ICC course on Catholic Political Thought, taught by Dr Chad Pecknold, with over 2500 participants from over 65 countries. Here are a few of my presuppositions: Somewhat related to this: Can a large organization do without one … Continue reading →

In the Melkite liturgy, as in Eastern Catholic liturgy in general, evening and morning prayer are well integrated into the regular worship of the parish. In the Melkite liturgy, here are the psalms which are chanted: Vespers Psalms: 103, 140, … Continue reading →

From the December 19th, 2022 Wall Street Journal interview with Jeff Slate, centered around Dylan’s recent book: The Philosophy of Modern Song. …. Is there a technology that helps you relax? For instance, do you binge on movies via Netflix, … Continue reading →

Gavin Ashenden writes: How might St Paul, the Archduke Ferdinand and the Catholic Church come together in a story set at the end of 2022? They might offer themselves as useful interpretative devices as the story of what is happening … Continue reading →

Here are some thoughts on fasting taken from Alexander Schmemann’s book ‘Great Lent’: It is important, therefore, to discern the uniquely Christian content of fasting. It is first of all revealed to us in the interdependence between two events which … Continue reading →

Vatican II kept me out of the Catholic Church for many years. Let me explain. I was baptized as an infant at Trinity United Methodist Church in Buchanan Virginia in 1950. However, I didn’t have a living faith in Christ … Continue reading →