Sailing the Last Voyage with Newton and Pascal
This, brought to my attention, from Cyril of Jerusalem's Catechetical Lectures, toward the very end: Approaching therefore, come not with thy wrists extended, or they fingers open; but make they left hand as if a throne for thy right, which is on the eve of receiving the King. And having hallowed thy palm, receive the …
Continue reading "Communion in the Hand, and Those Pesky Easterners"
Since the release of the ANCA 2019 Book of Common Prayer has open the floodgates for consideration of all kinds of controversial topics, it's time to consider one more: that of ad orientem, i.e., facing the altar during the Sacred Mysteries rather than the people. That's been the subject of a blog-to-blog volley between one …
It's time to look at another bone that's been picked with the ANCA's 2019 Book of Common Prayer: the omission of the phrase "miserable offenders" to the General Confession for Morning and Evening Prayer. Let's start with the 2019 text: And now from the 1928 BCP: In addition to the modernization of the language, the …
Continue reading "Jimmy Buffett and the Miserable Offenders of the Book of Common Prayer"
The issuance of the ACNA 2019 Book of Common Prayer has brought back to the forefront many issues that have been "out there" for a long time. One of them is right up front in both the Apostles' and Nicene Creed: whether either or both should start with "I believe" or "We believe." This post …
I recently had an interesting back and forth with a guy I went to prep school with on "Renouncing Privilege." Evidently he and I have a different take on what that means, as evidenced by his comment: Many of the students were, and probably still are wealthy, still privileged. I would not try to make …
Continue reading "Renunciation is Central to Christianity, But You’d Never Know It"
From The Bossuet Project: The Unevangelical Take on the Sermon on the Mount
This interesting quote, from Daniel-Rops' Jesus in his Time: God does not seek to take men by surprise and the Church has always frowned on sudden vocations dictated solely by sentiment. It is only to the soul fortified by preparation and knowing its way and its strength that the spirit gives the supreme impulse. The …
Continue reading "The Call of God is More than an Emotional Rush"
I have an Iranian office mate. My contact with the Iranians has been educational in my understanding of the Scriptures. One thing he’s really big on is bread. One time we went to a bakery where he brought a loaf of sourdough bread, which he consumed in its entirety–in one sitting. I bring bread from […] …
Continue reading "Getting Past Bread: A Holy Week Reflection — The Bossuet Project"
Positive Infinity 