joy – "His Tongue shall Speak Judgment"

Hail, Master!

Years ago, the immortal David Warren admitted to the guilty pleasure of enjoying the Christmas Mass of Jakub Jan Ryba (1765 – 1815), amidst the austerities of Lent. The occasion serves to illustrate the true value of asceticism, the purpose of which is not so much to have us forego what is good, as toContinue reading “Hail, Master!”

Hail, Master!

The Snare is Broken!

Through the Mystery of the Word made flesh, new radiance from thy glory has so shone on the eye of the soul that the recognition of our God made visible draws us to love what is invisible. Roman Missal Even as the elements of the world conspire to bring it down, the heart is liftedContinue reading “The Snare is Broken!”

Lusting Against the Flesh

Lust is an ugly thing. The “works of the flesh,” which “lusts against the spirit,” include such miserable misbehaviors as “fornication, uncleanness, immodesty, luxury, idolatry, witchcraft, enmities, contentions, emulations, quarrels, dissensions, sects, envies, murders, drunkenness, reveling,” and others of a like nature (Gal. 5:17-21). All of which, we might note, have been exceptionally popular fromContinue reading “Lusting Against the Flesh”

Walking the Tightrope

“Conduct me, O Lord, in thy way,” the Psalmist prays, “and I will walk in thy truth: let my heart rejoice that it may fear thy name” (Ps. 85:11). What sort of fear is it that gives us joy? I would liken the fear of one who walks in the truth to that of aContinue reading “Walking the Tightrope”

That Your Joy May Be Full

Scripture often testifies to the power of prayer. Our Lord himself assures us of this when he couples this command with a promise: “Ask, and you shall receive; that your joy may be full” (Jn. 16:24). Echoing his Master, St. James reminds us that “the continual prayer of a just man avails much” (Js. 5:16).Continue reading “That Your Joy May Be Full”

A Living Gift of the Living God

This is the day which the Lord has made: Let us be glad and rejoice therein! Psalm 117:24 Poverty of spirit, or detachment from worldly goods, may strike us as a fundamentally negative stance. As noted here, the blessing this beatitude bestows is founded on a willingness to relinquish certain things we may otherwise desireContinue reading “A Living Gift of the Living God”

Piercing Through

To live by faith is to live in joy, assurance, certitude, confidence in what one must do and suffer at each moment at God’s command. It is to animate and sustain this life of faith that God permits the soul to be overwhelmed and carried away on the tumultuous waters of so many pains, troubles,Continue reading “Piercing Through”

Let Us Be Glad and Rejoice!

This is the day which the Lord has made: Let us be glad and rejoice therein! Psalm 117:24 To assist us in keeping this divine commandment, I recommend this performance of Dietrich Buxtehude’s “Alleluia,” presented by the choral ensemble Accentus with the Insula orchestra: What do you think? Please comment, subscribe, & forward to friends!

Arise, O Jerusalem!

Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high: and look about towards the east. Behold the joy that comes to thee from thy God! Baruch 5:5, 4:36 Wishing all our readers a blessed and happy Christmastide! As Stephen Beale reminds us, “Christ who was of heaven was born on earth so that those of the earthContinue reading “Arise, O Jerusalem!”