Author Archives: Stefan Gramenz

Our name is a very long story

To those who are not of the household of faith, what we are about to do must look very peculiar.  We are about to stand in the dark, carry candles about, sing lengthy and sublime religious texts, read stories from the Bible.  What does this all mean?  What is going on here in this community?Continue reading “Our name is a very long story”

O Night brighter than day!

O Miracle! Hades has swallowed Christ the Lord and has not digested him. The lion has devoured the lamb, and has not stomached him. Death has swallowed life and has vomited in nausea, even those which it has previously devoured. The giant could not bear the dead Christ. The corpse was dreadful to the giant.Continue reading “O Night brighter than day!”

Bede on Easter and Baptism

We can understand that each of us enacts the mystical celebrations of Easter on the day of our baptism, in that we escape spiritual annihilation through the sign of the precious blood, and pass over from spiritual darkness. Bede the Venerable, De temporum ratione

In spring

In spring all creatures came into being and the first parent was formed from the clay of the earth. In spring Jacob was called from Mesopotamia to his own land. In spring the children of Israel were led out of the land of Egypt, the blood of the lamb turned the destroyer of Egypt away,Continue reading “In spring”

Springtime is nature executing her Easter liturgy

Spring with its transformation of hill and meadow, is, accordingly, a great symbol of an event in sacred history and of an event now taking place within the church. Springtime is nature executing her Easter liturgy. Neither poetry nor art can even approximate her grand display. In every corner of her vast cathedral a thousandContinue reading “Springtime is nature executing her Easter liturgy”

T. S. Eliot on Peace

Now think for a moment about the meaning of this word ‘peace.’ Does it seem strange to you that the angels should have announced Peace, when ceaselessly the world has been stricken with War and the fear of War? Does it seem to you that the angelic voices were mistaken, and that the promise wasContinue reading “T. S. Eliot on Peace”

Let us give our attention to that which is beautiful, comely, and good

As far as we are able, let us give our attention to that which is beautiful, comely, and good; let us be occupied with it, let us hold it in mind, so that by its glow and light our souls may become lovely and our minds transparent. For, if our eyes are refreshed with greenContinue reading “Let us give our attention to that which is beautiful, comely, and good”

The sheep’s only security is the shepherd

Sheep have a special problem. They have no defenses. Cats have teeth, claws and speed. Dogs have their teeth and their speed. Horses can kick, bite and run. Bears can claw, bite and crush. Deer can run. But the sheep have no bite or claws and cannot outrun any serious predator. They can butt otherContinue reading “The sheep’s only security is the shepherd”

A Prayer for Advent II

Lord Jesus, who once came into the world to save sinners, and who will come again to judge the quick and the dead, let us in repentance and faith find Thee in Thy manger and on the cross, so that we may see Thee with joy upon the clouds and on Thy throne. C.F.W Walther,Continue reading “A Prayer for Advent II”