Dearly beloved: Today we keep holy-day, with one great cry of joy, in memory of all the Saints; whose presence is a gladness to heaven; whose prayers are a blessing to earth; whose victories are the crown of holy Church; whose testimony is now to be honored in proportion to the glory imparted to itContinue reading “The Venerable Bede on All Saints”
Author Archives: Stefan Gramenz
The plum you’re going to eat next summer
The plum you’re going to eat next summerdoesn’t exist yet; its potentiallives inside a tree you’ll never seein an orchard you’ll never see, will be touchedby a certain number of water dropletsbefore it reaches you, by certain anglesof light, by a finite amount of bugsand dust motes and handsyou’ll never know. The plum you aregoingContinue reading “The plum you’re going to eat next summer”
Lord, It Is Good for Us to Be Here
Upon Mount Tabor, Jesus revealed to His disciples a heavenly mystery. While living among them He had spoken of the kingdom and of His second coming in glory, but to banish from their hearts any possible doubt concerning the kingdom and to confirm their faith in what lay in the future by its prefiguration inContinue reading “Lord, It Is Good for Us to Be Here”
Rowan Williams on the Transfiguration
The effect of hearing the story of Jesus’ transfiguration this morning — just before Lent — has the effect of framing the whole of Lent between two parallel stories. A story of Jesus going into a lonely mountainous place to pray, attended by his three closest friends: Peter; James; and John. A story in whichContinue reading “Rowan Williams on the Transfiguration”
We Know All Things But the Truth
Step softly, under snow or rain, To find the place where men can pray;The way is all so very plain That we may lose the way. Oh, we have learnt to peer and pore On tortured puzzles from our youth,We know all labyrinthine lore,We are the three wise men of yore, And we know allContinue reading “We Know All Things But the Truth”
The World as a Theater
Both men departed to that place where everything is true. The stage sets were removed and the masks were taken off. In a theater of this world at mid-day the stage is set and many actors enter, playing parts, wearing masks on their faces, retelling some old story, narrating the events. One becomes a philosopher,Continue reading “The World as a Theater”
Come Out, Lazar
Come out, Lazar!Come out, Lazaro, what so befall.Then might not the fiend of hellLonger make that soule to dwell.So dreadful was that ilke cryTo that feloun, our enemy.The kinges trumpet blew a blast;Come out! it said, be not aghast.With that voice the find gan quake,As doth the leaf when windes wake.‘Come out’ is now aContinue reading “Come Out, Lazar”
Leaf from Leaf
Leaf from leaf Christ knows;Himself the Lily and the Rose: Sheep from sheep Christ tells;Himself the Shepherd, no one else: Star and star He names,Himself outblazing all their flames: Dove by dove, He callsTo set each on the golden walls: Drop by drop, He countsThe flood of ocean as it mounts: Grain by grain, HisContinue reading “Leaf from Leaf”
Maria Walks amid the Thorn
Maria walks amid the thorn,Kyrie eleison,Maria walks amid the thorn,Which seven years no leaf has born.Jesus and Maria. What ‘neath her heart doth Mary bear?Kyrie eleison,The little Child doth Mary bear,Beneath her heart He nestles there.Jesus and Maria. And as the two are passing near,Kyrie eleison,And as the two are passing near,Lo! roses on theContinue reading “Maria Walks amid the Thorn”
Recovery
Any recovery is but a stay of the death that is our common doom. Sheldon Vanauken, “A Severe Mercy,” chapter VII
Locus Communis 