It may be said that the whole life of men is but one day, according to the parable, and that they who are called by the Master of the vineyard in the morning early, are they who from their childhood were called to do the things of the kingdom of God. They who, after theyContinue reading “The whole life of men is but one day”
Author Archives: Stefan Gramenz
The Death of the Moth
Two years ago I was camping alone in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. I had hauled myself and gear up there to read, among other things, James Ramsey Ullman’s The Day on Fire, a novel about Rimbaud that had made me want to be a writer when I was sixteen; I was hoping itContinue reading “The Death of the Moth”
More replendent than day, more radiant than light
Let us joyfully revere this holy day of the blessed birth, on which, through the birth of the Lord, the secrets of the Virgin’s womb are revealed and the burden of that unspoiled body has flowed out for the relief of the world, as we have longed for this day through our prayers. For thisContinue reading “More replendent than day, more radiant than light”
This night bestowed peace on the whole world
This night bestowed peace on the whole world; so, let no one threaten; This is the night of the Most Gentle One – let no one be cruel; This is the night of the Most Humble One – let no one be proud. Now is the day of joy – let us not revenge; Now is theContinue reading “This night bestowed peace on the whole world”
Now the angels honor us as friends
The Angel announces that a King is born, and the choirs of angels unite their voice with his, and rejoicing all together they sing: “Glory be to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will.” Before the Redeemer was born in the flesh, there was discord between us and theContinue reading “Now the angels honor us as friends”
The true gain and fruit of the angel’s message
When I die I shall see nothing but black darkness, and yet that light, “To you is born this day the Savior,” remains in my eyes and fills all heaven and earth. The Savior will help me when all have forsaken me. And when the heavens and the stars and all creatures stare at meContinue reading “The true gain and fruit of the angel’s message”
Friday
We nailed the hands long ago,Wove the thorns, took up the scourge and shoutedFor excitement’s sake, we stood at the dusty edgeOf the pebbled path and watched the extreme of pain. But one or two prayed, one or twoWere silent, shocked, stood backAnd remembered remnants of words, a new vision,The cross is up with itsContinue reading “Friday”
Tossed and Shaken by the Tempests
Meanwhile, the ship which carries the disciples, that is, the Church, is tossed and shaken by the tempests of temptation; and the contrary wind, that is, the devil her adversary, rests not, and strives to hinder her from arriving at rest. But greater is He who makes intercession for us. For in this our tossingContinue reading “Tossed and Shaken by the Tempests”
The Country Clergy
I see them working in old rectoriesBy the sun’s light, by candlelight,Venerable men, their black clothA little dusty, a little greenWith holy mildew. And yet their skulls,Ripening over so many prayers,Toppled into the same graveWith oafs and yokels. They left no books,Memorial to their lonely thoughtIn grey parishes; rather they wroteOn men’s hearts and inContinue reading “The Country Clergy”
The Other
There are nights that are so stillthat I can hear the small owl callingfar off and a fox barkingmiles away. It is then that I liein the lean hours awake listeningto the swell born somewhere in the Atlanticrising and falling, rising and fallingwave on wave on the long shoreby the village, that is without lightandContinue reading “The Other”
Locus Communis 