‘I believe in God the Father almighty’ isn’t the first in a set of answers to the question, ‘How many ideas or pictures have I inside my head?’ as if God were the name of one more doubtful thing like UFOs and ghosts to add to the list of the furniture of my imagination. ItContinue reading “Where I find the anchorage of my life”
Author Archives: Stefan Gramenz
He believes; he has confidence
In John’s Gospel (the ninth chapter), Jesus asks the blind man he’s just cured whether he ‘believes’ in the Son of Man. He’s certainly not asking (as he might about the Loch Ness monster) whether the man is of the opinion that the Son of Man exists; he wants to know whether the former blindContinue reading “He believes; he has confidence”
The man who here lies half dead, wounded and stripped of his clothing, is Adam and all mankind.
The man who here lies half dead, wounded and stripped of his clothing, is Adam and all mankind. The murderers are the devils who robbed and wounded us, and left us lying prostrate half dead. We still struggle a little for life; but there lies horse and man, we cannot help ourselves to our feet,Continue reading “The man who here lies half dead, wounded and stripped of his clothing, is Adam and all mankind.”
Bede on the deaf man of Mark 7
The deaf-mute, of whose marvelous cure by our Lord we have just now heard when the Gospel was read, represents those members of the human race who merit being freed by divine grace from the error brought on by the devil’s deceit. Man became deaf, unable to hear the word of life after, puffed upContinue reading “Bede on the deaf man of Mark 7”
Love (II) – George Herbert
Immortal Heat, O let thy greater flameAttract the lesser to it: let those firesWhich shall consume the world, first make it tame,And kindle in our hearts such true desires, As may consume our lusts, and make thee way.Then shall our hearts pant thee; then shall our brainAll her invention on thine Altar lay,And there inContinue reading “Love (II) – George Herbert”
The plant in Eden beautifully transplanted in Golgotha
The Most High planted in the middle of ParadiseThe thrice blessed wood, the gift of life for us,In order that, in approaching it,Adam might find eternal and immortal life,But he did not strive earnestly to know this life,And he failed to attain it, and revealed death.However, the robber, seeing how the plant in EdenHad beenContinue reading “The plant in Eden beautifully transplanted in Golgotha”
Release me from this life
Since Thou hast become life and resurrection for all men through Thy goodness,Release me from this life.Thou Who art immortal, and send me away from this life, which is mortal:Give my body over to mortal death, as with all Thy friends,But grant me, Merciful One, life spiritual and eternal.Since I have seen Thee in theContinue reading “Release me from this life”
Overcome by love
Overcome by love, He came into the world to seekHis creature who had wandered.Without beginning, and Ineffable,Son of God and our God,Wisely and with divine providence, as a God,He makes the search.He is made flesh from His mother whom He cleansed(as though swept clean) and sanctified;And He offers His body as a lamp to theContinue reading “Overcome by love”
St. Romanos on St. Thomas
O the marvel! the forbearance! the immeasurable meekness!The Untouched is felt; the Master is held by a servant,And He reveals His wounds to one of His inner circle.Seeing these wounds, the whole Creation was shaken at the time.Thomas, when he was considered worthy of such gifts,Lifted up a prayer to the One Who deemed himContinue reading “St. Romanos on St. Thomas”
St. Romanos on the Ten Virgins
O brothers, let us love the Bridegroom,Let us make ready our lamps,Shining out with brightness and true faith,So that, like the wise virgins at the Lord’s coming,We may arrive with Him at the marriage,For He, the Merciful, since He is God,Offers to all as a giftThe incorruptible crown!Thou, O God, the Bridegroom of salvation,the hopeContinue reading “St. Romanos on the Ten Virgins”
Locus Communis 