At the time of his birth Christ, through whom every place was created, finds no place in the inn; and he who is Lord of all the world is born as though a foreigner, to enable us to be citizens whose homeland is heaven. He is wrapped in swaddling clothes in order to restore inContinue reading “He lies in swaddling clothes, but he reigns in heaven”
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See, the Spouse, the Christ, is coming;
See, the Spouse, the Christ, is coming;— Virgins, be ye ready then!—He whose advent brings rejoicingsNow and always, from all men. He is coming to deliverAll those founders of mankindWho, thro’ our first mother’s sinning,Were by demons held confin’d. Now behold the ‘second Adam’(So the prophet did Him call)Who, for us, has abrogatedAll that stemm’dContinue reading “See, the Spouse, the Christ, is coming;”
Baptism draws death’s sting
Jesus sanctified baptism when He Himself was baptized. If the Son of God was baptized, can anyone who scorns baptism pretend to piety? Not that He was baptized to receive the remission of sins—for He was without sin—but being sinless, He was nevertheless baptized, that He might impart grace and dignity to those who receiveContinue reading “Baptism draws death’s sting”
What A Glorious Life
To live in the midst of the world without wishing its pleasures; to be a member of each family, yet belonging to none; to share all sufferings; to penetrate all secrets; to heal all wounds; to go from men to God and offer Him their prayers; to return from God to men to bring pardonContinue reading “What A Glorious Life”
The Power of Faith is So Great
If we guard this faith, we shall be free from condemnation and be adorned with virtues of every kind. For the power of faith is so great that it even buoys up men walking upon the sea. Peter was a man like ourselves, composed of flesh and blood, and living on like foods. But whenContinue reading “The Power of Faith is So Great”
Him who walks upon the waters
You have Him who walks upon the waters, who rebukes the winds, who holds sovereign sway over the ocean; who not only Himself walked on the sea as on a firm pavement but vouchsafed the like power to Peter. For when the night was black and the Light, though it was there, was not recognizedContinue reading “Him who walks upon the waters”
Ascension
Twas on a Holy Thursday their innocent faces cleanThe children walking two & two in red & blue & greenGrey headed beadles walkd before, with wands as white as snowTill into the high dome of Pauls they like Thames waters flow O what a multitude they seemd these flowers of London townSeated in companies theyContinue reading “Ascension”
The last and mad times
These are the last and mad times of a world grown old. – Martin Chemnitz, Examen, I.i.2
A path through which the daily traffic passes
First let us get the scene itself clearly before us. The path, which is spoken of here, is not intended to receive seed; its function is to enable people to walk upon it. It is beaten down and quite smooth. There are even asphalted paths and there are asphalted hearts too. They are smooth andContinue reading “A path through which the daily traffic passes”
The bread’s purer snow
They came over the snow to the bread’spurer snow, fumbled it in their hugehands, put their lips to itlike beasts, stared into the dark chalicewhere the wine shone, felt it sharpon their tongue, shivered as at a sinremembered, and heard love crymomentarily in their hearts’ manger. They rose and went back to their poorholdings, nakedContinue reading “The bread’s purer snow”
Locus Communis 