Category Archives: Uncategorized

Tertullian on Marriage

How shall we ever be able adequately to describe the happiness of that marriage which the Church arranges, the Sacrifice strengthens, upon which the blessing sets a seal, at which angels are present as witnesses, and to which the Father gives His consent? For not even on earth do children marry properly and legally withoutContinue reading “Tertullian on Marriage”

St. Gregory of Nyssa on the Miraculous Catch of Fish

When Christ commanded to let down the nets, the multitude of the fishes taken was just as great as the Lord of the sea and land willed. For the voice of the Word is the voice of power, at whose bidding at the beginning of the world light and the other creatures came forth. AtContinue reading “St. Gregory of Nyssa on the Miraculous Catch of Fish”

Dr. Luther on the Purpose of the Decalogue

The cause and need of this commandment is that God well knows that the world is evil, and that this life has much unhappiness; therefore He has placed this and the other commandments between the good and the evil. Now, as there are many assaults upon all commandments, so it happens also in this commandmentContinue reading “Dr. Luther on the Purpose of the Decalogue”

I nourish myself with a life sacrificed for me.

When I nourish myself, I am always eating a being which I have killed or which I have at least prevented from living. I eat an animal which has been killed for me, my life being preferred to its life. I eat something which would have engendered life or sustained the life of another livingContinue reading “I nourish myself with a life sacrificed for me.”

St. Augustine on Good Fruits

 As long, therefore, as any one is evil, he cannot bring forth good fruits; for if he were to bring forth good fruits, he would no longer be evil. So it might most truly have been said, snow cannot be warm; for when it begins to be warm, we no longer call it snow, butContinue reading “St. Augustine on Good Fruits”

St. Augustine on the Unjust Steward

Why did the Lord Jesus Christ present this parable to us? He surely did not approve of that cheat of a servant who cheated his master, stole from him and did not make it up from his own pocket. On top of that, he also did some extra pilfering. He caused his master further loss,Continue reading “St. Augustine on the Unjust Steward”

Quomodo sedet sola civitas

Quomodo sedet sola civitas plena populo,Facta est quasi viduaDomina gentium princeps provinciarumfacta est sub tributo. How doth the city sit solitary that was full of people!How is she become as a widow!The mistress of the Gentiles, and princess among the provinces,How she is made tributary! Lamentations 1:1, Tenebrae Matins of Maundy Thursday

Almighty God is accustomed to visit every sinful soul in many ways.

Almighty God is accustomed to visit every sinful soul in many ways. He visits her relentlessly by her commandments, sometimes by a trial, sometimes even by a miracle, so that she hears the truths she did not know, and – if still she remains full of pride and contempt – that she returns to GodContinue reading “Almighty God is accustomed to visit every sinful soul in many ways.”

Nothing but Forgiveness of Sin

Everything, therefore, in the Christian Church is ordered to the end that we shall daily obtain there nothing but the forgiveness of sin through the Word and signs, to comfort and encourage our consciences as long as we live here. Thus, although we have sins, the grace of the Holy Ghost does not allow themContinue reading “Nothing but Forgiveness of Sin”