A journal of byzantine digressionS
-
Gay and Catholic – A Reflection – 2nd
Before meditating on Eve’s topic of friendship, a brief excursus on vocation: one is tempted to say “we don’t do this in Orthodoxy” but that line is to fake. Generally, though, there isn’t much discussion of a “Call” to the priesthood, a vocational idea unheard of in the saints. Thus there is no parallel lay…
-
Gay and Catholic: A Reflection – 1st
When he saw I was reading Eve Tushnet’s Gay and Catholic: Accepting My Sexuality, Finding Community, Living My Faith a friend commented, “I can’t understand why you’re reading that: you’re Orthodox.” Of course he said that without fully understanding the differences or similarities between the two Churches: and in the area of “Teh Gay” they are…
-
O Oriens – the 5th Advent Meditation
Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis. Dawn, splendor of eternal light, and sun of justice, come, and shine on those seated in darkness, and in the shadow of death. When Jesus said, Ego sum lux mudi, I am the light of the world (St John…
-
O Clavis – 4th Advent Meditation
Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel, qui aperis, et nemo claudit, claudis, et nemo aperuit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis. Key of David, and sceptre of the house of Israel, you open, and no one shuts, you shut, and no one opens: come, and lead the prisoner from…
-
My Apologies
I seem to have missed an Advent Meditation. Forgive me: and lets call this post number 3 so that I can call the forthcoming post #4 in good conscience.
-
O Adonai – 2nd Advent Meditation
Adonai, et Dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento. Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come and redeem us…
-
O Sapientia – 1st Advent Meditation
A blessed Advent! For my friends in the Western Ecclesial traditions, a little explanation: the Eastern Pre-Nativity Fast starts today. Advent is, of course, a Western Name, but we call it the Advent Fast here in America’s mostly-convert communities. Yes it is a bit longer than Western Advent, but for what it’s worth Advent is…
-
The Truth about Halloween
TIZ THAT Time of the year again when accusations will fly: you stole our holidays! You’re being Satanic! We will be bombarded with bad history and bad social science and bad theology. I won’t even bother to link to the most common Christian “proof sheet” that takes the Irish name of the holiday (Samhain) and…
-
The feast of Christ the King
Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne.Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own.Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee,And hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity. Crown Him the virgin’s Son, the God incarnate born,Whose arm those crimson trophies won which now…
-
Illiteracy and Superstition
Recently I’ve been listening to a lot of people talk about books, specifically books in the Christian tradition. Some people seem to want to imagine that the advent and popularity of digital media means something (bad) for Christianity as a religion intimately connected with books (or with The Book). It can not be denied that…
-
Columbus Day, 1984
This essay was first published in 1994, as it’s Columbus Day Weekend, I’ve recycled it. Iwasn’t Christian at that time so long ago, as you can tell by the closing comments, but I ask your prayers for Bessie Mae: may her memory be eternal. – DHR My grandmother, having a fun time In 1984, on…
-
Not the Droid you’re looking for?
Three droids for the Coder Kings under the sky Seven for the Venture Lords in their halls of stone Nine for Tech Support doomed to die One for the Droid Lord on his Dark Throne In the land of Google where the data lie One droid to rule them all One droid to…
-
Sponsa Christi quae per orbem
Bride of Christ, whose glorious warfareHere on earth hath never rest;Lift thy voice, and tell the triumphsOf the holy and the blest;Joyous be the day we hallow,Feast of all the saints on high,Earth and Heav’n together blendingIn one solemn harmony. First the blessèd virgin mother,Reunited to her Son,Leads the host of ransomed people,Who unfading crowns…
-
The Abrahamic Faiths
“All gods are one god, and all goddesses are one goddess, and there is one initiator.” – Dion Fortune, The Sea Priestess In some streams of modern Neopaganism and New Age teaching this text by Dion Fortune is nearly a credo: that there is but One Divine Source, no matter what the name that we call,…
-
It’s Pr0nz All the Way Down
I don’t need to rehash any statistics about pornography on the internet. If you want to know anything about that, please go to Fight the New Drug. But there’s porn everywhere. Our whole culture is devoted to Porn. There’s “Flesh Porn” if you will, which comes in any number of orientations and permutations. But there…
Orthoparadoxy 