"Advent is a time for rousing....It is precisely while he is still deep in the helpless, semi-conscious state, in the pitiable weakness of that borderland between sleep and waking, that man finds the golden thread which binds earth to heaven and gives the benighted soul some inkling of the fullness it is capable of realizing and is called upon to realize." (Alfred Delp, S.J., 1907-1945)

The Advent of Advent

Wilt thou be angry with us forever?

Wilt thou not revive us again, that thy people may rejoice in thee...

that glory may dwell in our land?

(Psalm 85:5,6,9)

Bible Study: Conquest and Judges

"...the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy...every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

Beautiful Light

Morning Light

"St. Albert defines beauty in terms of light, which is present in every being as a reflection of the divine light. All created perfections stem from God, who is their model and exemplar. They all exist most perfectly in him. Every creature is composite...but God's being alone is simple (simplex essentia). That is why his proper name, revealed in Scripture, is 'He Who Is' (Exod. 3:14)"--Armand A. Maurer, C.S.B., on Saint Albert the Great in Medieval Philosophy, 1962. Saint Albert's feast day is tomorrow, November 15.

...who turned the hard rock into a pool of water, and flint-stone into a flowing spring.

                                                   (Psalm 114:8)

The Miracles of Exodus

"For Yahweh's cloud stayed over the dwelling during the daytime and there was fire inside the cloud at night, for the whole of the house of Israel to see, at every stage of their journey." (Last verse of Exodus)

Sometimes God is comfortable and familiar; sometimes He is strange and powerful.

Bible Study 3

The Old Testament-- all those wild stories!

And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And Jacob said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me....And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. And as he passed over Peniel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. (Genesis 32, 26, 29-31)