Taking a Christmas Blog Holiday!

Folks, I’m happy to say that I’m feeling a lot better. But I’ve got to sing in the choir on Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Monday morning. So… I’m going to give my vocal chords a rest until that’s all done. I’ll start up again sometime next week, God willing and the crick don’t [...]

Read Full Post »

#601: “Jesus as a Fetus” by St. Zeno

This very short excerpt from St. Zeno (translated by Thomas Livius in The Blessed Virgin in the Fathers of the First Six Centuries) talks about Jesus’ life in the womb of Mary. You can’t get more Advent-ish than that.
“…whilst preserving what He was, He meditated to be what He was not. Mingled thus with human [...]

Read Full Post »

I Really Am Going to Post Something Fatherish Today

But not until tonight, I’m afraid. Please hold for a really nice excerpt from St. Zeno about the unborn Jesus.

Read Full Post »

#600: “Christmas Every Day” by William Dean Howells

Once upon a time, there was a little girl who wished it were Christmas every day.
Oops.
“Christmas Every Day”
13:47.
Visit the William Dean Howells Society!

Read Full Post »

#599: Ch. 11, Star Hunter by Andre Norton

Star Hunter continues, as Vye discovers that sometimes you just have to slug somebody.
Ch. 11
20:19.
Andre pays tribute to Fredric Brown this week, and next week I’ll be reading the final two chapters of the novel! Don’t miss it!

Read Full Post »

#598: “Christmas” by G. K. Chesterton

From All Things Considered, a 1908 collection of Chesterton’s columns for the Illustrated London News, here’s G. K. Chesterton  writing about “Christmas”. Enjoy!
“Christmas”
21:41.

Read Full Post »

#597: Ch. 13, Cabbages and Kings by O. Henry

Cabbages and Kings continues with plenty of cockleburrs.
Chapter 13: Ships
19:51.

Read Full Post »

#596: Chs. 24-26, Book III, The Ascent of Mount Carmel by St. John of the Cross

The Ascent of Mount Carmel continues with a chapter on the dos and don’ts of rejoicing in things of the senses.
Chs. 24-26
23:42.

Read Full Post »

#595: Ch. 15, Fatherless Fanny by Anon.

Fatherless Fanny continues. The odious Lord Somertown manages to rise from his sickbed in order to pay a call — and begins to muster his forces against Fanny.
Chapter 15: A Morning Visit.
13:01.
Due to my continuing throat and time problems, I’ll be skipping Gerusalemme Liberata again this week. Sorry, folks. I’ll catch up on the epic [...]

Read Full Post »

#594: Ch. 18, The Nebuly Coat by John Meade Falkner

The Nebuly Coat continues with a pivotal chapter.
I know not many of you have been following this book, but the mystery plot, the romantic plot, and the small town plot all pay off in this ominous chapter. The intertwined points of view are so well done that you hardly notice what a difficult and intricate [...]

Read Full Post »

While We’re Talking about Hymns….

If you want to hear some real folk religious hymns, Sonific has samples of a couple as performed by Aine Minogue.
“Caoineadh na dTri Muire” (The Keen of the Three Marys) is an old Irish song from the POV of Jesus and the Virgin Mary, as she stood at the foot of the Cross with Mary [...]

Read Full Post »

#593: Hymn VII from Nineteen Hymns for the Nativity of Christ in the Flesh by St. Ephrem of Syria

Hymn VII definitely puts the flesh into Israel’s anticipation of Christ’s Advent and Incarnation.
St. Ephrem of Syria is known for his really awesome hymns. I’m betting this one never makes it into a modern church, though! (Amusing as it would be.)
Hymn VII
4:31.

Read Full Post »

#592: Chs. 15-16, Book III, Pastoral Care by St. Gregory the Great

Pastoral Care continues with the best approaches to use with the slothful and the hasty, and the meek and the passionate.
Book III, Chs. 15-16
14:49.

Read Full Post »

#591: Chs. 4-5, Book IV, Against Heresies by St. Irenaeus of Lyons

Against Heresies continues to answer Gnostic objections with a look at why Jerusalem’s destruction doesn’t disprove that God is God. Also, Irenaeus points out Jesus’ sayings about Abraham, and that Jesus did teach that He was Abraham’s God.
Book IV, Chapters 4-5
13:49.

Read Full Post »

#590: Part 6, “The Brazen Android” by William Douglas O’Connor

“The Brazen Android” ends with a bang, as our Franciscan android-makers confront that maleficent Paduan, Malatesti — and find out there’s more riding on this than they could have imagined….
Part 6
44:04.

Read Full Post »