Mealtime Blessing
by John Oscarton, circa 1870Ireland For rest from illness and from grief,for grain and flower, root and leaf,for rest from famine and from sword,for love and home, we thank thee,… Read more Mealtime Blessing →
Worship Vs. Veneration
Back when I was on Facebook, I recall a discussion with some Protestant friends about veneration of saints. I protested that worship is for God alone – yes, even for… Read more Worship Vs. Veneration →
A Religious Question About Believing In Prayer
Mark 11: 23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in… Read more A Religious Question About Believing In Prayer →
St. Porphyrios Challenge
Last year I publicly set myself the first of several poetry-writing challenges and invited others to join me. The results have been fruitful, though modest as to participation volume. I’d like to set myself another kind of public challenge and invite the participation of others. This isn’t the kind of thing to join in out of embarrassment or guilt or undue solemness. If it resonates for you – if it offers expression of something that is in your heart as well as mine – I invite you to join me.… Read more St. Porphyrios Challenge →
More On Orthodox Prayer
“Every prayer must come from the heart, and any other prayer is no prayer at all. Prayer-book prayers, your own prayers, and very short prayers, all must issue forth from… Read more More On Orthodox Prayer →
The Face of One Who Has Spoken With God
Everyone should go watch this video at Fr. Stephen’s blog. Just to know that there are people out there who do little but pray, people who actually achieve what the apostle commanded when he said “Pray without ceasing,” this video is worthwhile. But it is also full of gospel.
A Very Poor Effort
What song can I sing? I have not a word to say; Full of emptiness, in wordless prayers I pray toward formless forms and heatless burnings toward Flyers In The Heaven without wing and know – it is not You! You are not these! O! (Whom shall I address?) To what bright center shall I press, and truly say: Ah, it is You! At last? (When will I be strong enough to grip you fast?) Should I form pictures in my mind? And say: this homely glow upon these yellow leaves, this pale pink… Read more A Very Poor Effort →
Beside Still Waters He Restores My Soul
After some correspondance with our dear Father B— last night I’ve realized once again how lightly Christianity treads the tense wire between challenging and effortless. Everyone has sins and failures. My own tend to be of that very obvious sort that everyone notices – which frustrates any subtle designs on my part to hide my faults and make pretense to sanctity I don’t actually possess. In fact I tend to go to the opposite extreme. As I mentioned elsewhere in blogdom, I am the type of person to whom temptation usually… Read more Beside Still Waters He Restores My Soul →
Slow Literature 