Today is the feast day of St. Philip and St. James (the Lesser) apostles of Jesus. Most feast days commemorate one particular saint. On occasion, however, two saints will be honored together. St. Philip and St. James are commemorated together on this day because their relics were brought together to Rome in 560 A.D. The … Continue reading The Feast Day of St. Philip and St. James
What does it take to be a saint? Ultimately, it takes grace and mercy of God. For we all, who are in Christ, are awaiting sainthood. In one sense, we are already saints, but in another sense, we are not yet saints. Such is the reality of the already/not yet nature of the kingdom of … Continue reading The Feast Day of St. Catherine of Siena
Today, we join Christians around the world and mourn the death of Pope Francis. Although the pope is the head of the Roman Catholic Church, and I am an Anglican, I do recognize his appointment as a bishop and respect the leadership he provides for global Christianity. The pope is recognized the world over as … Continue reading Remembering Pope Francis (1936 – 2025)
Easter Sunday is one of the most recognized and celebrated holidays the world over. Today many children are eager to receive their Easter baskets to see what the Easter Bunny has brought, and left behind. Most likely it will be filled with plastic (so called) “grass“, chocolate, eggs, marshmallow Peeps, and maybe even a stuffed … Continue reading Easter Sunday: The Feast of the Resurrection
Today is Holy Saturday, the day that Jesus’ body lay in the tomb, awaiting his glorious resurrection. This then begs the question: where was Jesus’s spirit on Holy Saturday? There are a myriad of beliefs about what Jesus did during this period of time. A helpful place to start is a truth that we confess … Continue reading Holy Saturday: Did Jesus Really Go To Hell?
In America, we are familiar with celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in January. Set aside on the Monday that falls near his birthday (January 15), most of us enjoy a day off without giving a second thought to the reason for the commemoration. In the Anglican tradition (and the … Continue reading Commemorating the Life and Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
This week begins the most solemn fast of the Christian liturgical calendar known throughout the world as Lent. Growing up in a non-liturgical tradition, I did not observe the Lenten season. It was not until I was older that I was exposed to the broader celebration of Lent. Even then, I didn’t observe it in … Continue reading What is Lent and Why it Matters?
February 24 marks the feast day of Saint Matthias the Apostle for Anglicans (his feast day is celebrated on May 14 in Roman Catholicism and on August 9 in Eastern Orthodoxy). Saint Matthias is unique in church history in that he is the first apostle admitted to the College of Apostles by election (casting lots) … Continue reading The Feast Day of St. Matthias the Apostle
They just don’t make things the way they used to. When we hear someone use this phrase they are usually talking about cars, houses, washing machines, and other equipment that seemed to work better in days gone by. Yet there is definitely some truth in that statement. The same thing can be said about marriage. … Continue reading Marriage Lessons From A Godly Grandmother
Today marks one of the highest feast days of the liturgical calendar. It is the day we set aside to celebrate the incarnation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Christmas day is celebrated so widely around the world that many non-Christians celebrate the holiday in some way. Likely you have been introduced to Christmas … Continue reading Christmas Day: The Feast of the Nativity
Today begins the addition of the O Antiphons to the liturgy of Advent. The O Antiphons, also known as the Great Advent Antiphons, are canticles (songs) used in traditional Christian worship during the last days of Advent, from December 16-23, leading up to the high feast day of Christmas. These antiphons are the basis for … Continue reading O Antiphons: Canticles of Advent
December 13 is traditionally celebrated on the Church calendar as the Feast Day of St. Lucy (Santa Lucia). Also known as Lucia of Syracuse (Italy), Lucy was a late third and early fourth century Roman Christian who was one of the first martyrs of the Diocletian persecution in 303 AD. She came from a wealthy … Continue reading The Feast Day of St. Lucy
