Yesterday, we noted a great moment in the history of the Church: the story of Noah. From it and from Augustine, we noted the difference between the City of God and the City of Man, and how these two are continually opposed. In the same way Noah had been rejected by men for holding fast to the faith and preserving the City of God, King David prayed in the Psalms: "Let not … [Read more...]
The City of God (Pt. 1)
Long ago, St. Augustine of Hippo wrote a book commonly called "The City of God". In it he chronicled that: "we have learned that there is a city of God, and its Founder has inspired us with a love which makes us covet its citizenship. To this Founder of the holy city the citizens of the earthly city prefer their own gods, not knowing that He is the God of gods" - St. Augustine … [Read more...]
The Power of Prayer in the Life of St. John Chrysostom
*I am indebted to Dr. Ravi Zacharias for finding this quote for me, and I've borrowed some of his insight as well* "Prayer is an all-efficient panoply, a treasure undiminished, a mine which is never exhausted... the mother of a thousand blessings... The potency of prayer hath subdued the strength of fire, it hath bridled the rage of lions, hushed anarchy to rest; extinguished … [Read more...]
John Donne excerpt from Old St. Paul's in London
A person could get lost in the history of St. Paul's Cathedral (London). Just the famous Deans of St Paul's is a venerable list of churchmen. Most readers will know Canon Henry Scott Holland from his "Death is nothing at all" quotation used at countless funerals. As for the building itself and the fire of London, I've seen multi-hour programs just on Christopher Wren and St. … [Read more...]
Can Man Love God?
Unlike so many, I'm sad to hear that Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury will be stepping down soon as primate of the Church of England. Here's something interesting of his that I read again the other day: "...which of us does "love" God? I remember, ages ago, talking to a young Chinese Marxist student, who amazed me by saying, "of course, priesthood [I had him I … [Read more...]