Editor’s Note: Many thanks to the author for granting permission to post her beautiful and personal reworking of the beloved Advent hymn: O Come, O Come Emmanuel. O come Beloved Bridegroom stay In love’s embrace until the break of day. Breathe deep the almond blossom perfume And rest among the dew-kissed lily blooms. Rejoice! Rejoice!…
Frederick Beuchner in his book Peculiar Treasures tells a story about Jesus’ daddy — the Dreamer. Thank you very much Fred. Let me paraphrase it here. After hearing Mary’s news and confronted with a nightmare of a marriage, Joseph does what any self respecting man would do. He decides to hit the hay and catch some ZZZZ’s. As…
Happy St. Nicholas Day, December 6! Have you heard this Advent carol? It is sung to an 18th century dance tune! Prepare the Way, O Zion, your Christ is drawing near!Let every hill and valley a level way appear.Greet one who comes in glory, foretold in sacred story,Oh, blest is Christ that came in God’s…
If you looked up the word “impatience” in the dictionary, you would see a picture of my dad.😊 When I was growing up, my dad did not like to wait. He would not take us anywhere he anticipated crowds or lines. He would never go to a restaurant without a reservation. When we went to…
Advent 2022 begins Sunday, November 27th. Angels. Every year, when they were little, my children donned cardboard wings in the Christmas pageant. And through the centuries gilded angel wings have graced a bazillion Christmas cards. Angels. Pretty, poetic symbols. Anachronistic theology of the Middle Ages. Superstition in the scientific age. Right? Yet every Sunday we confess that “We…
This Emmanuel Voices blog series, The Spirit of Christmas Present, features young artists and writers, reflecting on memories of Christmas past and hopes for this Christmas, and future ones to come. This post from fourth grader Rachael Cruz, is going up on her 10th birthday!! Rachael’s beautiful multi-media collage makes use of cutouts, markers, and aluminum foil to create…
“Blessed is she who believes.” Luke 1:45 Having spent the first 50 years of my life as a member of the Catholic Church, praying through Jesus, the Great Intercessor, to God, we were also taught to pray through Mary, the Mother of God, also as an intercessor – someone who intercedes on our behalf. Mary…
I don’t know much about snakes. Really, I don’t know anything. I think they’re weird animals – not at all cuddly, frankly a little creepy, they’re just not my thing. But this line from John the Baptist stands out to me every time I hear it: “you brood of vipers.” Turns out, vipers are interesting. They are venomous, of course, and can cause serious bodily harm…
This Emmanuel Voices blog series, The Spirit of Christmas Present, features young artists and writers, reflecting on memories of Christmas past and hopes for Christmas future. This first illustrated post from fourth grader Emma Jarrett pictures three of her favorite Christmas memories rolled into one! Thank you, Emma, for helping to make this holy season merry and bright! If there…
Blue. Blessed Mother Blue. Blessed Virgin Mary Blue. There is no sexier color in the Crayola Crayon box than Blessed Mother Blue. That is, of course, if you are a little Catholic girl. And it’s Advent. Please, Baby Jesus, bless me with Blessed Mother Blue! Now Mary (quite impossibly!) is very, very much what every…
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