December 2010

The Book of Ruth is rarely mentioned during Advent, but it makes for good Advent meditation. There are obvious connections between Ruth and the Christmas story. Both Bo’az and Ruth are mentioned in Jesus’ genealogy in Matthew 1. Outside of Matthew and Luke, only in Ruth do we have a story about a pious young

Advent is a profound moment in the Church’s year. As we pray the Mass, as we hear the readings, as we ponder the mysteries, we’re really studying the grand panorama of salvation history. In these few short weeks, we relive the longing and expectation of God’s people as they awaited the Messiah. It’s also a

Today is the memorial of the great St. Ambrose. Bishop of Milan, friend of Augustine and Monica, great teacher of the Milanese clergy, and greatmystagogue for the laity, Ambrose is one of my favorite figures from the era of the Fathers. From the first post on this blog, I’ve returned to him again and again (sometimes in friendly disagreement

During this Advent/Christmas season we will turn again and again to introductory chapters of Matthew and Luke. Here I’d like to look at one passage in particular. “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to

Happy St. Nicholas Day! My friend Carl Sommer worked on a graphic novel for the occasion, and you can view it in its entirety online at Catholic Heroes of the Faith. Here’s my take on ol’ St. Nick — as a patron of a particular kind of ecumenical dialogue. There’s a certain kind of Catholic

“I have no taste for corruptible food nor for the pleasures of this life. I desire the bread of God, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, who was of the seed of David; and for drink I desire his blood, which is love incorruptible” (Letter to the Romans 7:3 [A.D. 110]). “Take note of