This little room holds all the names of the departed I have been asked to pray for, or I feel called to pray for. I also list the living I want to pray for or have been asked to pray for. Close the door, and this tiny space becomes a meeting place, and especially by virtue of the Icons. Just thought you would enjoy seeing how easy it is to find a prayer place in a busy household like ours. Our dtr. and son-in-law, six kids and three dogs. Alive and noisy, but all good noi

We often have trouble trying to figure out what fear of God means, and how that works when we know such love from him. St. Dorotheos is wonderful on this subject ! St. Dorotheos explained that there are two kinds of fear of God. The first kind he calls "preliminary" and the second he calls " perfect." The first is typical of novices. The latter is typical of those souls who are more mature (not meaning just older !) The first is not concerned by what is good, Dorotheo

It might seem like a passing remark to say our spiritual life is a journey, but it is REALLY important not to lose sight of how true it is. The Buddhist writer says, "The raft is not the shore." The raft takes us on a journey with ever changing scenery (like a trip down a great river) with storms and all kinds of variables. So, while still in my Episcopal parish in Nogales, I kept trying to explain what the journey's main features are so my parishioners could understand.

For years I have read two or three of St. Ephrem's "Psalms" each day to practice staying small. His little book is, "A Spiritual Psalter", and is only a few dollars on Kindle. Now, during Lent, his famous prayer is constantly popping up because the Eastern Churches use it, with prostrations all through Great Lent. "O LORD AND MASTER OF MY LIFE, GIVE ME NOT A SPIRIT OF SLOTH, IDLE CURIOSITY , LOVE OF POWER, AND USELESS CHATTER. RATHER, ACCORD ME , YOUR SERVANT, A SPIRIT OF

Our traditional Latin crucifix, exceptions noted, depicts Christ's dead body, his horrific ordeal being over. It is designed to focus our attention and contemplation on what he suffered. God's justice is served by a death sentence, not to have vengence on humankind but to bring us to our senses - a chastisement with love behind it. Latin crucifixes depict this truth. Eastern crucifixes focus on his victory on the cross. Eastern crucifixes have all the wounds, bu

The photo above is of St. Thomas Byzantine Catholic Church where I was their second pastor. Nancy and I go there most Sundays. The blog above this one will be about the Cross as the Tree of Life - a very Eastern emphasis.