Category: Catholicism

Serenading Our Lady

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In Catholic devotion, there are many songs addressed to Mary, such as the Regina Coeli and the Salve Regina. However, it may surprise you to know that the oldest text we have for a Marian hymn comes from about AD 250 written in Greek, preceding the Hail Mary by several centuries. I mention it today because this hymn is often sung at the end of evening prayer in Eastern Christianity during Lent. The hymn is known as “Beneath thy compassion”  and was used in the liturgy around Christmas time.

Beneath your compassion we take refuge, Theotokos!
Our prayers, do not despise necessities,
but from danger deliver us, only pure, only blessed one.

What is particularly significant is that the text refers to Mary by the Greek title of “Theotokos”, which in English means “God bearer”, the name so objectionable to Nestorius, but which was later affirmed by the Council of Ephesus in AD 431.

Mary

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TOT: Bringing Sexy Back

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Our recent Theology On Tap series was brought to a close by a San Diego favourite, Jackie Francois…or shouldn’t she be called Jackie Angel now?

Anyway, Jackie spoke at the final Theology On Tap about “Bringing Sexy Back…to its original meaning!”.

Jackie
Main Talk (Download)

Questions & Answers (Download)

UPDATE: In related news, there’s a little angel on the way…

Weedy Christians and Odd Fish

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I’ve had quite a few conversations recently where I’ve referenced two of Christ’s parables. In the process of having these discussions, I’ve started to see the importance of these stories and seen the need for every Christian to spend some time with them to grasp the truths they contain, particularly with regards to the nature of the Church. Both of these parables are found in Chapter 13 of Matthew’s Gospel, in the section known as “The Parables Discourse”…

Parables

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What’s the difference between Sunni and Shiite?

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Those of you who know me will know that I’ve spent the last few weeks with my head in a lot of books about Islam. You can expect some blog posts on various aspects of Islam in a couple of weeks.

However, today I would just like to share a short video concerning one issue within Islam which confused me for the longest time. We hear them mentioned quite a bit on TV, but what is the difference between Sunni and Shiite Muslims? Dr. Shabir Ally answers…

Eastern Catholic interview on Ancient Faith Radio

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Last night, the Eastern Orthodox Young Adult group in San Diego had their monthly meeting, led by Fr. John Strickland. The discussion that evening focused on the differences between Catholicism and Orthodoxy. I attended the evening, together with some of my Eastern and Western Catholic friends and I’m very pleased to report that it was a friendly and respectful discussion between brothers and sisters in Christ.

As you might expect, the subject of the Eastern Catholic Churches came up. To make up for whatever was lacking in my explanations, below is a link to an Ancient Faith Radio interview of Father James Babcock, an Eastern Catholic priest in Placentia:

Ancient Faith Radio

“Let us love one another that with one mind we may confess…
the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Trinity, one in essence and undivided.”
– Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

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