Bože! A Grace Catholic Project
Lent
The Bible – How Do You Use It?
This morning’s news trawl dropped me into a number of posts and articles that touched on what one article referred to as “biblical literacy”. That is to say, it explored the amount which people understood modern UK society to be influenced by, or shaped by the biblical narrative. It’s a fascinating idea but one that [...]
Praxis – Lent
Huw’s essay on Lenten praxis is well worth the read. Tweet
The Fast – What’s It All About Anyway?
It’s finally here – today is “clean monday”, the fast has begun. So here’s the question: what is “the fast” all about anyway? Athanasius writing in the fourth century said that a bit of moderate asceticism was useful for everyone – not just ascetics (read – monks, virgins, nuns and vowed widows). But the age [...]
Exile & Enlightenment
Today we commemorate the expulsion of Adam & Eve from Paradise – in preparation for the beginning of Lent tomorrow (Monday), and Cyril & Methodius Enlighteners of the Slavs. Notice something missing (ha ha ha)? The expulsion from Paradise cannot, must not be seen as “history” in the strictest sense of the word. Rather it [...]
Let’s Fix Pascha! (literally)
The Irish politician Feargal Quinn has written in the Irish Times (27 March) that the EU must set a fixed date for Pascha. His argument runs that the movable date is inconvenient to parents and schools organising vacations, and time off. That it negatively affects the tourist industry, and causes inefficiency in other businesses attempting [...]
Lent Midweek III – I’m Too Busy! (Bullocks!)
Every week during the liturgy we sing the cherubikon: “Let us who mystically represent the cherubim . . . now lay aside all earthy care that we may welcome the king of all invisibly escorted by angelic hosts . . .” How often have we sat and reflected on what it is we are saying [...]
Lent Midweek II – (belated) Integration
Consider for a moment what it is we “do” during Lent. Because of the fast, we consciously consider our diet, we adjust what we eat, we are increasingly aware of the ingredients – are they vegetarian or not. During Lent the discipline of the season shapes our daily life, it informs and refines our choices. [...]
Midweek – Lent I
Half way through the first week of lent the first stichera of Vespers points to Isa 58 and, reminds us of the purpose of the great fast. “While fasting with the body, brethren, let us also fast in spirit.” Sack cloth and ashes, surrendering chocolate and beer – too often the discipline of lent is [...]
“Persecution”? – Oh, I don’t think so!
There has been a mini-media storm here in the UK cultivated by a number of Christian figures and organisations claiming that “we” [Christians] are persecuted in Britain. Um . . . er. . . . yeah. . . .not so much, no. When I consider that Chinese Christians are imprisoned, Indian Christians are murdered, and [...]