Godzdogz

The gospel reading from the First Sunday of Advent culminated with our Lord’s admonition to ‘Stay awake!’ This week we hear the words of the prophet Isaiah in the mouth of St John the Baptist describing his mission to prepare a way for the Lord, and make his paths straight. These are some of the words most often heard in the sacred liturgy throughout this holy season, and reflect its penitential character: a call to prepare ourselves for the threefold coming of Christ: His coming at Christmas, His coming in the heart of each believer, and in His return in judgement at the end of time. Read more

If somebody closes his eyes and for a moment thinks in a Spanish soldier the resultant image would depict under a characteristic white flag with the cross of St. Andrew, a dark-haired man with a long and twisted moustache, silver plate armour and the typical helmet of the conquistador, a long sword or and arquebus, killing Indians or burning protestant churches (or in the English version, sunk in the English channel after the defeat of the Armada).  Read more

The reason behind martyrdom is faith in Jesus Christ, at least from the martyr’s point of view. He is ready to be murdered for his belief. From the other side’s point of view, it could be justice, defence of the social order, etc. since the martyrs represent opposition to the establishment: a new creed; new bases for justice and social behaviour; a cultural intromission etc. But what would be the opinion of an external observer like us?
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Today we celebrate the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome.  Read more

We must pray for the dead: it is precisely the reason for today’s commemoration. When our day comes we will endure the judgment over the responsibility that we have in the history of our lives, and after that, one of the possible outcomes could be to be sent to Purgatory and there receive an intense session of “soul-lifting” in order to enter in the joy of the saints in an appropriated manner… But such a simple and naïve description of the doctrine of Purgatory might not manifest the deepness of the terrifying mystery of the death and even less would motivate a fruitful prayer.         Read more