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The Architecture of Sin and Grace
The world generally struggles with the concept of the existence of ‘sin’. We are, the world tells us, ‘generally good people’ who – for the most part, live ordinary lives and don’t really do terrible things. And that may indeed be the case – in which case this view is broadly correct; but regardless, it says little about the existence of sin in itself. For the Catholic and for the Christian there is no real doubt about it – sin exists. Further, it exists not only at the grand level but also at the very personal level. Regardless of the varying types and degrees and categories, still it is sin.…
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An Altar Of Repose
Early this morning, I was able to sit alone for a while at our Altar of Repose, to which the Blessed Sacrament was solemnly taken last evening after the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. We accompanied Him to that place with candles and incense, and with an air of great reverence, before spending time with Him there for the praying of Night Prayer from the Office. Afterwards, one of the altar servers asked me if “this was like Jesus being on the Cross”; I replied that this was Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, beginning the agony of His Passion. We call this place the ‘Altar of Repose’ and in…
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The Winding Paths of Grace
You know how it is. You are driving along and, at a roundabout, a driver to your right is indicating right – and then turns off to the left, seemingly oblivious that you are sitting there, taking your lead from that little flashing light on his car, the same one he failed to cancel so that you could safely move off. You swear under your breath and drive off in a bad mood. At the next roundabout, you do what he did – well, if he can do it.. On another occasion, you are on a road with obstructions on your side, so you stop to give way to oncoming…
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The Helmet of Hope
There is a little bridge in Paris, close to the Île de la Cité, which is barely able to stand because of the weight of the padlocks which have been attached to it. The railings of the bridge are no longer visible – only the numerous padlocks. There are so many of them now, that even to cut them from the rails would be a monumental task – and so, there they remain. Often, our lives can seem like that little bridge – our problems are like those padlocks, weighing us down tremendously, to the extent that any thought of removing them seems impossible. And it is then that we…
