Dulcis Iesu Memoria
Painting of the Child Jesus with a crown of flowers by Carlo Dolci (1616-1686) Over forty years ago, when I was taking my first steps...
In principio erat Verbum
The Wood of Crèche and of Cross This is an extraordinary painting of the Nativity, principally because of the crucifix on the rustic shelf inside...
O Thou, Innocent Lamb of God
Over the centuries, souls have been drawn irresistibly to the mystery of the Infant Christ. Among these was the great Pierre Cardinal de Bérulle, the...
Thy glory so hidden, and Thy love so despised
Among the mectildian-benedictine practices that our monastery has come to cherish is that of the Amende honorable (Act of Honourable Amendment): a prayer of adoration...
Transeamus Usque Bethleem
Monastery of Decani, Fresco of the Nativity of Our Lord MIDNIGHT MASS SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI...
Drinking to the Love of Saint John
There are several forms for the traditional blessing of wine on the feast of Saint John the Evangelist. Father Weller’s Roman Ritual in three volumes...
Blessed Christmas to All
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SPERA IN DEO
The Extraordinary Ordinary It sometimes happen that, even on the greatest feasts, a word or phrase from the Ordinary of the Mass (the unchanging parts)...
Christmas Visitor
On Christmas Eve, we had the joy of welcoming Mr. and Mrs. Erik Ellis and their daughter, Elizabeth (Betty), for Matins and a festive meal....
Saint John the Evangelist
A Liturgical Theology of the Trinity On Christmas Day, with the reading of Saint John’s Prologue, our eyes were fixed on the Light, the Word...
My Face Will Journey With Thee
Readers of Vultus Christi can imagine my delight when I discovered that the Holy Father’s homily on this Solemnity of the Mother of God focused...
Holy Innocents
Rubens’ Virgin and Child surrounded by a wreath of chubby, pink Innocents (c. 1618) is delightful. Notice the almost mischievous smile of Baby Jesus. Does...
For All of Us There Exists a Path to Bethlehem
Here is the official English-language translation of Pope Benedict XVI’s magnificent homily, delivered in Italian during the Mass in the Night of the Nativity of...
And All the World Desires to Behold His Face
Loving greetings for a very Blessed Christmas to all the readers of Vultus Christi. May the Infant Jesus, in the arms of His Most Holy...
Numquam sine aqua Christus
El Greco’s painting of the Baptism of the Lord has, at least to my eyes, a Chagall-like quality. Whereas one would expect a predominance of...
All that has gone before
A wise and dear friend wrote me from her cloister for the feast of the Epiphany. By God’s providence, our lives, with their changes and...
The Wondrous Name That Brings Salvation
The Feast That Came Back The feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, established by Pope Innocent XIII in 1721, disappeared (along with a...
Dulcis Iesu Memoria
In the Liturgy For the feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, I invite the readers of Vultus Christi to join me in meditating...
Et balsamo suavior
Still using Father Caswall’s translation, I am giving only a selection of the twenty-four verses that make up this section of the hymn. Father Caswall...
Iesu, Rex Admirabilis
I was fifteen or sixteen years old when, thanks to a fervent Trappist laybrother at Saint Joseph’s Abbey, I discovered a lovely English translation of...