The Blessing of Basil Leaf in Honour of the Holy Cross
The aromatic herb, basil (Ocimum basilicum) has long been associated with the Holy Cross. Etymologically, it is related to basileios, the Greek word for king....
Blessing of Herbs and Flowers
Christians of both East and West have, from very early times, blessed herbs and fruit on the Feast of the Assumption. Thus blessed, these creatures...
In sanctis montibus
Our Office of Saint Bartholomew has a beautiful collect from the Leonine Sacramentary: Deus, qui Ecclesiae tuae in sanctis montibus fundamenta posuisti: da, ut intercedente...
Solomon and Christ
Liturgical Notes: Seventh Sunday after Pentecost Seven Gifts Today is designated the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost; seven is, of course, a mystic number in both...
The Joy of Innocence
Sexual Exploitation, Then and Now The young Italian prince Luigi Gonzaga preserved his innocence in a milieu where boys were often the victims of sexual...